Membership Renewal Time!
Commodore
By Jim Turner, C380, soon to be "Makana Kai"
Rhonda and I had a great time at the Seattle Boat Show. We
were joined by our good friends Jim & Charlene Quandt who moved from Eugene to
Port Townsend last year. Some of you may recall meeting them when they
joined us on "FatCat" at Beacon Rock in 2007. We credit the week we
spent with Jim and Charlene on their boat, up in the Puget Sound in the summer
of 2000, for our love of Catalina sailboats!
I'm amazed at how much there is of interest for
sailors at the Seattle Boat Show, as opposed to our Portland Show. Being a
techie, I could spend days checking out innovative new products, interesting
classes and unaffordable mega-yachts! Show attendance looked down
this year, which made for few lines to check out boats, and prompt attentive
attention at the many show booths. And, NO RAIN!! All-in-all a very good boat show!
Since it's been cold & windy, I haven't been working on
any of my boat projects. Truthfully, I've been a bit lazy this winter.
After putting off a minor kitchen sink plumbing repair for months, guilt got
the better of me, and I decided to tackle it. To replace our
under-sink insta-hot, water heater tank, I needed to shut-off the cold water
inlet, which should be simple enough. However, when I turned the valve,
it snapped off in my hand and pressure water began spraying out all over
kitchen and me! Can you picture me under the sink with my thumb over
where the valve tee handle broke off, thinking what the #$*! do I do now?
Where are my boat plugs!!! Did I mention that I was home alone? Well, after what seemed like an
eternity of thinking you are certainly #$*!ed and fearing an insurance
claim, it hits me that I must let the kitchen flood and run for the main
water line shut-off valve, out in front of the house. Where is that
T-handle wrench again? After a mad dash to get the wrench and shutoff
the water, followed by Lola's mad dash to hide behind the couch, I surveyed
the damage. The entire tile, yes thank goodness, tile floor, was covered
with water. Realizing that our only wet-vac is on the boat, I start to
panic again, but wait! Like Jess,
I recently got some some "ShamWows". When I received them as a gift, I
thought they would come in handy for cleaning up the boat this spring.
Fast forward 25 minutes, I've soaked up 10 gallons of water with ShamWows,
and have a dry floor and relatively dry carpet, and better yet no lasting
damage! Needless to say, I'm sold on ShamWows, and will keep a supply
on my boat! And, perhaps add a few boat plugs under the kitchen sink
at the house!!
We enjoyed spending the evening at the January meeting
with a good crowd, and missed those who couldn't make it.
While there was no speaker, we did have a great discussion with lots of good
ideas and input shared. We heard clearly that members value winter
speakers. Your Vice Commodore, Jess Schefstrom, quickly stepped up and
scheduled speakers for the next two meetings and is working on some others.
Hope to see and visit with many of you at the February meeting (details
below)!
Work on the Government Island New West Dock, "Sandy Beach"
project started this past week with several pilings already driven into the
river bed. They also drove pilings nearby for a floating privy
(out-house) nearby. The Sandy Beach dock will likely be ready for our
scheduled April Cruise. Rhonda and I are really excited with having
this wonderful new Columbia river destination only 10 minutes upriver from
our marina, Steamboat landing. It will be a great place to practice
docking during the week this summer after work!
One last note and request, please get your membership
renewals in soon. We pay a small fee for each annual CRACA member in
dues to the Columbia River Yachting Association (CRYA), which are due at the
end of February. By getting an accurate count of our membership, we
can optimize our club's funds. Being a member of CRYA gives us a
voice/vote in the larger boating community, and facilitates our coordinating
cruising schedules between clubs. Getting your renewal in promptly
also prevents any interruption of your Mainsheet magazine subscription
(should you elect to pay the additional $12 subscription fee for it).
- Jim
Vice Commodore
By Jess Schefstrom, C42, Kira Lynn
I know most of us think
the dark days of a NW Oregon winter are interminable and that this
season has been especially dismal, but on a recent walk, Mary and I
distinctly felt warmth from a rare appearance by Sol
and a genuine smell of a Spring yet to come.
The days are getting longer, and before you know it we will be
poking our boats’ bows out into the mighty Columbia again.
Thoughts on the Portland Boat
Show were a mixed bag.
The numbers of show goers seemed down a bit, but people were still
optimistic about the boating season ahead.
Heck, we spent more money in this show than ever.
The big purchase was an 1800 watt Xantrex inverter for the “Kira
Lynn”. The lesser ones
were a new pair of sea boots and, perhaps, the one we will use the
most, “Shamwow” towels.
As always, we had a nice visit with Roger Lonberg of River City
Sailing, and he echoed our feelings of wanting to get out on the
water.
Doug and Jonell have some
great ideas for the cruising season ahead, and Mary and I would
encourage everyone to join our cruises when they occur. We like the
“low key” nature of our cruises.
The letter we received from
Sea Tow informing us that the local dealer was no longer in business
concerned us, but I guess, we are still covered, rather obliquely.
Hopefully, some local entity will pickup the dealership.
We are in the planning
process of having some real interesting presentations in the next
several months for our regular meetings.
February’s meeting will be at the North Sails Loft (7911 NE
33 rd) beginning at 7:00 pm.
Our host will be Kerry Poe, and he will talk about the ins and
outs of Cruising Spinnakers.
I know several members who are quite interested in this
topic. Spinnakers can
be intimidating, and a “handful” in a breeze, so Kerry will educate
us on the wonder and beauty of those “balloon sails”.
Pencil
in March 18 th
on your calendars.
Larry Brandt will be presenting “Cruising the South Puget Sound”.
We have heard that some of the best cruising is in the
Southern part of the Sound.
Larry will really help us learn more about this area.
- Jess
Secretary/Treasurer
By John Kerrigan, C30, Different Perspective
The Thanksgiving Cruise
My bright idea on a fitting final flourish to
the 2008 cruising season was to take my trusty Catalina 30, Different
Perspective, on one last voyage before the ceremonial draining of the
water tanks, affixing the heat lamps in the engine compartment and wrestling
with the winter cover (best not done in a 25 knot wind with frozen rain,
I’ve discovered…). My trusty sailing buddies, Steve and Mike, had gotten the
needed dispensations from their respective wife/mom and off we went after
stocking up on the usual beer, baloney and Jamesons the Saturday after Black
Friday. Forecast was for temps in the 40s and a small chance of
precipitation.
The open railroad bridge seemed auspicious as
well, and we made good time down the river, dodging the usual assortment of
huge car carriers, freighters and barges before arriving intact at the St.
Helens Municipal Dock around mid-afternoon. An enjoyable dinner at the local
pizzeria was followed by Sunday breakfast at the Kozy Korner Café and we
were back at the dock and ready to cast off for the return to Portland by 11
AM.
However, the weather gods had other ideas, and
within 15 minutes we were immersed in an impressive fog bank that prevented
us from seeing even the red flashing day marker on Sand Island much less the
other side of the Columbia. We kept waiting for it to clear but wisely
decided that hearing one of those 500 decibel fog horns (attached to a
freighter) coming up fast behind us in the fog was an experience best left
to the imagination and/or folks with stronger sphincters. I may also now be
willing to reconsider my “Radar?! We don’t need no stinkin’ radar!” stance.
By 2 PM we concluded that even if the fog
lifted we wouldn’t make it back upstream to Portland by nightfall and so
settled in for another night. Due to the lack of the big screen plasma TV on
board (next season’s mod), we decided to take in Twilight at the
Columbian movie emporium. While Steve liked it (he likes everything), I
concluded that movies about teenage vampire heartthrobs named Edward are
popular with middle school girls for a reason and plan to avoid future
episodes. It was also noteworthy, if a bit disorienting, to see the same
theater we were sitting in featured on screen.
The happy ending occurred on Monday morning
which dawned minus the fog and we enjoyed an uneventful journey back to
Hayden Bay. I’m already making plans for next season’s cruises which I hope
will include Cathlemet and Astoria.
- John
Cruising Chairman
By Doug McClary, C309, Capriccio
Hello again! I’m starting to settle in to the
awesome responsibility of your Cruise Director. Included in my duties is
representing CRACA at the monthly Columbia River Yachting Association
meetings. Discussed at the January meeting was a move by the US Coast Guard
Sector Portland to Astoria. This was done to consolidate their
administrative facilities for Homeland Security. The Cutter Blue Bell will
remain in Portland performing maintenance on buoys and markers. Also staying
will be Station Portland and their 25’ boats and the Marine Safety Unit.
Our first cruise of 2009 will be March 28th
& 29th at Hadley’s Landing. It was suggested at the January club
meeting that we have an “event” at each cruise such as a Wine / Beer
tasting, Chili Cook off, etc. I’m lookin’ for ideas here! Send me a note or
call me with your best event idea.
A requirement of our Club membership is an
annual Safety Check. To that end, we’re tentatively planning a cruise-in at
Salpare Bay Marina for Saturday April 26th. The Coast Guard
Auxiliary will be there to administer safety checks. You can mosey in for
the day or stay over. Slips will be available for overnight stays Friday or
Saturday nights. Contact Jim Elieff at 503-706-3081 for reservations.
I’m hoping to get an early start at planning
this summer’s Down River Cruise. Please let me know if you’re interested so
I can get a mast count! It’s happening the end of July through early August,
winding up at the Rendezvous August 8th.
Looking forward to a monumental cruising
season!
- Doug McClary – (503) 997-4915 –
doug.mcclary@comcast.net
Rear Commodore
By Alden Andre', C38, Fly Bye
<No Submission>
- Alden Andre
Communications
Officer
Open Opportunity for someone wanting to
gain experience as a web master!
Vacant
Safety Officer
Open Opportunity!
Vacant
Historian
Open Opportunity for a
scrap booker!
Vacant
Catalina Newsletters of
the Northwest
Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:
Upcoming Events
February
- 18th, General Meeting
- 5:30 PM,
Pizza Mia, 914 N Anchor Way, pre-meeting dinner
- 7:00 PM,
North Sails Loft, 7911 NE 33rd
- Kerry Poe
- "The ins and outs of Cruising Spinnakers"
March
April
See the calendar
The Columbia River All Catalina Association
newsletter is published once a month online at
ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org. Articles are the opinions of the authors
and don't necessarily represent the consensus of the Association.
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