Commodore
By Ralph Ahseln, C27, Oblio
I still shudder over the thought of one 10 hour “Long Distance Race” as Spinnaker trimmer. 90-degree temperature and all day long, with neck crooked and in pain, looking up at the Curl .The apparent wind zero and hot sun. There are times when there are BETTER things than sailing. That day anything would have been better.
I’ll leave the hot weather to you who like it. Give me a cool day and a “Cool One”. In fact the weather gave me an excuse to start up an old hobby of mine. Wine making. I currently have over 15 gallons of wine bubbling away. It should be ready around Christmas time. Hmmm.. A CRACA Christmas party .. white elephant gift ? Could be.
By the way, in an article seen a bit farther in this month’s Newsletter, I am experimenting with Wine equipment cleaners on my boat’s water tank. Interested ?? Read my article about using wine/beer making cleaners FREE.
Again no general meeting was held in July so there isn’t much to report. However cruise directors are busy and I guess everyone is getting lots of sailing in. These days are great for catching up on those little maintenance jobs too. What more could you ask for?
We still would like to hear from you about the things you’ve done this summer. And make sure you take lots of pictures that you can share with us all.
Don’t forget the Up-river cruise, there’s still time to join in. The All Catalina Rendezvous is a bit less than two months away.
Cruising and Gatherings
I’m sorry to say the Sandy Island (Kalama) cruise sort of didn’t happen. Heavy winds and hot weather convinced folks NOT to try it this year. Winds were clocked in the 30 + knot strengths and anchoring in those conditions is seldom fun. I missed the trip as well because of an illness that put me down for 4 days. I guess the river gods must have been fussy.
As noted before, Craig & Julie Beck along with Walt & Marilyn Wittke are busy preparing to lead the Beacon Rock & Beyond Upriver Cruise starting August 16th. If you need more information please contact them.
Walt & Marilyn Wittke, 503-684-4409, wwittke@pcez.com
Craig & Julie Beck, 503-283-3050, cbeck@cnnw.net
There have been a few bumps in the road regarding the All Catalina Rendezvous in September but those are being ironed out. It looks like the trip to Sand Island (St. Helens) will be one you won’t want to miss. The plan is to have an old fashioned picnic style gathering. Our hope is to allow everyone plenty of time to visit and share with each other. And lots and lots of food. It will be a potluck to end all potlucks. Open to all sail boaters on the Columbia, it should be a great time to brag about our Catalina’s.
Close
I need your help folks! Ideas on meeting location, program and activity suggestions, volunteers for cruise host and comments. We need to keep the association active and that requires your input. So please jump in.
Past Commodore
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven |
| Off the Washington Coast, new Cape Flattery, WA |
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| Rich and Jenny Freeman with crew member in Echo Bay on Sucia Island |
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| Owner, Kathy, with needles and yarn in a hammock in Echo Bay on Sucia Island |
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| Point Roberts, WA with one of those signs |
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| Dave and Helen Peoples in Montague Harbor with beachcombing treasure (Kathy thinks) |
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| Just another day, ho hum! Montague Harbor. |
Secretary/Treasurer
By Kathleen Lewis, C42, Wind Raven
It seems forever since I last said anything. Now that I’ve regained my “sea legs” after the days aboard Wind Raven I’d best let you know what’s going on.
We have one new member boat and several prior members have sent in dues since I last reported to you.
Please welcome:
Matthew and Laura Weiss of Brush Prairie, WAThe August issue of “Mainsheet” should be to you about the 15th. Again, let me know about any glitches with your subscription.
- Catalina 34 (1986) - Kings X - at Tomahawk Bay
Please let me know of any changes in your membership roster information.
General Meeting - August 28
By Ralph Ahseln, C27, OblioThere WILL be a regular meeting this month. August 28th.The last Wednesday of the month. Because I received several requests to have a meeting in the South part of our area, I have scheduled it to be at:
Damon’s RestaurantThis is the only meeting of the summer and we will discuss the upcoming Rendezvous at Sand Island, St Helens.
15230 SW Sequoia Way, Tigard
Dine, beginning at 6PM (1800)
Meeting at 7PM (1900)
Please put this one on your list of To Do.
From the Commodore's Salt Shaker
By Ralph Ahseln, C27, OblioFrom time to time I will add to the newsletter Items, links and just general chat. I hope you enjoy them.Always wanted to know how much is a “Hair’s Breadth” ? Or How much is a “Firkin“? OK not impressed? How about a “League“ as in 20000 Leagues Under the Sea" Try Measurements
http://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/units/index.htmlOnce you have found what a League is you would like to find out how many “Cable Lengths“ that would be? OR How many Tablespoons in a Pint? Or How OLD you are in “Dog Years” (I’m 14.5 dog years). Try Conversions
http://www.onlineconversion.com/OK. You are on the river and a vessel goes by you with a flag that is RED with a WHITE FLOWER in the middle. Where does it come from? Just about everything you wanted to know about Flags. Try flags
http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/Have fun.
In a Word - Sailing Trivia
By Ralph Ahseln, C27, OblioOk folks, it’s time to De-Bunk a very bad old story that’s been going round for a long time. It’s the silly story about “Cold Enough to Freeze the Balls off a Brass Monkey”. This myth pops up about once a year. Lately it’s even being published by some national magazines (obviously they don’t do much research). It goes something like this:
"In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannon fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. But how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of thirty cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem -- how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding/rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a "Monkey" with sixteen round indentations. But, if this plate was made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make "Brass Monkeys. Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannon balls would come right off the monkey. Thus, it was quite literally, cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey!"Sorry folks, NOT true and here’s why! First, there is no reference to "Brass Monkey" in any nautical reference book available today. There are no words even close to it. Therefore, assume it never existed as a nautical term. Second, the device that held ammunition on board was most likely WOOD, sometimes rope. A BRASS device would be unlikely to be placed on the decks of a fighting ship Brass would have been a poor choice. Bronze maybe but not Brass. In fact the "Holders" were called many things but primarily "Shot Garland " (sometimes called a Grommet). Which brings us to the real problem with that story, ammunition aboard those vessels was called either "Bombs" or "Shells" if they exploded or "SHOT" if they didn't explode. There was Round Shot, Bar Shot, Chain Shot, Case Shot, Cross Bar Shot, Langrel Shot. And if you were standing on deck or in the rigging Small Shot for hand held guns. So the THAT old Saying would have to be " It was cold enough to freeze the SHOT off a Garland": Kind of looses something in the translation Doesn't it :-)
Cruising
Beacon Rock & Beyond Upriver Cruise
Starting Friday, August 16
By Walt & Marilyn Wittke, C27, Senior MomentsIf you are new to the club or haven't gone on a cruise with us, we have just the ticket. The Becks and the Wittkes are leading a blow-out cruise slated to be the primo cruise of the year! We sincerely hope many of you will be able to attend some portion of the trip, if not all.
Currently there are 5-6 boats planning to attend the entire week trip. The trip is organized as a "progressive cruise" so those with limited time can join us at various points. The most popular section is Beacon Rock will be the first part of the trip below Bonneville Dam which could be done within the weekend by boat. However, an extra day on either side of the weekend would make it more do-able. We are figuring 6 knots -2 current=4 knots upriver and 6+2=8 knots down. This rough itinerary should give you an idea of how much time to block out from work, etc. Here is our suggested itinerary:
| Running n. Miles | Est. Hrs. | Date | Description |
| 15.2 | 3.8 | Fri 8/16 | Hayden Bay --> East Dock (lunch break) --> Reed Island anchor. Most of us are leaving Hayden Bay 10:00am. Call or email Walt if you want to buddy boat. |
| 29.7 | 3.6 | Sat 8/17 | Reed island --> East Skamania Island (optional break anchor) --> Beacon Rock dock you could even leave early Saturday morning in your boat and spend the day with us at either Reed Island or Beacon Rock. |
| Sat. Evening dinner: | Bring your hot dogs, hamburgers, steaks, fish to BBQ. (it was decided at the planning meeting that everyone is on their own for all meals but those without refrigeration would bring hors d’oeuvres for Friday night to share. Saturday night would be those with refrigeration. | ||
| 29.7 | 0.0 | Sun 8/18 | 2nd day at Beacon Rock dock –climb rock etc. Meet us at Beacon Rock today, if you are driving. |
| 29.7 | 3.7 | Those who have only the weekend may leave late Sunday or Monday afternoon. Trip home will be much shorter (29.7nmiles/8kts=is only 3.7 hrs!) Due to down stream current. | |
| 36.5 | 3.4 | Mon 8/19 | Leave early 7ish for Bonneville Locks --> Cascade Locks break or stay here or --> Government Cove anchor. Walk to stores-no taxi but few blocks west to char burger. No web site yet. (note: the trip to Bonneville Locks is slow going --2kts/hour because of the current where you must hug with the Oregon or Washington shore plus we will need additional lock wait time. Craig Beck recommends the Oregon shore - more about this at Beacon Rock before going) lock info can be had at https://www.nwp.usace.army.mil/op/b for Bonneville Lock and dam info. "How to Lock Through" sheet can be accessed on the web, or call (541) 374-8820 Bonneville Dam visitor center. Currently passage times for small craft are 9:00 am, 12:01 pm, 3:00pm, 6:00pm, 9:00pm going upriver. Half hour later going down river. We will need to check for any schedule changes before going. After we leave Beacon Rock one of us will need to hail the lock master so he knows we are coming. Once we arrive at the dam there is a staging tie up area. The lock master will assign each of us one of the eight mooring bitts. See “How to Lock Through” on web. (note: your friends can not view above the locks as before due to security) after you are in the dam it takes ½ hour to be raised up. The Port of Cascade Locks takes another ½ hour to get there. If you want overnight at Cascade Locks with the Wittkes, here is the info. They have a free dock first come first serve but because of limited space, you may have to take some paid moorage. Currently there are a couple of spaces available. Call ASAP if you want a guaranteed space. No electric on the free dock but on the paid docks electric is free. Dock rates are <31 ft $7 >31 $10 (same as Hood River). You will need to coordinate with Kris Miller at the Port of Cascade Locks. Kmiller@portofccascadelocks.org or 541-374-8619 she has been very helpful so far. Probably the best thing about Cascade Locks is their showers (.50 cents) after being out for 3 days!! And a chance to buy fresh food. There are many things to do such as going to various restaurants, hike a portion of the Pacific Trail up to a falls above the city, etc. or your friends can camp here too at $15/night or rent a hotel. At Government Cove there are no activities (much like Martin Slough). Caution: beyond the dam the river is narrow in places, at all times follow your charts. There are hidden rocks below the surface. Other places it looks wide but is shallow so follow the channel. As you know it can get very windy. According to one “old salt” I visited with at Cascade Locks, said that all you need is your small jib sail and you will be OK. Sometime bare boat (no sail) will push you along fine too. Early mornings are usually calm. |
| 36.5 | 0.0 | Tue 8/20 | Rest day at Cascade Lock or Government Cove. We will either dinghy up to the rest of the group or sail up. If you drive up to this point we will need to dinghy after you. (Government Cove 4-5 miles from city center. Take the main road through town to the east end of town. Turn left of forest road and follow it under the freeway. The road then goes under the freeway. Then parallel along the freeway and then again under it again. At this point turn left across the railroad tracks.) People can fish and climb the rock here but no camping or overnight on shore. Indian property. No stores or any of the above facilities. Call us on our cell phones. |
| 53.4 | 4.2 | Wed 8/21 | Government Cove --> Hood River take the mile hike to shop or taxi to discover Hood River, watch sail boarders, sail with the birds!! See their web site www.portofhoodriver.com click marina & moorage info twice. Scroll down to aerial map of marina or email porthr@gorge.net for questions.Sail across the river to Bingen, WA, 2.2 nmile east. After visiting this area with the car I do not now recommend it -no docks--no beach but may have beach now since the river is down--would have to dingy to public park & bath rooms but no other facilities-- have to walk quite-a-ways to town--little to see in town. For the really adventurous you could go up to the Dalles - additional 18 n. miles. If you like sailing this area Cascade Locks & Hood River have really reasonable moorage rates. From here on the group schedule are quite flexible - no definite plans. You may decide to stay one or two nights here or there. Going home will be faster since you have the current with you. Here is a possible itinerary. Remember you have the current with you. |
| 36 | 2.2 | Thur 8/22 | Start home from Hood River --> Cascade Locks. Stevenson is across the river but no dock or facilities here. River cruise boat docks here. Could pick up someone briefly when cruise boat is out. (they stop for interpretive center & Skamania Lodge.) |
| 29.7 | 0.8 | Fri 8/23 | Cascade Locks -->> through Bonneville Locks (+wait time) --> Beacon Rock(Multnomah. Falls no stopping-no facilities or anchorage) |
| 12.7 | 2.1 | Sat 8/24 | Beacon Rock --> Reed Island or Camas-Washougal city dock --meet drive ups for day sail home |
| 0 | 1.6 | Sun 8/25 | Camas --> Hayden Bay (take some extra time and sail from Camas or east dock) |
Here are some useful web links to visit as you plan your trip:
- How to use the locks
- Maptech's Map Server showing Bonneville Dam
- Cruising the Columbia River - Cascade Locks to The Dalles
- Port of Hood River
- Columbia River Gorge Visitor's Association
- Bonneville Dam and Lock - US Army Corp of Engineers
- Columbia River Gorge
Technical Tips
Bad Water in Your Water Tank?
By Ralph Ahseln, C27, Oblio(This is NOT a commercial)
Do you, as so many of us do, have a fresh water tank that is full of ICKY stuff? Does the water smell bad and taste bad? Tired of cleaning the tank out with Bleach? All the smell and taste! Would you like to try something that MAY remove the algae and dirt build up in your fresh water tank and freshen the water?
Well here’s the deal..
I have been looking into alternatives to bleach and some of the water purifiers for several years. As you may have read I recently got back into Amateur Wine Making. As it so happens Wine and Beer making has been using cleaning and sterilizing compounds for years. It is very important to a wine or beer maker to have their equipment clean and free of odor and taste.
For many years a Sulfur compound has been used that is quite effective in cleaning the equipment. The problem is that Sulfur Dioxide, while in small amounts is NOT dangerous; it does have an odor that can cause choking and coughing. Not dangerous but unpleasant. As I said I have been looking for an alternative for the boat as well as for my wine making. In doing some research I’ve found a couple products that are used in cleaning Wine and Beer making.
I contacted one manufacture about the possibility of using his product in BOAT WATER TANKS. He was quite excited about the possibility and suggested I set up a couple of tests with my boating friends.
This is where you come in..
Would you like to TRY to clean out your water tank or to sterilize it so it wouldn’t smell or taste bad?
It would be an experiment. But a very safe one. The material is NOT TOXIC. The Gentleman sent me samples to try. At NO COST.
There are TWO products. One that would be used to Clean.. Requires soaking for 24 hours and several FLUSHES. The Second one is a sterilizer. That can be run in the tank and NO Flushing is required. The products are free for our experiment. So it will only cost you TIME.
If you are interested in trying one or both, let me know. By the way, they work great on all the wine equipment I have.
Local Sailing Associations
- SailPDX (hosted by Oregon Corinthian Sailing Association, OCSA)
- Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO)
- Oregon Women’s Sailing Association (OWSA)
- Portland Yacht Club (PYC)
- Rose City Yacht Club (RCYC)
The Columbia River All Catalina Association newsletter is published online once a month. Articles are the opinions of the authors and don’t necessarily represent the consensus of the Association.
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