Commodore
By Ralph Ahseln, C27, Oblio
The question about whether business meetings could be held on alternates months had everyone’s interest. I would like to hear from you all on this subject. Also the matter of where to meet is always a puzzle. Since we are a quite geographically dispersed group, finding a convenient location is difficult. Combining the alternate meeting months and meeting place problems will be a challenge. The association needs your input on these issues!
Our August meeting ended with a rather exciting discussion about the coming Rendezvous/Cruise to Sand Island. There have been a few changes in what you have heard, but it will happen and we look forward to seeing you there. There is a phone tree calling every member to find out who will be going. Please, contact either the Annis’ (Terry & Kathie) 360-260-0426 or the Wiittke’ (Walt & Marilyn) 503-684-4409 of they haven’t talked to you. We need to know how many to plan for.
Northwest Events
Labor Day has past and to some it signals the end of summer. Not so with the Columbia River All Catalina Association. The days may be getting shorter and a bit cooler but there is lots of things happening that you can be a part of. We'd love to have your input and help. It is what an association is all about.
I just got back from a trip to Victoria BC. I think it’s the 17 or 18th year I’ve attended the event called, “The Victoria Realty Board’s Classic Boat Show”. Vessels of all kinds are moored at the Inner Harbour of Victoria. The vessels must have been built before a particular date or, if newly built, must be from a design of that date. That means most of the vessels are of wooden construction. Beautiful, shinning and expensive. It’s quite a sight. Along with street musicians, clowns and jugglers, this event is one of highlights of the year and one I wouldn’t miss. If you have any questions or an interest in attending next year let me know.
Also along the “What am I going to do this weekend? “ question. For those of you who have a hankering to do a really crazy, boaty thing. Saturday September 7 the Seattle Boat Swap meet does it’s Semi-annual gathering. You probably missed this fall’s event. But if you want to drive to Seattle, get up at 4 AM Saturday and stumble around in the dark with your flashlight looking at used boat gear, this is for you. It happens twice a year, spring and fall, and is another (for me) “ I wouldn’t miss it “ events. It’s crazy and fun and once in a while you can score some really great bargains. Again if you are interested, contact me for details.
All in all it has been a fun summer for me. I hope for you as well.
Rendezvous at Sand Island, St. Helens
Be sure to contact Jim Elieff 503-706-3081 If you have any questions about upcoming cruise events.
I do want to give you an explanation of why the decision was made to change the format of this year’s Rendezvous. I won’t go into all the reasons except to tell you there was some confusion and misunderstandings. Some assumptions were made that proved to be wrong and time ran out before corrections could be made. As a result, I decided to change the rendezvous to a picnic and potluck.
Since Sandy Island at St. Helens is an open public marine park, I thought that making the event an “Open to All “ event would allow us to invite non-members as well, thereby making it a membership recruitment social as well. There have been some objections to this by some members. I don’t think it will be a problem because at this date no non-member or “outsiders“ have shown an interest in attending.
The idea of having a potluck event was selected in an effort to eliminate the problem of money collection and record keeping. Time was virtually gone. There have been some suggestions that CRACA could provide some of the meat and soft drinks. That issue is yet to be resolved. For now, those coming should expect to bring their own main course. You will be asked to bring a side dish or appetizers by separate email or phone. You know the old last name starts with A to ? bring a salad bit.
The issue of prizes and or mementos (such as T-shirts, caps, etc.) was a sticky issue. Again, because of the problem of collection of fees in a timely way. Because of the communications I received from several members some time ago, not to have them pay for such things, I felt it was prudent to forego them this year. Since that time several other members have expressed disappointment that we are not having them. I think we can come to some kind of compromise on this soon.
And lastly, since it is on an island, we will provide a shuttle boat between St. Helens City Docks and the Upper Docks on Sand Island. But we would like to know approximately when you will come and how many will be in your party?
So here is how it stands..
- There will be a rendezvous at Sand Island September 20-22
- It will be open to friends and non-members
- We will have a picnic potluck
- You will have to bring your own main dish and a pot luck side dish
- You should bring your own beverages
- There will be dinghy shuttles for “Drive Downs”
- Some kind of memento will be available, either during or after the event.
- And just for the heck of it, bring a stick of wood and we'll make a big bonfire to end the event.
Please Contact me if you have any comments or questions.
Past Commodore
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven
The sea I found
Calm as a cradled child in dreamless
slumber bound. -- Percy Bysshe Shelley
I am reluctantly back from our annual cruise to the north. Our trip was great. Travels were as far north as Point Roberts and South to Case Inlet (almost Olympia).
The last leg of the trip offshore was as Shelley described it…”Calm as a cradled child in dreamless slumber bound”. Virtually not a breath of wind and like glass until we started across the Columbia River Bar. It did, however, freshen up a bit (28 knots). Buoy 10 fishing was in full swing and so we motored through the maze. The entrance into Astoria West End Marina was “interesting” with the wind howling. After making the entrance, I put Wind Raven in reverse gear (2000 rpm) to slow down as the wind continued to howl. The landing was hot, as they say, and I think I have an appreciation for landing on an aircraft carrier. But due to expert handling and crew effort, we made it safely and without incident into the slip.
We plan on bringing the boat back up river for the Catalina Island (aka Sand Island at St. Helens) Rendezvous on September 20-22, 2002. We are looking forward to seeing all of the Catalina Owners on the Columbia River at what promises to be a great weekend. Visiting with great sailors, seeing new boat toys and exchanging cruising stories will be great fun.
Come early and stay late.
Secretary/Treasurer
By Kathleen Lewis, C42, Wind Raven
Please welcome our newest members:
Russ and Maureen Lippert of Gresham, ORWe have 68 members on the roster. Several of these are some that indicated an intent to renew their membership and have not done so yet.
- Catalina 30 (1986) - Emmanuel - at McCuddy’s
- (Editor's Note: Russ and Maureen moved up from a Catalina 22, and are former members of Catalina 22 Fleet 20.
A reminder that any changes in roster information should be forwarded to me.
Burgees are still available ($20). If you have any problems with yours, let me know. One member has noticed that the white fabric has changed color. This may be a fabric defect that might be correctable.
The August issue of Mainsheet should be in your hands by now. Any questions or concerns, contact me. The next issue is November and the list of subscribers is forwarded to them by October 10th. Any changes of names, addresses, etc. should be to me before then.
Hopefully, you’ve all had a good cruising season and I look forward to sharing boating experiences at future meetings and events. This is part of what makes this organization work.
Cruising
Halloween Cruise to Coon Island, October 26-27
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic MystLaura and I have volunteered to serve as the cruise host for the October cruise to Coon Island. This will be our first time as cruise hosts for CRACA, and our first trip to Coon Island (we passed by it traveling from St. Helens to downtown Portland back in July). If you're looking for a relaxed weekend then please consider joining us.
Details about departure times for those wishing to travel together with will be communicated via email and in the October issue of the newsletter.
Activity Opportunities
- 1.5 mile nature trail hike around the 23-acre island
- Exploring in kayaks and dinghies
- Boat tours
- Reading
- Napping
- Games
- Saturday afternoon Pupu hour before dinner (shared appetizers prior to going off and taking care of our own dinner arrangements)
- Saturday evening smores and marshmallow roast at the gazebo fire pit
- Sunday morning coffee chat around the fire
What to Bring
- Wood for the Saturday evening and Sunday morning fires
- An appetizer to share Saturday afternoon
- Your dinghy or kayak if you've got them
Coon Island
Coon Island is located on Multnomah Channel and hosts the J.J. Collins Marine Park. Starting from the mouth of the Willamette River, the trip to Coon Island via Multnomah Channel is about sixteen miles.
Docks are available on the west and east sides of the island. The docks on the east side are closer to a gazebo, fire pit, picnic tables, and a self-composting toilet.
Epilog to Beacon Rock & Beyond, August 16 - 25
By Walt Wittke, C27, Senior MomentsThe Wittkes enjoyed working with Craig & Julie Beck, our co-organizers for this cruise. We also want to thank them for the nice dinner at their home and for all their hard work, ideas, and support that went into planning the cruise. For the eleven of us who attended the skipper’s dinner meeting at Jubitz prior to the trip, thanks again Craig for the idea.
We wish all of you could have joined us on the cruise. As usual it was fun getting to know and enjoy other members in our group as well as learning various sailing, rigging, and navigation skills from each other. All our cruises are considered to be a success whether we have one or thirty boats. There are new faces each time. This trip was no exception.
Several of us left at 10:00 am Friday the 16th as planned:
- Walt & Marilyn Wittke, C27, Senior Moments
- Bill & Marla Simon, C270, Windswept (thanks, always on time)
- Jim & Lorraine Pickett, C36, Nepenthe
- Dave & Julie Thomas, C30, Sunchaser
- Gary Bruner, C25, Encore!
- Dale, Laura and Sean Mack, C30 Celtic Myst
On Saturday the association's cruise officer, Jim Elieff (C30 Fortune), drove his car up to meet us at Beacon Rock. The latter three members were new folks to the monthly cruises. Due to Julie’s dad’s illness, the Becks (C36 Beck-N-Me) could not join us until later in the week. As you can see from the list of boat sizes above, everyone is welcome no matter what size. I believe the best thing about this “progressive” cruise was that the itinerary allowed people to “hook up” as their schedules permitted. Hopefully next year the club will repeat this trip and others will want to join the fun.
Most of us motored to I-250 bridge, then sailed with winds astern to Reed Island. Some used spinnakers, others unfurled the jib sail only and the Wittkes went with the main and 150% genoa. Our first overnight stop was Reed Island where we anchored together. The Macks went directly to Beacon Rock to meet their family who was tent camping there.
The weather and scenery at Beacon Rock were perfect and there was the “rock” to climb, hiking, and kayaking. Jim Pickett said he had found paradise and people pay huge amounts of money to vacation in similar spots and we have “it all” in our backyard. We had to twist his arm to leave after three days to continue on to Cascade Locks.
On Tuesday morning the three of us (Wittke, Simon, and Pickett) headed through the locks. The others had to head home due to work schedules and such. Two ex-sailors who had trawlers joined us through the locks as well. I want to especially thank Nick Wigens (C42 Ursa Minor) for his helpful email suggestions that worked “slick as a whistle”. Here's Nick's email with my comments in red italics:
Hello Walt,
I read your materials and it looks like you are well prepared. We did go up to Hood River without the kids the week before last and had a good trip. It was our third trip to Beacon Rock and above the dam so I do have a couple of tips that might be useful.
When entering Beacon Rock you want to stay near the west shore (left side going in). It looks like it should be shallow from the shore profile but it drops off very quickly. The center of the channel is less than six feet as measured by our keel. This photo from part way up the rock shows the deep water by the current line. Stay 50 - 100 feet from the west shore once you get into the channel.
One of the real advantages of joining a club and going on trips is that others who have been there before can help you avoid huge mistakes. Case in point: when we were at Beacon Rock, a twenty-five foot powerboat entered the other end (wrong end) of the channel thinking this was the entrance! He was lucky that he didn’t destroy his whole inboard/outboard unit. As he entered the wrong entry, the strong current must had shot him into the narrow two foot deep channel. It meanders back and forth to what looks like a wide river that immediately gets ankle deep within a few feet on the sides. I had a difficult time in my inflatable dinghy with a 5 hp outboard from running aground on the rocks going slowly the opposite direction against the current. At the dock he commented that he had a rough time getting in. He asked how we did it and to my surprise he had entered the wrong channel. I pointed to the correct channel and asked him if he had charts. He asked “what are charts?”Thanks Nick and the CORP for the great tips. The locks were a fun experience. The three of us arrived at Cascade Locks moorage safely. During the late afternoon the Picketts joined the Simons on Windswept to try out the Gorge winds. They sailed up to Government Cove (four nautical miles east) with their jib sail and main reefed, they were back in a short time.
When going up from Beacon Rock the current can run 7+ knots mid-channel depending on how much water they might be spilling form the dam. Our experience has been to hug the WASHINGTON shore going up as the current is less there. Also, any barge traffic you might encounter will be on the Oregon side coming down. Stay on the Washington side in 12-14 feet of water and you will be OK. There is a shoal area near the dolphin a little way above Beacon Rock but it shows up on the chart.
[There are eight mooring bitts, four on each side. One mooring line should come from your stern cleat forward and another from your bow cleat to the back. While at Beacon Rock an Army Corp of Engineers workboat came in and I nabbed them for additional tips on locking. Besides drawing in pencil on my chart the most desirable route, their best tip in the locks was to attach the stern line first because with the strong wind behind you, the stern will swing out and your bow will point into the lock wall and potentially rub. This condition will also force skipper to back up trying to avoid other boats who are on the other side of the narrow lock.]
[Nick’s suggestion is to have] big loops in your mooring lines for the locks. I think a bight about 3' long is about right. If you aren't sure of your lassoing skills you might fasten a 3’ loop 8-10 feet from the stern cleat to a boat hook with a single turn of masking tape so you can lower it over the mooring bitt. Then 3-4 feet back tape the lines together to form a loop. The masking tape will break when pressure is applied around the mooring bitt. [With a mop handle, we did the same for the bow line. With the combination of two long lines, the mop handle and boat hook, we could keep the boat six feet away from the wall without touching our fenders and avoid “walking” up the wall with our hands. With the stern attached first, it will stop you moving beyond the mooring bitt.] The wind can be pretty wicked going in and getting stopped can be a little tricky. Catching the first trip in the morning at 9:00 should help, as the wind is much higher in the afternoon.
Nick
The next morning the Picketts and Simons caught the 12:31 pm lock down river to go back to Beacon Rock to meet the Becks. The Wittkes stayed another day resting at Cascade Locks where I started writing this report using dock electricity. Boy, it’s so nice to have electric lights and refrigeration. The following day we sailed all the way to Hood River averaging 7 knots upriver where we spent a couple more days. It was great fun. The sailboards and kites were out all over the place, but since we are bigger we ignored them. Hood River has a really nice moorage and the public dock is $7 a night with electricity. There are public showers a short walk and there is a walkway under the freeway to town where there is a neat hardware store, tourist shops and such. We plan to go again.
Due to a family situation we had to head back early to Cascade Locks on Saturday morning at 7:00 am. We motored against 3+ foot white capped wind waves and water over the bow but in sunshine. The heavy waves at half throttle lasted about a third of the way. The remaining two thirds was normal waves but windy. We arrived again in Cascade Locks at 10:00am as planned. We decided that we liked the area so well (great scenery, new area to sail) at this small but primo moorage that we left our boat in Cascade Locks for a low cost of $72/month with summer time electricity.
Beacon Rock from the decks of Celtic Myst
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic MystEver since the Beacon Rock and Beyond cruise showed up on the schedule, Laura and I knew we wanted to attend. We had missed a couple of previous CRACA cruises we had hoped to join because of demands at work, so I was determined to make at least the Beacon Rock portion of the cruise if nothing else.
Laura and I are still new to cruising the Columbia River, so opportunities to do it in the company of others, particularly for first-time visits to a destination are always welcomed. We also like meeting new people and getting reacquainted with sailing friends.
We arrived at the boat Friday morning, and by the time we had everything stowed, dinghy inflated, water tank full, and holding tank pumped, it was 11 am. The VHF chatter told us that the Wittkes in the C27 Senior Moments, Simons in the C270 Windswept, and the Picketts in the C36 Nepenthe were passing the airport. A little later we heard on the radio that Gary Bruner in the C25 Encore! was behind us.
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| C270, Windswept |
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| C36, Nepenthe |
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| C27, Senior Moments |
Our travel time from Tomahawk Bay Moorage to the entrance at Beacon Rock was seven hours and twenty minutes under power (about 4.0 knots upriver). We were a bit surprised because our C22 had made the trip in May 2001 a full fifty minutes quicker for an average speed of 4.6 knots.
We had loaned our tent trailer to Laura's dad Don and sister Kathleen, so when Laura pulled the boat up to the dock, there was Don to greet us. Dinner that evening was up at the camp where Kathleen had created a feast of salad, BBQ ribs, and prawns so large they could have passed for mini lobster. Our thirteen-year-old son Sean and his three-year-old cousin Taylor dined on the traditional camping favorite of hot dogs and beans.
With Saturday came the anticipation that we'd be joined by other CRACA boats later that afternoon. For the crew of Celtic Myst we passed the day reading, sleeping, or hanging around the camp chatting.
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| Encore!, Sunchaser, and Celtic Myst |
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| Windswept and Nepenthe. |
With everyone securely tied to the dock, out came the appetizers and several crews gravitated to the cockpit of Nepenthe for an impromptu Pupu hour. Ashore the crew of Celtic Myst and the campers prepared for dinner.
Dry conditions prohibited the making of a campfire, so after dinner, our propane camp stove served double duty as the marshmallow roasting station for the creation of smores. After a few failed attempts that looking like flaming troches until we extinguished them, we finally got the whole roasting marshmallows over a propane burner down.
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| Sean Mack in pre-cooked smores heaven. |
The first of our party to head back home was Gary Bruner aboard his C25, Encore!. The morning mist was burning off, and it looked like Gary was going to have a beautiful day for the trip down the river.
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| Gary Bruner, C25, Encore! prepares to head home. |
Sean loves rowing, so he spent most of the day in the dinghy, that is when he and his much younger cousin weren't have squirt gun fights near camp. I found walking the dog, or reading kept me entertained. Of course, reading naturally transitioned into sleeping, so Sunday was really just a lazy day spent under beautiful skies unwinding.
As the sun began to set behind the trees, the day's adventurers found their way back to the boats. The whole cove seemed to transform once the boats were in the shade and the water became so flat you could see features of the gorge reflected from its surface. It wouldn't be long before the aromas of a dozen different dinners filled the air. This time of the day was also when folks would tend to wander from boat to boat sharing the experiences of the day and learning a little bit more about each other.
I envied those crews that were planning to continue upriver through the Bonneville Locks. It had been a wonderful cruise so far, and I just didn't want it to end, but I knew that the crew of Celtic Myst needed to depart for Portland in the morning.
Monday's morning marine layer left the tops of the gorge walls shrouded in clouds and mist. There was no blue sky to be seen anywhere. The first hour of the return trip was pretty lumpy as west winds pushed against west flowing river current to create 1-2 foot seas. From Beacon Rock until we reached Cape Horn near Phoca Rock, conditions remained rocky. It reminded me of our trip in 2001 on the Catalina 22, but this time we stayed dry and it wasn't raining. As the morning progressed, the weather improved and the water flattened to provide great sailing conditions.
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| Heading home with Cape Horn in the distance. |
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| Laura Mack at the helm of Celtic Myst on a cool Monday morning. |
Notes for next time:
- Moorage at the dock for a C30 was $13/night
- Bring quarters for the showers (3 minutes for 50 cents)
- Great place for dinghies, kayaks, or small sailboats
- Bring less boat cleaning supplies;-)) I never got bored enough to want to just sit on the boat and polish fiberglass.
- Stay more than one night. Lots to do and see.
- Portland to Beacon Rock is doable in one day, but the anchorage at Reed Island sounded very nice and it would break up the trip when going upriver.
- Find time to go all the way to Hood River.
Racing
Why I Race
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
Our boats tend to come with more lines and blocks than we'll ever master in a lifetime. I race because it accelerates my learning. When I started sailing, all I knew about sail trim was what I could accomplish with the sheets. By the end of my first year, I was already paying attention to halyard tension, genoa block angles, boom vang tension, outhaul tension, and my jiffy reefing system for the mainsail. As I completed my second year of racing, the results of tuning the rig's shrouds and stays tension became something I could actually feel while sailing, and the boat's traveler and cummingham had become familiar tools in making the boat sail more comfortably.
Today, I'm still learning, and I use each race as a classroom for learning something new about sailing the boat. One aspect of racing that differs from cruising or daysails is that you can find yourself sailing in winds that might cause you to drop the sails if you weren't racing. Racing is also about getting to a specific destination in the most efficient manner possible, and that requires something different than the bank to bank zigzag sailing Laura and I enjoy doing after work or on the weekend when the destination isn't the reason for being on the boat.
Despite what your body might be telling you, carrying lots of sail and heeling over at extreme angles is typically not faster. What I've learned from racing about sail trim has extended the conditions in which Laura and I are willing to sail. I've learned how to flatten the sails or make them fuller. I've learned how to reduce sail or how to power up when the conditions require it. Probably most important for racing and cruising, is that I've learned how to make the boat sail flatter and more comfortable in a wider range of wind conditions than when I started sailing.
Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon
SYSCO promotes sailboat racing as a means to foster the development of boat handling skills and confidence. Racing provides sailors a learning experience to improve the performance and safety of their boats. Racing also provides excellent instruction in right-of-way rules, crew teamwork, and sportsmanship. Families are encouraged to participate as a team. SYSCO sponsored races typically consist of Level Fleet and One-Design competition without handicaps. The Club additionally sponsors a Spring Regatta in which PHRF handicapped boats are invited to participate. Monthly club meetings normally include a guest speaker. SYSCO offers Sail Education Week each year, including classroom presentations and on-the-water practice.
In addition to its Spring Regatta and two Evening Series races, SYSCO hosts a One-Design Regatta and a Race and Cruise to St. Helens. The Club's cruising events include a weeklong trip to Astoria in late July and excursions on Memorial, Independence, and Labor Day weekends. Race trophies and special awards are presented at the year-end awards celebration in October.
SYSCO has no initiation fees, nor do members pay fees for Club sponsored races. Members enjoy the unique camaraderie achieved from active, safe, fun, and competitive boat racing.
Catalina 25's Compete in the One-Design Regatta
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic MystThe first preparatory signal for the regatta was scheduled to go up at 2 pm, and I was carrying my gear down the dock to join Terry and Kathie Annis, and their friend Doug, as we prepared to race the Annis' C25 Lematike in the two-day, five-race SYSCO One-Design Regatta. The forecast for the event was clear skies and fair winds.
The late morning sun felt warm as I neared Lematike moored at Tomahawk Bay. Onboard my fellow sailors were busy running lines, stowing gear, and making preparations for getting underway. Around us, three other Catalina 25's were beehives of activity.
Four C25 skippers had decided to bring their boats out for some good-hearted fun. The boats came from Portland, Kalama, Detroit Lake, and St. Helens, and moorage at Tomahawk Bay was arranged for those from out of town. The boats were:
- Lematike, Terry and Kathie Annis
- Encore!, Gary Bruner
- Leucothea, Nate and Margaret Hanson
- Buzz, Ray Clift
The One-Design Regatta is sponsored by the Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO), and several CRACA families are members of both. As the regatta sponsor, SYSCO set the course, ran the race committee boat, and managed the starts and finishes for the races.
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| Crew of Encore!, Best Dressed |
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| Leucothea under spinnaker |
We raced three races on Saturday, and they were close affairs. Doug worked the foredeck, Kathie and I handled sheets, and Terry was at the helm.
The windward legs were work, and frequently turned into tacking duels as we tried to hang onto any advantage gained. The spinnaker legs were great. The additional sail area helped get the boats moving, and added another dimension to mark roundings as we had to coordinate dropping the chute, unfurling the headsail, while coming onto a new heading.
At the end of the three races, we were tired, sore, but thoroughly satisfied and looking forward to Sunday. I personally had been hit in the head four times by the boom, had run my shins into the cabin top numerous times, and my knees felt like one big bruise after crawling from one side of the boat to the other during tacks.
You know how the beer commercials always show celebrating accomplishments with a cold beer in your hand, well on Lematike we passed around something else;-)) I couldn't resist shooting a picture of Doug holding our much-beloved bottle of Ibuprofen.
After the races, all four crews headed to BJ's for pizza and burgers. It was great laughing about the day's adventures and getting to know each other better. We swapped notes about sail trim, tactics, and general observations about how each other's boat performed. We also decided that Sunday would be raced without spinnakers since Buzz had been struggling to stay close on the downwind legs.
Sunday brought more of the same great weather and wind. After three races on Saturday, anyone could still will the regatta. Onboard Lematike, we got out on the water early so we could practice wing-n-wing jibes. Doug and I decided to switch jobs to keep things interesting, so today I'd be working the foredeck. My singular goal for the day was to avoid getting whacked by the boom.
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| Encore! chases Leucothea wing-n-wing. |
We raced two more races, and had a great time despite struggling to figure out why we seemed so much less competitive on Sunday then we did on Saturday. The fleet's decision to drop the spinnakers helped close things up a bit, and the wing-n-wing configuration presented the crews with some new challenges, although downwind mark roundings got easier.
Three to four folks on board seemed to be about the right number for racing the boat. Of course, when the wind start blowing stronger we would have liked more crew along the rail.
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| Doug, Terry Annis and Kathie Annis aboard Lematike at the completion of the regatta. |
I also want to congratulate Gary Bruner and the crew of Encore! for winning the Catalina 25 class at the regatta.
The 2003 Catalina 30 Challenge
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
Technical Tips
What Fun this Was!
By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind RavenSo here we are cruising into the fuel dock in Port Townsend, just to top off the fuel before sailing up the Strait of Juan de Fuca and eventually home to Astoria.
I open the deck fill for the fuel, not the waste as pictured above, and the screw holding the chain to the cap goes “Ker-Plunk” into the bay and chain drops into the fill. These little screws apparently like to easily loosen by themselves and finding a replacement screw was not as easy as one might think. West Marine was at the top of the ramp but they said “keep on walking” to the Ace Hardware Store a mile away.
So with loose screws, we sailed on. The word is check your loose screws. What I have done now is to get longer screws and use Loctite to lock them on. The longer screws will allow the chain to rotate and not loosen, as is the case with the shorter screws. The Loctite is additional insurance.
But the Port Townsend Goddesses were not done with us yet. We anchored off downtown Port Townsend for the night and when pulling the anchor up in the morning, the crew decided to pull up a mast (perhaps from an old sailing ship?) from the bottom of the bay. It was at least as long as the boat and did not want to leave us easily. Surrounded by some of the tall ships headed to San Francisco, we lowered it and backed around for awhile before finally freeing Wind Raven and we sneaked out of Port Townsend. I know we provided some humor to the Goddesses.
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.
