From the Commodore
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
Cruising
I missed the June 21-22 cruise upriver to Government Island's East Dock (officially called Bartletts Landing). I understand from Jim Elieff (C30, Fortune) that five Catalina's made the trip. Despite rain early Saturday morning, those that attended were treated to a break from June's unusual run of hot weather.
Individual plans to trailer up to Anacortes and spend one or two weeks sailing amongst the San Juan and Gulf Islands get underway for some members of CRACA this month. Many of our C22 and C25 members make this trip an annual event. I've enjoyed this cruise twice in a Catalina 22 and that experience is a big motivator behind wanting to take my C30 north someday.
Laura, Sean, and I will be tagging along with some boats from SYSCO as we explore the lower Columbia River for the first time (July 26 - August 3). We had originally planned to go the week of July 19-27 with CRACA, but when no one emailed back expressing an interest in the cruise, we decided it was more important to us to enjoy the adventure in the company of others.
Our Cruising Chairman Jim Elieff, tells me no one has volunteered to host the CRACA cruise upriver to Beacon Rock planned for August 16-23. I know from listening to folks on the docks that several boats are planning to attend, I just don't know who and what their itineraries are. Laura and I are planning to attend the first few days of the cruise, and we are looking forward to seeing some of you there.
Just a couple of reminders of cruises in September so you can get them on your calendar.
- Fourth Annual All Catalina Rendezvous (Sept. 12-14). This year the event is being held at McCuddy's Landing (formerly Brown's Landing) on Multnomah Channel. Open to Catalina's of all sizes, this event continues to grow and is becoming the premiere regional event for owners of Catalina Yachts. Featuring delicious potluck meals, boat tours, door prizes, and boat sponsored hors d'oeuvres, the rendezvous is open to all and can be easily reached by boat or car depending on whether you just want to come down for the day, or spend the weekend.
- Sail for the Cure (Sept. 20) sponsored by the Oregon Women's Sailing Association. Many Portland sailing clubs rearranged their schedules starting this year to leave this Saturday free in order to encourage participation. What is Sail for the Cure?:
I hope you're finding the time to enjoy your boat this summer and I invite you to participate in some of the upcoming CRACA events.
- An event organized by OWSA to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
- The event starts out with coffee & snacks at check-in, then we sail a "fun race" stressing cooperation more than winning, followed by a post event party with food and prizes.
- Each boat must be skippered by a woman (she doesn't have to own it to be the skipper), and men are welcome to crew.
- The entry fee is $20.00 per person, with all profits go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Secretary/Treasurer
By Kathleen Lewis, C42, Wind Raven
Please welcome our newest members:
Bennie and Deborah Harrison from Battleground, Washington
The list for Mainsheet subscriptions has been forwarded to the publishers. The issue should be delivered about August 15th. If you have any questions about your subscription please contact me.
Please notify me of any changes to your roster information. We will try to do periodic updates to all members so that the most current information is available.
If you want to fly the CRACA burgee, I have them available for $20.
Until we meet again, I wish for everyone fair winds and smooth sailing.
Kathleen Lewis, Secretary/Treasurer
sewingmaven@msn.com
Martin Island Update
For those of you who have worried that the Corps of Engineers would fill a part or all of the Martin Island lagoon, here is some good news.The states of Oregon and Washington issued the approvals to the Corps to proceed in its in efforts to deepen the Columbia River shipping channel from 40 feet to 43 feet. Both states issued conditional water quality certifications and conditional Coastal Zone Management Consistency concurrences required by federal law. The approvals were the final regulatory hurdles the Corps faced before issuing a Record of Decision and proceeding with the project.
However, the states did so with conditions. One of those by Washington's Department of Ecology is that the Corps will not fill Martin Island's lagoon. Recreational boaters voiced strong opposition to losing this popular mooring location. Instead, the state will require that a dense barrier of shrub vegetation be planted to help keep people off the island. The Corps will turn to alternate sites to make up for disposal options lost because of the state permit conditions.
For more information, try these web sites:
- DLCD: www.lcd.state.or.us
- WDOE: http://www.ecy.wa.gov
- WDOE: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/cr-channel.html
- ODEQ: http://www.deq.state.or.us/
Cruising
Government Island Cruise was Restful
By Jim Elieff, C30, FortuneJune 21-22. The Government Island cruise was fun but short. Marilyn and I had planned on going up on Friday night, but the weather was a little iffy so we left Saturday about 11am. The weather looked better until we got to the downstream tip of Government Island. I had been watching a squall that was behind us and it definitely was coming our way. When it hit us, it rained and blew so hard I had rain coming under my dodger to such an extent that I could not read my instruments. It passed over us before we reached East dock, and the weather was fine for the rest of the weekend. Five boats braved the weather. We all just visited and hung out the rest off the weekend. Those attending include:
- Dave & Julie Thomas, C30, Sunchaser
- Bob & Rick Teeter, C42, Camelot
- James Elieff and Marilyn, C30, Fortune
- Bill & Marla Simon, C270, Windswept
- John & Ann Marie Meyer, C34, Shekinah
Plans for the Beacon Rock Cruise
By Dale Mack (Commodore), C30, Celtic MystAugust 16-24. CRACA has an upriver cruise planned to Beacon Rock and beyond for August. At this time no one has stepped forward to host the cruise so we don't have a list of who might be coming, rendezvous times and locations for those wishing to cruise together, or any refinements to the original cruise itinerary. The schedule at the right is roughly what CRACA submitted back in December to the Columbia River Yachting Association, in order to help them coordinate the cruising schedules of various clubs to avoid congestion at boating facilities.
| Original Cruise Itinerary | ||
| Date | Day | Destination |
| 16-17 | sa-su | Beacon Rock |
| 18-20 | mo-we | Government Cove |
| 21-23 | th-sa | Beacon Rock |
| 24 | su | Portland |
I've overheard several members mention they are planning to go to Beacon Rock, but I haven't heard anyone state they are continuing onto Government Cove upriver of the Bonneville Dam. If last year's upriver cruise is any indication, the real itinerary is very loose and will probably change often to suit the individual needs of the participants For example, during the 2002 cruise we had some boats only attend the Beacon Rock portion of the cruise while others extended their cruise and passed through the locks at Bonneville Dam. Those wishing to get some sailing in on the way to Beacon Rock sometimes spend the first night anchored at Reed Island. Beacon Rocks is approximately thirty nautical mile upriver from the I-5 bridge.
Laura, Sean, and I are planning to attend the Beacon Rock portion of the cruise. This cruise can easily be enjoyed on a three-day weekend, and in fact one Catalina came up last year for just one night. Laura and I are going to stretch it over four days so we can enjoy the peaceful moorage and give Sean a chance to try out his new kayak.
| C30, Celtic Myst Itinerary | ||
| Date | Day | Destination |
| 15-17 | fr-su | Beacon Rock |
| 18 | mo | Portland |
Our plan is to get underway shortly after 6 am on Friday and motor/sail straight through to Beacon Rock.
I look forward to seeing some of you there. We had such a wonderful time on this cruise last year. It has definitely become one of our favorite places on the river, and the journey into the gorge is just breathtaking.
Mark McCuddy, of McCuddy's marinas, has generously offered at no cost to CRACA free moorage, power, ice, restrooms, showers, and the use of the covered area around the moorage office and store. Power for the 50' slips will require a 50A/250V adapter, otherwise, they are standard 30A. CRACA will be provided a map to the marina with available slips CRACA can use marked. A CRACA Docking Crew will direct and assist arriving boats.
The rendezvous is an open invitation to all Catalina owners both CRACA members and non-members to enjoy a wonderful weekend in the company of fellow Catalina Yachts enthusiasts as they open their boats for your personal tours and share hors d'oeuvres in the beautiful surrounds of McCuddy's Landing on the tranquil banks of Multnomah Channel. Participants are welcomed to arrive by car or by boat.
The planning committee has decided this will be a FREE event this year. There will be no charge to attend, although registration is still required so we can plan for how many boats will be coming. For those interested in clothing, hats, or bags embroidered with the CRACA burgee, orders can be placed during the rendezvous.
Registration packets for the rendezvous will be mailed out in August. From everyone on the planning committee, I'd like to invite you to this year's rendezvous.
Dale Mack, Commodore
Draft Itinerary
Friday September 12th
- Afternoon, Registration/Check-in starts on the committee boat (look for the boat flying the long red pennant). Please check-in upon arrival.
- Evening, Dinner on your own
- Continued Registration/Check-in on the committee boat.
- Morning, Breakfast on your own
- 1:30—4:30, Boat sponsored hors d’oeuvres, boat tours and refreshments
- 5:30, Bring you own dinner and visit together on the veranda, or walk over to Mark's on Channel and enjoy a wonderful dinner at a great little restaurant.
- 7:00, Potluck desserts, raffle, and door prizes at the veranda
- 10:00, Potluck Bunch on the veranda
Please bring one (1) gift per boat (value no more than $15.00) and drop it off at the committee boat upon arrival. The gift does not have to be Nautical.
Water and 30 amp power will be available on the docks.
You may want to bring:
- Folding chairs and a small table
- Dessert for potluck
- Hors d’oeuvres to share
- Gift ($15.00 or less)
Safety
Everyday Safety Aboard
By Dave Thomas (Safety Officer), C30, Sunchaser
The article talked about the importance of moving safely about the boat:
Always try to move fore and aft on the high (windward) side of the boat. You can brace yourself against the side of the cabinhouse, and if you fall you will most likely fall inboard.The article also talked about the importance of paying attention to your boat and equipment.
Avoid the low (leeward) side. You might trip over sails and sheets, and if you do fall, you are more likely to fall overboard.
When moving about a boat, keep your body's center of gravity as low as possible. Keep your knees bent when walking; in more extreme conditions, crouch or crawl. If conditions really get rough, sitting provides even more stability and grip.
- Nav lights working?
- Anchors and rodes stowed correctly?
- All seacocks shut with emergency plugs next to each?
- Deviation card for the compass?
- Do the bilge pumps work?
- Can you use the radio and other nav aids?
- All batteries charged?
- Flares, fire extinguishers, food and water aboard and securely stowed?
- Emergency steering gear accessible?
- Engine in good working order?
- Tools, spares, and manual aboard?
- PFD for every one onboard?
- Jackline rigged if going off shore? Do you have a harness and tether?
- Equipment on deck properly secured?
- Hatches secured?
Looking out the window I see the sun shinning and trees moving in the wind. Sounds like sailing weather to me! See you on the river, and safe sailing to all.
Oregon Boater Education Sample Questions
a. Are the stand-on boatMost sailboats and large cruisers:
b. Must veer to the left
c. Are the give-way boat
d. Must maintain course and speed
a. Have a flat bottom hullWhile boating at night, if you anchor away from dock you must display a white light visible from all directions.
b. Have planing hulls
c. Have displacement hulls
d. None of the above
a. TrueWhich of the following is NOT specifically considered reckless operation by Oregon law?
b. False
a. Operating a speeds greater than 30 mph
b. Chasing, harassing or disturbing wildlife, birds or marine mammals with your boat or PWC
c. Jumping the wake of another boat unnecessarily close to that boat
d. Boating in restricted areas
Technical Tips
Create a Deviation Table for Your Tachometer
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic MystI participate in an email discussion group for Catalina 30 owners, and a topic that frequently comes up is boat speed and tachometer readings. I've read messages about boats with the same engine and prop as mine claiming to go a full knot faster at a particular RPM. Since many tachometers don't read true, or haven't been calibrated, I became curious about how accurately my tachometer reflected what the engine was actually doing.
After casually discussing my project with a colleague at work, I was surprised to find sitting on my desk the next morning a small box containing a gauge used to measure shaft speeds. My workmate borrowed it from his brother who was a former diesel mechanic.
The following weekend, my son Sean and I took the boat out and ran the engine at various tachometer settings while Sean captured RPM readings off the engine with the gauge. The process was very simple and resulted in the table at the right.
What I learned is that my tachometer is pretty accurate around 1200 rpm and then gradually reads higher than the actual engine rpm's. When I plotted the data in Microsoft Excel I found that the deviation is predictable to within ±20 rpm.
The end result for me is that I'll be able to run the engine at the manufacture's recommended rpm setting for cruising now that I know what the tachometer needs to show.
| Tach | Measured | Delta |
| 1000 | 980 | 20 |
| 1100 | 1070 | 30 |
| 1200 | 1200 | 0 |
| 1300 | 1280 | 20 |
| 1400 | 1360 | 40 |
| 1500 | 1470 | 30 |
| 1600 | 1560 | 40 |
| 1700 | 1650 | 50 |
| 1800 | 1750 | 50 |
| 1900 | 1820 | 80 |
| 2000 | 1890 | 110 |
| 2100 | 1930 | 170 |
| 2200 | 2070 | 130 |
| 2300 | 2130 | 170 |
| 2400 | 2210 | 190 |
| 2500 | 2300 | 200 |
| 2600 | 2360 | 240 |
| 2700 | 2460 | 240 |
| 2800 | 2570 | 230 |
| 2900 | 2660 | 240 |
| 3000 | 2790 | 210 |
| 3100 | 2880 | 220 |
| 3200 | 2960 | 240 |
| 3300 | 2990 | 310 |
| 3400 | 3120 | 280 |
| 3500 | 3210 | 290 |
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment