200403

From the Commodore

By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

I hope your boat came through the winter well.  The improving weather and rising temperatures has created that natural tension between yard and boat projects around the Mack household.

I want to thank everyone who attended the Boat Show Survivors Party held in lieu of our February meeting.  The Willamette Yacht Club was a nice venue for the event, which was attended by over fifty members.

One of the unadvertised perks of being commodore of a club that belongs to the Columbia River Yachting Association is that you get invited to all these Commodore Balls from all the other member clubs of CRYA.  I couldn't figure out why I was receiving the invitations (I hadn't received them in the past) until about the eighth one arrived and it occurred to me that it must be because I'm the current CRACA Commodore.  Since several of the invitations mentioned that I and my first lady were invited to attend at no charge, I'm wondering whether we can  use them as carrots when trying to find a candidate to run as Commodore (just kidding).

At the end of February I ran Celtic Myst up to Bartlett Landing (a.k.a. Government Island, East Dock) to checkout the progress on the new docks.  Despite being overcast, it was a beautiful day.

Awesome is the only word that came to mind to describe want I encountered.  I've include a short story on what I found later in the newsletter.

Cruising

We are primarily a cruising club and to that end we sponsor a number of cruises to local destinations.  This year's cruising schedule skipped March due to low turn out in 2003, so our first overnight cruise is to Bartlett Landing (Government Island, East Dock), April 24-25.  This cruise destination is a change from our originally published Gilbert Island destination, which no one volunteered to host.  I've checked the CRYA 2004 Cruise Schedule and no other club has an "official" cruise to Bartlett Landing April 24-25.

CRACA likes to have a Cruise Host identified for each cruise as a way of providing those interested in attending with a single point of contact for asking questions, and hearing about additional details related to the cruise.  The service is especially important to families who haven't been to the destination before because they typically have lots of questions from what to bring to local knowledge about tides, berthing, anchoring, and bottom conditions.

As you'll see later in the newsletter, we still have several cruises in need of a Cruise Host.  I'll be asking our Cruise Officer, Jim Elieff, to start calling folks in an effort to fill the remaining slots by our April meeting.

Nominees for CRACA Officers

I want to thank the efforts of our nominating committee for finding volunteers to run for office.  The Nominating Committee (Jim Himes, Kelly Martin, and Jim Elieff) have submitted a slate of officers for the membership to vote on at our April meeting.

• Commodore, Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
• Vice Commodore, Jim Himes, C28, R-Time
• Secretary/Treasurer, Kelly & Debbie Martin, C30, Zonkers
• Cruise Officer, Jim Elieff, C30, Fortune
• Communications, Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
• Hospitality Officer, Dave Peoples, C42, Jammin
• Historian  
• Safety, Mike Moen, C30, Born Free

Secretary/Treasurer

By Kathleen Lewis, C42, Wind Raven
Please welcome our newest members:

Jon and Joanne Mangum of Portland

• Catalina 42, Hulakai, berthed at Tomahawk Bay
• The Mangums live aboard their boat.

Larry Wintermeyer from Keizer, OR

• Catalina 42, Down Wind Drifter, berthed at RCYC

Reminders

Dues renewal notices have been mailed and many have already been returned. Thanks to all who have rejoined.

Kathleen Lewis, email sewingmaven@msn.com

Hospitality/Boat Time

By Dave Peoples (Hospitality Officer), C42, Jammin'

Hospitality/Boat Time--not unlike "Island Time":

A Massage for the Mind

You can live in a neighborhood for years and never know your neighbors, but dock your boat, visit it often during the year, and you have a circle of support and new friends. I don't know if it is just in a boater's nature to be friendly or natural curiosity but boat neighbors speak more freely than fence neighbors on land. Stories, equipment, hor'dourves, advice, beverages, and books are exchanged, and before you know it what you intended to do on your boat gets pushed to that illusive time known as "tomorrow" or "next time".

We may not use the boat as often as we like, but every trip out to see it and "work" on it has yielded another friendly conversation with other boat people. So as March approaches and spring cleaning the slime crosses our minds, remember to put some snacks together for that trip to the boat and keep in mind a conversation massages the mind and there is always "tomorrow" in the mind of boat people.

We’ve Signed On for Another Big Year with BoatU.S.!

Boat USThe BoatU.S. Cooperating Group Program (BoatUS.com) has proven so popular with members that CRACA has renewed our “partnership” for another year.

Because of this special arrangement, you get 50% off when you join the nation’s largest association of recreational boat owners. You pay one-half of the regular BoatU.S. dues of $19.00—only $9.50 a year!

If you’re already a BoatU.S. Member, you can now renew your Membership at the low $9.50 rate.

BoatU.S. Membership benefits include:

• An effective lobby that fights unfair taxes, fees and government regulations that single out boat owners.
• Discounts and Member Rewards with purchases.
• Discounts on fuel, overnight slips or repairs at more than 700 marinas.
• Low-cost, high-protection boat insurance, included.
• On-the-Water Towing, with your choice of service levels—from $50 per incident (included with Membership) up to Unlimited Service—provided by the nation’s largest towing network.
• BoatU.S. Magazine—a full year’s subscription is included with Membership!

If you are renewing your BoatU.S. Membership, be sure to mention our Co-op Group # GA84677B to get the special $9.50 rate.

Boat Show Survivors Party

By Dale Mack (Commodore), C30 Celtic Myst

Our February 21st Boat Show Survivors Party was well attended.  CRACA provided pizza,  dessert, non-alcoholic beverages along with plates, cups, napkins, utensils, etc.  I want to personally thank Kelly and Debbie Martin (C30, Zonkers) for making the Costco run that brought to the party everything but the pizza.  Several members brought beer and wine to share with their fellow CRACA members.

The Willamette Yacht Club facility on the water at Tomahawk Bay Moorage was very nice and well outfitted with everything we needed.  We're hoping to use the WYC clubhouse for some of the activities associated with our rendezvous in September.

I'd also like to thank those that came early to help set up and those that stayed late to tear down and clean up.  It was a fun evening, and definitely worth considering for becoming a permanent fixture on the CRACA schedule.

Plans for the March Meeting

By Dale Mack

What

• General Membership Meeting
• This is a bring your own beverage and dinner event.  The grills at RCYC will be hot and ready for your use.  The evening is primarily social in nature.  There will be a brief business meeting followed by more socializing and some special interest group discussions regarding some exciting upcoming CRACA events.

 Where

Rose City Yacht Club
www.RoseCityYachtClub.org
3737 NE Marine Drive
Portland, OR  97211
503-282-2049

 When

• Wednesday, March 24th
• 6:00 pm Dinner
• 7:00 Program

Program

• All Catalina Rendezvous.  Seeking volunteers to help organize the event.
• Gilbert River Cruise.  Discuss plans for the April cruise, and identify a Cruise Host.
• Catalina 30 Racing.  Plans for the Spring Regatta

Plans for the April Meeting

By Dale Mack

What

• General Membership Meeting
• This meeting will be held at the North Sails loft. After a brief business, meeting to elect our new CRACA officers, sail loft owner Kerry Poe will discuss sail trim and sail care.  For those who don't have time to eat before the meeting, Kerry has offered to set up a BBQ if you'd like to bring something to cook, or you're welcome to bring something ready to eat.

 Where

North Sails Oregon
www.northsailsoregon.com
7911 NE 33rd Dr.
Portland, OR 97211
503-282-4282

 When

• Wednesday, April 28th
• 6:00 - 7:00 pm, Dinner & Social
• 7:00 - 8:30 pm, Election & Program

Program

• Sail trim, care, and selection.  Kerry said he'll pull together something targeted at cruisers like CRACA.

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Cruising

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Bartlett Landing Facelift

By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

We reported in the February newsletter that Bartlett Landing (a.k.a. Government Island, East Dock) was scheduled to be renovated.  Late in February, I decided to check it out.

All the old wood pilings, dolphins, docks, and ramp have been removed.  Sitting in their place is an exquisite new facility with metal pilings, concrete docks, and an aluminum ramp that will float in case of very high river flows.  Upriver of the docks is a series of pilings and a log boom designed to deflect or trap debris that might damage the facility.

A pair of parallel docks replaces the old arrangement.  The outer dock is twelve feet wide, and the inner dock nearest the shore is ten feet wide.  The docks have been located further from the shore which should help keep the landing popular even during low water times.

Shoreside there are fire pits, BBQ stands, and picnic tables.  The sandy beaches are great for walks, and the abundance of trees provides lots of shade in the summer.

The two new composting toilets located at the landing set the standard by which similar facilities should be judged.  They are well lit by way of translucent roof panels, and very clean (at least when I visited).

Bartlett Landing is less than a two-hour motor upriver from the I-5 bridge.  I suspect with all the improvements, the landing's popularity will only increase.

As mentioned earlier, we've changed the destination of our April 24-25 cruise from Gilbert River to Bartlett Landing.

Looking ahead on the schedule, CRACA has a planned cruise to Bartlett Landing on June 19-20, and the Cruise Hosts are Michael and Kathleen Lewis (C42, Wind Raven).

Looking for Cruise Hosts

CRACA is in search of four (4) volunteers to serve as Cruise Hosts for the 2004 season.

If you can help, contact Jim Elieff at elieffmaan@yahoo.com or 503-254-7758.

Month	Date	Destination	Host
April	17	Daysail:  After West Marine Swap Meet	<< no host required >>
	24 - 25	Government Island - East Dock
May	15	Daysail:  After Tomahawk Bay YC Swap Meet	<< no host required >>
	21 - 23	Ladies Cruise	<< no host required >>
	28 - 31	Martin Island
June	19 - 20	Government Island - East Dock	Michael & Kathleen Lewis
July	17 - 18	Sand Island, St. Helens, Upper Dock
	31 - Aug 8	Cathlamet	Dale & Laura Mack
August	20 - 24	Beacon Rock
September	17 - 19	Catalina Rendezvous, Tomahawk Bay Moorage	Dale & Laura Mack
	25	Sail for the Cure	<< no host required >>
October	23 - 24	Coon Island - East Dock

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Racing

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Catalina 30 Racing

By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

Three boats have so far signed up for the SYSCO Spring Regatta, April 24-25.  The boats include:

• Bob Gales, Imagine, #5217
• Duane Christensen, Stormy Weather, #1418
• Dale Mack, Celtic Myst, #6382

More information on local racing can be found at:

https://c22pdx.blogspot.com/p/fleet-20-racing.html

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Local Sailing Associations

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• 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.