Columbia River All Catalina Association: May 2004

From the Commodore

By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

The sails went back on the boat in early April after cleaning and waterproofing all the canvas. I'd been down to the boat every couple of weeks during the winter, so getting the boat ready for the season wasn't that big of a job.

The West Marine Swap Meet on Saturday, April 17 was fun. Although threatening weather seemed to effect participation, the buyers and sellers still managed to trickled in slowly. Terry Annis, (C25, Lematike) had a booth, so several of us used it as a home base from which we would periodically ventured out to make the rounds and check out any new arriving gear. After a couple of hours we packed it in and several of us headed over to Elmer's restaurant for breakfast. It was nice meeting all my fellow CRACA members who also decided to come out and just hang around other sailing enthusiasts.

I along with a mix of Catalina 22, 25, and 30 sailors took my boat out on April 27th and served as the Race Committee for the SYSCO Spring Series. Normally serving as the race committee is pretty straight forward. Pick the course, set the marks, start the race, eat lots of food during the activity, and finish the race. This normally predictable pattern was interrupted as we left the marina aboard Celtic Myst in wind conditions that were intense to say the least.

It was blowing a constant 25-28 knots with gusts to 31 knots. Everything about race committee duty seemed hard that night. The RC boat was rocking so much at times you didn't dare move about without holding on to something. The Boston Whaler mark setting boat was a constant threat to the RC boat even with more than a dozen fenders in place.

Despite the conditions, about two-thirds of the registered crews came to the line. At one point a Melges 24, driven by Kerry Poe of North Sails came screaming by the boat doing what we later learned was over seventeen knots upriver. It was an awesome sight, and as the race committee, we had a front-row seat.

If you'd ever like to learn more about sailboat racing from the race committee point of view, just let me know and I get you onboard the boat. All of the RC jobs can be easily picked up with five minutes of instruction so you don't have to worry about knowing anything about racing.

Future Race Committee dates include:

May 25, Tuesday
June 22, Tuesday

Kerry Poe of North Sails did a great job of explaining sail shape and how to use the various controls on a boat to adjust it at the Catalina Night at North Sails Oregon on April 28th. Each aspect discussed was accompanied by before and after pictures projected onto the wall of the sail loft.

Kerry also provided a charcoal BBQ for those who decided to bring their dinner to cook. We socialized and had dinner from 6-7 pm, and then enjoyed the presentation from 7-8:30 pm.

2004/2005 CRACA Officers

Our April meeting also voted in our officers for the coming year. I want to thank everyone for volunteering to run for office.

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 People, C42, Jammin
Historian << still vacant >>
Safety, Mike Moen, C30, Born Free

Secretary/Treasurer

By Debbie Martin, C30, Zonkers

Thank you to everyone that has renewed their membership for 2004-2005. Also thanks for updating your roster information.

The 2004-2005 roster is being printed this month. Copies will be available at the May meeting. Those unable to attend the meeting will receive theirs in the mail.

PLANS FOR THE MAY 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, May 26th
6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 Program

Program

Weather
Our very own Dave Peoples (C42, Jammin), will pass along some useful information on maritime weather.

Cruising

Martin Island Cruise, May 28-31

By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

CRACA's annual Spring trek to the lagoon at Martin Island is scheduled for Memorial Weekend. Last year's cruise saw over eighty boats from various clubs at the anchorage.

Most folks will probably arrive Saturday, although it's not uncommon for some to go down early to secure their favorite spots.

Plan on anchoring, because while there is a dock brought in by one of the yacht clubs, it is typically already taken earlier in the week.

If you'd like to raft-up instead of anchoring alone, please bring at least four dock lines and fenders. It is recommended that at least two your dock lines be equal to three-quarters the length of your boat or greater. Don't forget to stagger the masts when rafting up to avoid entanglements should the boats rock due to a passing wake or from folks stepping from one boat to another.

In a raft-up, every so often a boat will need to set an anchor (possibly bow and stern). Not every boat will need to set anchors, but come prepared.

It's not uncommon for folks to raft up during the day and then decide to spend the night anchored alone, rejoining everyone in the morning. Another common practice is rafting with one group during the day and join another raft in the evening.

Getting There

Note: Take everything I'm about to tell you with some caution since bottom conditions and water levels vary from year to year.

Martin Island is 23 nautical miles downstream from the I-5 bridge (St. Helens is 17 nm). The Portland to St. Helens trip is among the best sails on the Columbia River.

Landmark #1: Buoy "60"

From Portland you sail downriver passed St. Helens and on to red buoy "60" just downstream of Martin Island. The downstream end of Martin Island can be deceiving because as you look across the river to the Washington shore, it looks like open water, but there is a long sand bar lurking just under the surface. To navigate around this shallow area, go downriver to red buoy "60" and then head directly toward Martin Bluff where the water should be deep right up to the shore.

Landmark #2: Martin Bluff

Turn to starboard and now you'll be heading into the slough that leads to the lagoon. Because of shallow areas, and deadheads around Martin Island, it is advisable to stay mid-channel, watch your depth, and travel at a slow pace. It is also recommended that you transit this area on a rising tide so if you do become stuck the raising tide will help get you off.

Landmark #3: Entrance to Martin Slough

After some distance of paralleling I-5, the slough will curve back toward the river and eventually fork. Follow the curve to starboard and keep a watch for a cut into the island on the starboard side.

Landmark #4: Head right when the channel curves to starboard

Stay mid-channel going into the cut because it gets shallow along the edges. The shallowest water I've encountered has actually been in the Martin Island cut. Once in the lagoon, the water is frequently well over twenty feet deep. Because of the way the lagoon is shaped, most of the anchorage will not be visible until you emerge from the channel.

Landmark #5: Channel to the anchorage

Where to Anchor

Once in the lagoon you'll need to decide where you want to anchor. Along the west, north, and east shores of the lagoon you'll find wooden dolphins (pilings grouped together) used for securing log rafts. Most folks seem to anchor one of three ways:

Bow anchor set and stern line secured to a dolphin. The dolphin helps limit the swing.
Bow anchor and stern anchor set with bow pointed in the direction the wind is expected from. Stern anchor helps limit the swing.
Bow anchor only. Most affected by changes in the wind direction

Landmark #6: The Anchorage

As for location, I've seen boats anchored all over the lagoon. Near the NW shore seems to be a favorite, probably because the tall trees provide a windbreak when conditions are right.

Equipment

The lagoon in Martin Inland is great for water toys because it is protected from the wind, and the river's current and chop. You'll see rafts, rowing dinghies, kayaks, and an assortment of small sailing craft.

Flowers

It is a good idea to carry a tarp that can be made into a cockpit tent for protection from rain or sun.

Roses

It is cooler on the water than on land, so some means of keeping warm in the evenings, or in case of rain, is a good idea. Dress for the Oregon coast—bring clothes for hot weather, cold weather, and damp weather.

Social Information

You won't find lots of planned activities, so you can enjoy visiting when you want, and curling up with a book when that feels most appropriate. We'll probably share appetizers in the afternoon, but for all other meals, you'll be on your own.

Steep rose and berry covered banks along the east and west sides of the lagoon

This is a good destination for families. The lagoon offers swimming when the weather is nice, and the local protected waterways are always a draw for those who'd like to go exploring in a dinghy or kayak.

Laura, Sean, and I look forward to seeing you there. Don't forget to fly the CRACA burgee. In fact, why don't you fly everything you've got and you can tell us the story behind each one.

GEOCACHE / TEXAS HOLD'EM CRUISE

By Michael Lewis, C42, Wind Raven

June 19-20, 2004

Government Island, East Dock

Just an early reminder!

Mark your calendars now; this might be a once in a lifetime cruise to the new docks and facilities at Government Island -- East Dock

We will combine some fun like Geocaching and Texas Hold’Em. Bring your Handheld GPS and all of your copper pennies. We will Potluck, BBQ and Party Hardy under the new picnic shelter.

Be there!

Cruising Schedule

May 21 - 23, Ladies Cruise
May 28 - 31, Martin Island (Jim Elieff)
June 19 - 20, Government Island - East Dock (Michael & Kathleen Lewis)
July 17 - 18, Sand Island, St. Helens, Upper Dock (looking for host)
July 31 - Aug 6, Delta Cruise (Dale & Laura Mack)
August 20 - 24, Beacon Rock (looking for host)
September 17 - 19, Catalina Rendezvous (Dave & Julie Thomas)
September 25, Sail for the Cure
October 23 - 24, Coon Island - East Dock (looking for host)

Racing

Catalina 30s and 25s Race in Spring Regatta

By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

The race to the starting line had been intense. One boat had already withdrawn due to equipment problems, so when the second boat had to withdraw because of a family emergency, you began to wonder who would be next. For a weekend promising light to moderate winds, who would have guessed that just getting to the start of the first race would take such a toll on the Catalina 30 fleet.

Sailing, in general, is such a niche, so you can imagine how much smaller a niche sailboat racing is. Combine that with a desire to race One-Design (i.e. everyone in the same type of boat) and you start to get an idea of just how amazing it is when you can get three or more boats to come out and race.

The Catalina 30s Stormy Weather and Imagine approach the finish line wing-n-wing

In the weeks leading up to the SYSCO Spring Regatta, April 24-25, a combination of email, newsletter articles, and a piece in Freshwater News had drawn the interest of five Catalina 30s to come out for two days of casual spinnaker-free racing. By the time the first signal sounded to begin the regatta, five had become three as events had conspired against the C30 fleet.

LtoR: Kathie Annis (C25, Lematike), Sandy Thomas
(C27, WindChaser), Terry Annis, and Dennis Thomas

The Catalina 30s that raced One-Design included:

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

The Catalina 25 that raced PHRF against a mixed fleet was:

Terry & Kathie Annis, Lematike, #789

The wind on Saturday was moderate so the Race Committee set a short course for the Catalina 30s and a longer course for the PHRF fleet and faster One-Design fleets. On Sunday the winds where light and in one race I actually crossed the starting line stern first because I had missed judged the start and found the current trying to draw me over early as I sailed parallel to the line with my bow pointed upstream. Not my prettiest start, but we avoided being over early. How is it my stern crossed first? As the starting signal went off I put the helm over, and during the transition from pointing at the airport to pointing at the I-5 bridge we crossed the starting line.

Bob Gales aboard his Catalina 30 Imagine

While another five knots of wind would have been nice for the weekend, it was still great to get out on the water and shake the cobwebs out of everything. I want to thank the crews of all the boats who made the weekend possible for the skippers. I especially want to thank my crew for all their hard work. My crew was made up of:

Don Bateson, Catalina 22 Fleet 20 Captain
Richard Shockley, a crew member off of a Catalina 25
Christy and David Dykkesten, a husband and wife team who were looking for a crew position and had seen the piece in Freshwater News

Kathie & Terry Annis aboard their Catalina 25 Lematike

Safety

Vessel Safety Checks

By Dave Thomas, C30, Sunchaser

The Columbia River All Catalina Association charter calls for a Vessel Safety Check (VSC) on all member’s boats in the interest of safety. For more information check out www.safetyseal.net

Michael Lewis and I will be available again this year to do vessel safety checks. A safety check can be arranged by contacting Michael at 503-981-7467, or myself, Dave Thomas at 503-682-2935. We will also be available to do a VSC during our cruises.

Technical Tips

Failure Lurking in the Bilge

By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst

The first time I noticed something was wrong was when I heard the bilge pump motor running and saw the red bilge pump indicator lamp lit on the control panel. A quick inspection of the bilge confirmed the pump was running. A tap of my hand on the float switch turned the pump off. I sponged out the two quarts of water in the bilge and closed everything back up still puzzled why the pump had come on since there wasn't enough water to float the switch.

A return trip to boat the following weekend found the pump running again, this time in a dry bilge. While the switch still seemed to work, it worked intermittently. At the extreme ends, I could force an On/Off state, but in the middle, the switch was less predictable.

Convinced that the switch was faulty, I pulled it and split the case open. Sure enough, either through a crack in one of the glued seams or through the wiring harness, water had found its way into the switch. The switch works by having a steel ball roll within a chamber on top of a lever connected to an electrical switch. While the water had created some rust, it was the water in the electrical switch that was causing the intermittent operation. A trip to Boater's World equipped me with the necessary replacement float switch, after which it took about fifteen minutes to install. I haven't had any problems since, and yes I did check out the pump to verify that it would still move water out of the boat.

Local Sailing Associations

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.

Columbia River All Catalina Association

Saturday, May 1, 2004

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