From the Commodore
By Bob Gales, C30, Imagine
I know quite a few CRACA members but there are many of you I have yet to meet. Perhaps at the next weekend cruise or gathering. In the meantime here is a little history about my sailing life and me.
My wife Gail O’Neill (thank you for nominating me) and I both took small-boat sailing lessons many, many years ago, long before we even met. But it was not until 1996 that we bought our first sailboat, a Catalina 22, Imagine. Fondly remembered as “Little” Imagine. We spent the next 4 summers in the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands, each year with more C22s joining us. We also raced in the SYSCO spring/summer series and regattas. In 1999 we bought “Big” Imagine, our current C30. More room, more comfort and much longer journeys up north. We continue to race in the SYSCO series, mostly with the same results. But hey! We are cruisers first, racers second. And most of all, we enjoy the feel of wind in the sails and worries in the wake.
I am retired and work part-time for Pacific University. Gail is also semi-retired and does work in the schools through Young Audiences as well as stained glass commissions. In the winter skiing is our passion (we first met as ski instructors) and we both enjoy traveling to the far corners of the world.
Gail is currently the Vice-Commodore for Oregon Women’s Sailing Association, we belong to SYSCO, and last year joined Rose City Yacht Club. This June we will again head north from Astoria with plans to enter the C30 Nationals in Seattle! I wish they had a Cruisers Class!
I will be getting together with Dale soon to find out what I have gotten myself into. I do want to take a look at our meeting schedule and gather input from you about your wants/needs. Already members have offered some great ideas about how our members might best be served. Please do not hesitate to talk with me.
See you on the water.
Rear Commodore's Log
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
Change is Afoot
I work in product development so change is the only constant. While I appreciated the opportunity to serve CRACA for two terms as Commodore, it did come at the expense of variety from year to year. One advantage of a change in officers is the introduction of new ideas and people willing to put their energy into affecting change. One area that Bob has been seeking input on is the idea of switching to only four meetings a year. The meetings would be built around high-quality programs that would serve as the draw for the meeting. Another idea is the elimination of General Membership meetings for the months of June, July, and August when many folks are off cruising.
After reading the CRACA charter, I see that serving on the Entertainment Committee is going to be my biggest challenge.
Rear CommodoreIn the absence of a Vice Commodore (the position is still available if anyone is interested), I'll start looking for three (3) volunteers to work with me on the Entertainment Committee.Entertainment Committee
- Act as host/hostess at meetings and other activities, making introductions, welcoming guests and new members, and providing name tags as desirable.
- Before the 26th of each month, submit biographies of guests, new and selected existing members.
- Serve on the Entertainment Committee.
- The immediate past Commodore shall serve as the Rear Commodore. Any regular member may fill this position should the immediate past Commodore be unable to serve.
- The Vice Commodore, Rear Commodore and three members at large shall constitute this Committee. The Entertainment Committee shall:
- Poll members for activities and events and generate a plan of activities in which members of The Association can participate.
- Plan and arrange for activities and events approved by the Executive Committee.
- Arrange for The Association’s Annual Awards Banquet.
- Arrange for The Association’s Annual Catalina Rendezvous.
- Arrange for an annual discount night at a local marine store.
- Plans will be submitted to the Executive Committee two weeks before setting the Annual Calendar.
- Encourage the formation of event organizing committees and provide coaching and guidance.
Planning for the 2005 Catalina Rendezvous
I know from past experience that we need to start pulling together a Rendezvous Organizing Committee. The 2005 Catalina Rendezvous is scheduled for September 16-18 at Sand Island, Upper Dock, St. Helens. Here's an early sample itinerary for the event:
When
September 16 - 18Where
Sand Island, Upper Docks, across from the Courthouse in St. Helens. For those that can’t sail down to Sand Island, CRACA will provide an on-call ferry service between St. Helens Marina and Sand Island.Facilities
Moorage (free), restrooms, picnic area, and BBQ. Boat ramps are available at Scappoose and St. Helens for those wishing to trailer their boat part of the way.Tentative Agenda
Friday, September 16
- Arrive at your leisure. No planned activities for Friday. You're on you own for meals.
Saturday, September 17
- 11 - 4: Activities
- 4 - 5: Potluck Appetizers
- 5 - 7: Dinner on you own
- 7: Potluck Dessert, Activities, and Door Prizes
Sunday, September 18
- 9:30 am: Potluck Breakfast
- Noon: Catalina Flotilla departs Sand Island
Strictly Sail
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic MystI've wanted to attend the sailboat only boat show held at Oakland, California's Jack London Square for some time. The show, known officially as Strictly Sail Pacific, is famous for its large collect of in-the-water sailboats and shore side tents filled with gear booths targeted at sailors. This year the show ran from April 13-17, so I combined it with a visit to my sister who lives in the Bay Area.
It was definitely worth attending, if for the sunshine only. The boats were incredible. I especially liked the sixty foot Swan.
The local Catalina Yachts dealer brought a large number of boats to the show. The largest was a dark blue-hulled C470 that she and another woman will be sailing together in the 2005 Transpacific Yacht Race. This is the first time in history, that two women have double-handed a boat in the race.
You'd think that after traveling several hundred miles, and going to an event that was stretching over several days, the likelihood of running into somebody you knew would be pretty low, NOT. As I'm checking out the deck layout of one Catalina, I spy fellow CRACA members Michael Lewis (C42, Wind Raven) and Dave Peoples (C42, Jammin) climbing off another Catalina. They'd taken the train from Portland to Oakland to visit the show.
Ah, the gear booths. This was nothing like Seattle, no one was trying to sell you a floating dock for your PWC, or property in the San Juan Islands. This was all about stuff that could be useful on your boat. This was my first time meeting the folks from Garhauer and getting to handle various elements of their product line. Very Cool!
All-in-all a great visit, both with my sister and with the boat show. I highly recommend putting it on your calendar for 2006.
Report from the April Meeting
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic MystOur April 27th meeting was held at West Marine. Following a brief business meeting that included the election of new officers, we socialized and shopped. West Marine offered a 10% discount on all non-electronic purchases and 5% on electronics.
The winner of the $25 gift card drawing to West Marine for getting their membership application turned in by April 27th was Dave and Julie Thomas, C30, Sunchaser.
CRACA Elections a New Executive Committee
Please welcome our new Board Members. We did not have candidates for the positions of Vice Commodore, Safety, and Historian to vote on, so we will continue our search for volunteers.
| Executive Committee Position | Nominee |
| Commodore | Bob Gales |
| Vice Commodore | << vacant >> |
| Secretary/Treasurer | Kathleen Lewis |
| Cruise Officer | Jim Elieff |
| Communications | Dale Mack |
| Rear Commodore | Dale Mack |
| Safety | << vacant >> |
| Historian | << vacant >> |
Cruising
Government Island Rendezvous
By Jim Elieff, C30, FortuneOur cruise to Bartlett Landing (Government Island, East Dock) was attended by six Catalina's, all of which arrived on Friday, April 22nd. Those present were:
- Jim Elieff and Jim's friend Shirley Neiger, C30, Fortune (Cruise Host)
- Jim & Rhonda Turner, C30, Fat Cat
- Dave & Julie Thomas, C30, Sunchaser
- Michael Moen & Olga Ginez, C30, Born Free
- John & Ann Meyer, C34 Shekinah
- Jess & Mary Schefstrom, C42, Kira Lynn
Friday's thunder, lightning, and high winds made folks glad that they'd gotten to the docks early. Jim Turner had single-handed Fat Cat, and went back to Steamboat Landing later in his dinghy to pickup Rhonda. The thunderstorms were so bad that Jim called back that Rhonda and he had decided to stay and wait until Saturday to return when the weather would hope to be better. I ran to Fat Cat to close things up because the thunderstorm driven high winds were getting things wet inside. We all retired to Shekinah to share appetizers. Under the cover of darkness, Rhonda and Jim eventually arrived on Friday when the thunderstorms passed.
Our plan to share appetizers with the Hunter Sailing Association of Oregon (HSAO) never materialized despite some advance planning. HSAO (8 boats attended) had brought hay and spread it in the picnic structure to give folks something other than mud to stand on. Unfortunately, the hay attracted the cows, and the area was littered with cow patties and stunk something fierce. Even walking on the paths was like navigating a landmine obstacle course (who let the cows out?). While the HSAO went ahead with their shore side plans, the Catalina folks stayed down at the boats.
The weather Sunday for the return home was nice. Despite Saturday's damp conditions, it was actually a very enjoyable cruise socializing with everyone.
In Search of Cruise Hosts
By Jim Elieff, C30, Fortune (Cruising Chairman)I'm still looking Cruise Hosts. You can volunteer by contacting me at:
elieffmaan@yahoo.com
No Cruise Host
For upcoming cruises where you don't see an announcement in the newsletter from a Cruise Host prior to the cruise, assume that CRACA cruise is CANCELED due to a lack of interest (unless something comes to you via email). For example, no one has stepped forward to serve as the Cruise Host for the Martin Island cruise this month, so technically that cruise is canceled. If someone would like to serve as the host, let me know and we'll get an announcement out via email.
2005 Cruising Schedule
| Date | Destination | Cruise Hosts |
| May 28 - 30 | Martin Island (Saturday – Monday) | |
| June 25 - 26 | Coon Island, East Dock | |
| July 16 - 17 | Government Island, East Dock | |
| Aug. 18 - 21 | Beacon Rock (Thursday – Sunday) | Dale & Laura Mack |
| Sept. 17 - 18 | Sand Island, Upper Dock (Catalina Rendezvous) | |
| Oct. 22 - 23 | Government Island, East Dock |
CRYA Opening Day Ceremonies
By Dale Mack
May 7. Instead of staying at home and mowing the lawn, how about getting out on your boat and watching the opening day ceremonies on the Columbia River. Since CRACA is a member of the Columbia River Yachting Association (CRYA) you are invited to attend all the shore side activities. We've yet to ever find someone to volunteer to organize our participation in the parade.
- 0700-0900 Breakfast at Rose City Yacht Club (Pancakes, eggs to order and sausage links, fruit and juice)
- 0930 Official Flag Raising Ceremony at Rose City Yacht Club
- 1230 Review of the fleet and Decorated Boat Parade
- 1430 No Host reception and Hors d’oeuvres at Rose City Yacht Club
- 1630 Announcement of Parade Results at Rose City Yacht Club
Ladies Cruise 2005
20th Anniversary
Daring to Cruise
Held at Government Island East Dock
May 20, 21, 22
This year’s event will be at Government Island East Dock on the Columbia River. All Women Sail and Power Boaters are invited to join us for this, the 20th anniversary event. Please bring your Ladies Cruise recipes for future recipe book.
For more information visit the Oregon Women's Sailing Association's website
Your Cruise Captains:
Barbara Peterson 503-240-2765 myseaotter@yahoo.com
Vicki Sanborn 503-286-9257 upstart@teleport.com
Racing
The Spring Regatta
By Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst
It was a damp and dreary day that brought three Catalina 30 crews to the starting line on April 23rd for the beginning of the two-day SYSCO Spring Regatta. This would mark the third year that a group of C30 sailors had come out for a weekend of spinnaker free racing.
I'd picked up Celtic Myst from Sailboats of Oregon on Friday after having the bottom striped and repainted. On race day, clothed in my foul weather gear, I was installing the sails in the rain. The regatta would be the first time I had sailed the boat since putting it away for the winter; no one could accuse my crew and me of over-preparing. David and Christy Dykkesten hadn't sailed with me since last year's Spring Regatta, and in the meantime, they had sold their home, purchased a Columbia 43, enjoyed time aboard it in Baja, and were now living aboard the boat at McCuddy's. It was great seeing each other and catching up on a year's worth of adventures.
Despite the weather, twenty-six boats of the thirty-four that had registered for the event showed up. Catalina owners were well represented in the event. Those racing included:
- Duane Christensen, C30, Stormy Weather, #1418
- Gail O'Neill & Bob Gales, C30, Imagine, #5217 (With Catalina 22 owner Mike Hibbs crewing)
- Dale Mack, C30, Celtic Myst, #6382
The Race Committee boat was the C28, KA-SL, of Gary Whitney and Linda Shaw. Also onboard the committee boat were Terry and Kathie Annis (C25, Lematike) and Nate and Margaret Hanson (C25, Leucothea).
Terry Annis and Nate Hanson onboard SYSCO's mark setting boat, with the C28 KA-SL in the background.
While it rained most of Saturday, it wasn't that cold. If fact, if you were layered in your foul weather gear with dry boots, it was a lot of fun to be out sailing.
With the wind coming out of the south, southeast, the course for the first race was "R-C-14-F" which had us starting near the Marine Park, Washington launch ramp, heading across the river to McCuddy's, then upstream to buoy "14", and then finishing back at the committee boat. The wind was light at about 8 knots, so you had to decide whether to approach the line from downstream which would put you on the favored starboard tack, or to stay upstream of the line and approach it on port tack and then tack over to starboard once you crossed the line. Gail, at the helm of Imagine, had a great start on starboard, hitting the line at full speed. I, on the other hand, came in late from upriver. Since the first leg was essentially straight across the river, you had to sail upriver in order to overcome the current and reach the mark.
For some strange reason we were left out of the second race, and just sailed around while the other fleets raced without us. The third and final race for Saturday was a short "R-C-R" course. This time everyone choose to approach the line from downstream. While none of us nailed the start, Gail once again got there first.
Sunday brought warmer weather, no rain, but also no wind. The Race Committee was anchored between the daymark at McCuddy's and the north end of the wing dam upstream of Tomahawk Island. At 1 pm, the scheduled start of the day's first of two races, the Race Committee put up the Postponement flag. With boats all around us anchoring, I dropped the hook in twenty feet of water with a scope of 3:1. Gail maneuvered Imagine over to Celtic Myst's portside and rafted up. For the next hour and a half we chatted while waiting for the wind to fill in.
Gail and Bob will be taking Imagine north this year and plan to be at Shilshole Bay Marina, Seattle, in time to compete in the Catalina 30 National Regatta June 25-26. We discussed Saturday's racing and possible boat and crew preparations for the Nationals. It was a great way to kill some time. The wind never did arrive, so at 2:30 pm the Race Committee abandoned the racing just as it started to sprinkle.
I want to thank my fellow C30 sailors who came out, and I especially want to thank the Catalina owners staffing the Race Committee boat that made it all possible.
Short Course Racing Clinic
Hosted by North Sails Oregon
May 10th
Invitation: North Sails Oregon (www.northsailsoregon.com) invites all sailboats to participate in some fun, informal short course racing on the Columbia River between the I-5 and I-205 bridges.
Description: Several short course races will be completed in one evening. The goal is to practice starts and boat handling in a relaxed atmosphere. North Sails Oregon will be taking photos and coaching from a powerboat. Skippers and crew should feel free to ask questions of the powerboat crew.
Eligibility: All yachts that are willing to participate and learn!
Date and Time: Tuesday, May 10th. First warning signal is at 6:30 pm.
Registration: None required. Just show up and start.
Fees: None! Come out and join us!.
Supplemental Sailing Instructions: Instructions will be handed out on the water.
For More Information: Contact Kerry or Amy Poe at North Sails Oregon at 503-282-4282 or kerry@sales.northsails.com .
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.
