FLEET 20 NEWSLETTER
February 2001

Catalina 22 - Fleet 20, Portland, OR

From the Captain
By Dennis Thomas

March 18 Fleet Meeting.  There have been some suggestions of having a Fleet meeting in March to discuss the up coming sailing season events and do some planning.  Some of the things that we would like to talk about are:

• Plans for the racing season
• San Juan Islands cruise

• Trailering to Detroit Lake
• Cruise in Olympia, WA.
• Trailering to Fern Ridge Lake near Eugene
• Astoria-Warrenton Seafood Festival (April 28)
• Catalina Days in Seattle (last half of June)
• Any other ideas

Sunday, March 18^th has been proposed for the meeting.  In the past we have met at a local restaurant in the Delta Park area.  It might be kind of nice to maybe meet in someone's home.

Please pass on your thoughts and suggestions about the meeting, the date, and location to me.  You can contact me at:

d_sthomas@juno.com (email)

503-359-0458 (home)

1713 21^st Ave. 
Forest Grove, OR 97116

Fleet 20 Scuttlebutt
By Dale Mack

After two boat shows in January, and attending the Columbia River All Catalina Association's Boat Show Survivors party the first weekend in February, I'm ready to go sailing.

Technical Manual.  I've been spending part of my winter completing the  next edition of the Catalina 22 Technical Manual for the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association.  Although the manual was actually completed last October, I'm reworking it for electronic distribution so the association can save money by not printing a hardcopy version.  Access to the Technical Manual is definitively a worthwhile perk of membership in the National Association.  The 2001 edition will have nearly twice the number of pages as the 1996 edition.  

Nautical Tours & Presentations.  It may be winter, but you can still participate in something that will teach you a little more about your sailing hobby.  The Columbia River All Catalina Association has invited Catalina 22 Fleet 20 to participate in a couple of interesting programs scheduled for February and March (more details later in the newsletter).

On Wednesday, February 28^th, join me as we tour the new Schooner Creek Boat Works and listen to a presentation on rigging inspection by well-known professional rigger Brion Toss (www.briontoss.com).

On Wednesday, March 28th, join me at the Rose City Yacht Club as we listen to a presentation on Man Overboard retrieval techniques.

Spring Fleet Meeting.  I hope to see many of you at the March 18^th meeting.  We are still looking for someone to host the meeting.  In past years, we've casually nibbled on snacks for a couple of hours as we talked about plans for the coming sailing year. 

On the cruising front, Dennis Thomas and I are interested in finding out if others would like to explore some other waters together.  Nate and Margaret Hanson have invited us to sail on their home waters at Detroit Lake, and Laura and I have been exploring parts of south Puget Sound in anticipation of spending a couple of long weekends on the boat.  The other big cruising topic we'll be nailing down is the itinerary for the San Juan Islands cruise.

Catalina 22's Making a Come Back?  I understand that the local market for used Catalina 22's has traditionally been pretty strong, but that sells of new C22's, like most of the country have been slow since the late 80's (see graph below).  While attending the Boat Show Survivor's party, I learned from the local Catalina Yachts dealer that he had just taken delivery of a new Catalina 22 MKII and that he had two more on order.  He also said that the market for used Catalina 22's had seen a dramatic increase in the value in just the past year as demand for the boat rose.

I'll be working with both of the local brokerages that specialize in sailboats, to encourage them to pass along the Fleet 20 brochure/application to everyone who purchases a new or used Catalina 22.  I'm going to suggest at our March meeting that we consider throwing in free first year membership to Fleet 20 to entice new owners to join.

Sail Numbers vs. Year

Portland Boat Show
By Dale Mack

In last month's newsletter I told you about my experience manning the joint Columbia River All Catalina Association and Catalina 22 Fleet 20 booth at the Portland Boat Show.   It was enjoyable talking to people about Catalina 22 sailing.  What was particularly interesting was the number of people who mentioned that they were looking for a small sailboat for either racing, cruising, or both.  Laura and I purchased our boat as a result of a visit to a boat show in 1987, so I could relate to the enthusiasm I found in many I met.

The show's organizer did a nice job of the pooling all the sailing related brokerages, clubs, associations, boat builders, and sail lofts together.  One advantage of the layout was it was a magnetic for those interested in sailing.

Renew Your Membership in Fleet 20
By Dale Mack

Please consider renewing your Fleet 20 Membership if you haven't done so already.

The application form is available online, so please fill it out and send it in.

Seattle's Two Boat Shows
By Dale Mack

The Seattle Boat Show was held in the Washington State Stadium Exhibition Center across the street from the new Safeco Field near the former site of the Kingdom.  Compared to the Portland Boat Show, the Seattle show had a lot fewer sailboats, in fact there were almost no sailboats except for a Santana 20, a McGregor 26 and a half-dozen dinghies.

One of the benefits of purchasing one's tickets online was the free parking pass for the garage at Safeco Field.  After parking the car, Laura, Sean, and I took the free shuttle operating between the parking structure and the exhibition center.

What the Seattle Boat Show lacked in sailboats it made up for in booths.  Unlike the Portland Boat Show were there were only a few booths dedicated to boating equipment and accessories, the Seattle show had lots.   Several booths were sponsored by corporations like Raytheon, Maptech, Nobeltec, Garmin, International Paints, Lewmar, and Lowrance just to name a few.

To see sailboats, you had to go to the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show.  A free shuttle bus was operating between the Seattle Boat Show and the Boats Afloat Show.  Everyone was welcomed to walk the docks and view the boats, but to get aboard, you had to purchase a "Boarding Pass" that was good for all the boats.

The Boats Afloat Show had sailboats, trawlers, and really large yachts for sale.  Located in Chandler's Cove next to The Center for Wooden Boats, we found it easy to spend most of the day just climbing through the boats and dining ashore (Chandler's Cove has many fine restaurants). 

Despite the threatening skies, the weather was pretty good for us on Saturday.  Under gray skies, we went through probably forty sailboats and trawlers before we wore ourselves out, and there were still more boats to see.

In addition to the nice assortment of Catalina models brought to the show by a Seattle dealer, there were some truly stunning custom yachts at the docks.  We stepped aboard a gray-hulled sailboat from New Zealand that was finished inside like a fine piece of furniture.  The workmanship was absolutely incredible.

It was a great weekend in Seattle and I'd encourage others to think about combining the Seattle Boat Shows with some other points of interest in Seattle.  Laura and I hope to see you next year.

February Meeting @ Schooner Creek Boat Works
By Dale Mack

February 28 (Wed), 7 pm.  Here's a great opportunity to get out of the house and do something with your fellow Fleet 20 members.  A dual-program for the meeting has been arranged by the Columbia River All Catalina Association.

Directions -- The meeting will be held at Schooner Creek Boat Works, 3255 N. Hayden Island Drive, Portland, OR.  From the South, take the Jantzen Beach Exit and go straight, pass under the freeway onto Hayden Island Drive and proceed West.  From the North, take the Jantzen Beach Exit and stay in the right lane, turn right at the light then left at the next light and proceed west on Hayden Island Drive. 

Schooner Creek Boat Works.  Steve and Nancy Rander, will host a tour of their facility and the boats currently under construction or in for maintenance.  This is Oregon’s most state-of-the-art boat yard and manufacturing facility, with a world-renown reputation for producing custom yachts like "Rage", "Magic Carpet", and others.

Brion Toss on Yacht Rigging.  We will also have an opportunity to hear a short presentation on a “Systems Approach to Rigging Inspection,” by Brion Toss, Master Rigger.  (www.briontoss.com) 

Brion will be in town for several days and will also speak at West Marine on March 1, 2001 at 7PM for $5 per person.  The West Marine subjects will include “30 Minute Apprenticeship” and “Tuning/Inspection”.  Brion will also be available for surveys and tunings through Monday, March 5, 2001.  

Some of Brion's credits include:

Videos

• Inspecting Your Rig
• Going Aloft
• Making Your Own Eye Splices
• Tuning Your Rig
• Fancy Ropework Part 1
• More Fancy Ropework Part 2
• Still More Fancy Ropework Part 3

Books

• The Complete Rigger's Apprentice - Tools and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging
• Knots (Chapman's Nautical Guides)
• The Rigger's Apprentice
• The Rigger's Locker - Tools, Tips, and Techniques for Modern and Traditional Rigging

In addition to writing books, making videos, and selling useful rigging tools, Brion also runs a full-service rigging loft in Port Townsend, Washington.

March Meeting @ Rose City Yacht Club
By Dale Mack

March 28 (Wed), 7 pm.  Herb Florer of Island Sailing Club will give a presentation on Man Overboard and Retrieval.

Rose City Yacht Club
3737 NE Marine Drive
Portland, Oregon 97211
(503) 282-2049

MAN OVERBOARD!  Over FIVE HUNDRED BOATERS DIE every year from drowning, most don't have life jackets on.  If that doesn't get you, hypothermia will. The 50-50 "rule" emphasizes the rapidity with which hypothermia can occur.  You only have a 50-50 chance to swim 50 yards in water at 50 degrees F.  Another "50" rule says a 50-year old person has only a 50-50 chance of surviving for 50 minutes in 50 degree F water.

San Juan Islands Cruise
By Dale Mack

As it stands now, we have various members contemplating everything from the third week in July to the first week in August, with some members thinking about spending two weeks in the islands.  Our March 18^th planning meeting should give us an opportunity to firm up the itinerary.

Laura and I really enjoy cruising in the company of others, particularly the peace of mind that comes with knowing that if outboard quits, help is close at hand.  If we find that boats will be in the islands during different weeks, perhaps we can help everyone get connected up with others wishing to cruise the same week.  We might also look for opportunities to get together where itineraries might overlap.

July 21-28.  Laura and I are interested in leading or co-leading a San Juan Islands cruise during the four week in July.  For those of us that race, the fourth week has the advantage of being more than a week after the SYSCO Summer Series race #5, and the cruise would be completed two weeks before the SYSCO One-Design Regatta.

For Laura and me, this will be our third time to the islands, but our first time where we leave the Canadian Gulf Islands off the itinerary.  Believe it or not, but we've never been to Friday Harbor, Fisherman's Bay, Rosario, and many or well known San Juan Islands attractions.

The type of itinerary we are contemplating is targeted at shorter travel time between destinations, so there is more time left for sailing.  One thing we learned from last year's trip was that there were some advantages to getting to your destination, getting you berthing assignment, and then going out for a pleasant daysail.  Both Dave and Linda Harcombe and Dennis and Sandy Thomas did this last year and reported having a great time.  Another attribute of this years cruise would be to spend two nights at some destinations.

Some of the places Laura and I are thinking about include:

• Blakely Island Marina
• Rosario Resort
• Eastsound
• Spencer Spit
• Fisherman Bay
• Blind Bay
• Friday Harbor
• Deer Harbor
• Jones Island
• West Sound
• Double Island

I look forward to us getting together in March and exploring some of the itinerary possibilities.  I'd love to hear about some of your wishes for the trip, so please feel free to email me with your ideas or desires for things you'd like to experience on the cruise.

We'll Race with No Spinnakers
By Dennis Thomas

The first SYSCO Spring Series race is Thursday, April 19^th - coming soon. It seems like the first race always sneaks up and finds some us of not quite ready and tuned up, or maybe some with a new crew who have not practiced much if any. At our March meeting we can explore some ideas about some race practices.

There has been discussion and suggestions regarding whether we should race with or without spinnakers this season. Some boats don't have spinnakers, some have cruising spinnakers and some have racing spinnakers. Some of us that have them don't know what the heck to do with it once we get it out of the sail bag. Because there is not a consistency, lets hold off racing with spinnaker for the Spring Series.

I'd like to see if the Fleet would be interested in getting someone to put on a spinnaker workshop/class. I have a big racing spinnaker that I don't want to learn how to use by the seat of my pants, trial and fear. I would appreciate some feedback on this.

Our Race Committee Assignment for 2001
By Dale Mack

We annually serve as the Race Committee for two SYSCO races.  In addition to setting the marks, starting the boats, and recording the results, we also are responsible for providing the Race Committee boat.  In the past we've avoided having to use a Catalina 22 by finding friends of the fleet who've offered to host us aboard their larger boat.  If you have any ideas about prospective Race Committee boat candidates, please pass them along to Dennis Thomas.

The Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO) has assigned Fleet 20 to serve as the Race Committee for the following two races:

• June 12 (Tuesday), SYSCO Summer Series Race #1
• June 29 (Friday), Beer Can Race

Storage Idea for a New-Style Catalina 22
By Dale Mack

I'm always sticking my head inside other Catalina 22's looking for ideas on how to make the boat more livable for cruising.  One of the things we owners of new-style Catalina 22's (1985-1995) tend to envy about the old-style boats is the built-in shelves which are absent in the new-style boats.

Dave and Linda Harcombe (Shearwater, #13741) came up with a simple, but very functional method of adding shelves through the use of wood strips and wire racks.

February 28.  General Meeting (Schooner Creek Boat Works)

March 18.  Spring meeting to plan Spring events and the San Juan Islands itinerary

March 28.  Man Overboard and Retrieval (Rose City Yacht Club)

March 28-29.  OCSA Race Management Clinic

more...

The Fleet 20 newsletter is published online once a month. Articles are the opinions of the authors and don't necessarily represent the consensus of Fleet 20.