FLEET 20 NEWSLETTER
August 2001

Catalina 22 - Fleet 20, Portland, OR

From the Captain
By Dennis Thomas

With summer fleeting by we still have time to have a few more get togethers.  Upcoming activities include:

• Grandma's Cove Rendezvous, August 25-26
• St. Helens Cruise, September 15-16
• Sail for the Cure, September 22

The San Juan Islands 2001 Cruise

The Fleet 20 boats headed out of Anacortes July 28 for one to three weeks of cruising in the San Juan and Gulf Islands.

 This year’s group consisted of six boats.

1. Dream a Little Dream, Catalina 22 (Mike, Deb and Rachel Hibbs)

2. Little Hector, Catalina 22 (Chris and Ebie Mountford)

3. Windrider, Catalina 22 (Russ and Maureen Lippert)

4. Lematike, Catalina 25 (Terry and Kathie Annis)

5. Leucothea, Catalina 25 (Nate and Margaret Hanson)

6. Imagine, Catalina 30 (Bob Gales and Gail O’Neill)

From the initial report from some of the skippers that have returned, the weather was not its usual warm and sunny self.  The first day they met with 25 mph winds and a number of days of rain with temperatures not much higher than 60 degrees.  This motivated a few to head home early, not much fun in the rain.  Now that most of them are home the weather gets good, sunny and warm.  Isn’t that how it works sometimes.  Well hopefully there is next year with better conditions.  Who got a rock named after them on this trip?? Next year it may be on the updated charts.

Celebrating the 4th of July at Tomahawk Bay Moorage
By Dennis Thomas

Sandy and I ventured to our boat WindChaser, at Tomahawk Bay Moorage on the 4th of July. This was our first 4th spent on our boat to watch the fireworks. Not surprisingly, we ran into a number of fellow Fleet 20 folks. We got there about 5:00 p.m., the others earlier. They had time to get out on the river and return to the docks before the massive armada began anchoring in the river, which apparently occurs every 4th of July, as boat upon boat arrives see the fireworks coming from Vancouver.

Terry and Kathie Annis were on their boat (Lematike) with open hospitality, lots of food. Good neighbors to have. They were sharing their boat’s view point with family and friends. Nate and Margaret Hanson (Leucothea), moored across the dock, also had guests, their children and grandchildren. They too had food. No I didn't eat at every boat I passed.  We ate first then walked the docks. Also Mike and Debbie McGrath and their son were there to enjoy the food and fun and fire works from their boat (Solus).

There was no rain on the 4th of July and fairly clear skies. As the sky began to darken the amateurs began their pyro-prelude before the big guns came out. They were pretty good too, but it was clear when the real fireworks began, even though some still tried competing. There was plenty of wind, which was good, it kept the sky clear of the smoke after each rocket exploded with it’s flash of lights.

We had decided to spend the night on the boat, which ended up being a good call, one of my few. Terry and Kathie who live twenty minutes away in Vancouver took 1 ½ hours to get home. We might have made it home to Forest Grove by 2:00 a.m. if we would not have stayed.

I think the most amazing thing for me, being that it was our first 4th on our boat was where did all these people come from? We have been at that marina for three year and never seen so many people. I guess that is what all those boats, that seem to be abandoned the rest of the year, are for each July 4th.

It was a fun time visiting with friends, (they may not call me friend, but I will be daring and call them friend).

Tom Drew and Sheila Salveson enjoy a balmy evening sailing aboard Harmony, #14286

Work/Life Balance
By Dale Mack

I work for a company that several years ago coined the phrase "Work/Life Balance" as a means of talking about the tradeoffs people naturally make throughout their lives as their priorities change.  Sailing also is a balance.  For me right now, it's cruising AND racing; it's Fleet 20 activities AND private activities; it's Fleet 20, Columbia River All Catalina Association, AND the Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO).  Despite all the "organized" opportunities to go sailing, it's still the private ones that provide the most respite from the stresses in life.

After work and weekend sails is where most of us accumulate our hours on the water.  Here on the Columbia River, that evening sail typically has no more purpose than to hoist the sails, shutoff the motor and sail from bank to bank with no particular goal to get anywhere, other than to spend some down time in pleasant conversation.

Grandma's Cove Rendezvous (aka Canoe Bay)
By Dennis Thomas

August 25-26.   Coming up soon is the Rendezvous at Grandma’s Cove, the weekend of August 25-26. This year for those inclined to, we will be spending Saturday night there. Schooner Creek Boat Works has had some docks put in that can be used for short term tie ups, such as this overnighter. Those wishing to, can anchor and raft up. We will shoot to be there at 5:00 p.m. Saturday and then start our BBQs soon after, or about 6:00 p.m. This will be a good time to catch up on the adventures of this years San Juan trip from the returning skippers and to find out where that rock is (the one to avoid). Bring food and be ready for a good time. Come join us and have some fun.

Editor's Note:  The cove is a great place to row around in your raft or just relax aboard your boat.  The west side of the cove typically has a beach.  Pictures and a story from last year's rendezvous can be found here.

St. Helens Race and Overnight Cruise
By Dennis Thomas

September 15-16.  SYSCO sponsors it’s annual St. Helens Race and Cruise the weekend of September 15 – 16.  Fleet 20 members annually have participated in this event in which they cruise or race along with the SYSCO members to St. Helens, usually arriving later than the big boats of course.

This is a very causal race and cruise with the emphasis on cruising.  It can be very good sailing down on Saturday but usually mostly motoring on the return trip on Sunday.  For those that want to start with the horn, the warning signal will be at 1100 hours (or to those that understand English 11:00 a.m.).  It will start near Buoy “47” a green navigational aid west of the Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge.  For those actually wanting to race to the finish, the finish will be abreast of, and within 30 yards proximity to, Buoy ”4”, a red navigational aid south of Warrior Rock. 

For all those going to St. Helens we will meet at the city docks located in front of the courthouse.  I hear tell that Terry Annis will most likely be performing his spectacularly famous Terry's Salmon BBQ along with the usual potluck accompaniment, (performed by the rest of us).

Sunday is get up when you feel like it to head home, that is if you want to. There will be more updated information in the upcoming September newsletter so stay tuned!

Mike McGrath Wins the SYSCO Summer Series
By Dale Mack

Mike McGrath and crew Don Bateson aboard Solus, #6800

Congratulations to Mike McGrath (Solus, #6800) for winning the SYSCO Summer Race Series for the Catalina 22 fleet.

Mike, like many of us this year benefited from fleet members and friends of the fleet who made sure every boat racing had two people aboard.  We were fortunate this year, that every time a boat left the dock with just a skipper aboard, there was always at least one other boat with three on board who could transfer a crewmember.

Here are the final standings for the Summer Series.

As has been my experience in Fleet 20, participation in the Summer Series tends to be a little spotty.  It's funny, because the other one-design fleets are just the opposite, their participation increases in the summer.

Terry Annis (at helm) and Mike Hibbs aboard Mike's boat Dream A Little Dream, #14924

The Spring and Summer Series' were completed with no rain.  Yes I said NO RAIN!!!  Pretty amazing.  It was a season of great racing and close competition.  Some of my best races were ones that I didn't win.

I began the season skippering Harmony, and finished the season crewing for Dennis Thomas aboard WindChaser, #14306.  I really enjoy crewing for others, and I want to thank Dennis Thomas and Terry Annis aboard Lematike for the opportunities they provided me this season.

The racers in the fleet (typically about 25% of our Fleet 20 membership) are always looking for crew.  I encourage you to crew with a fellow member.  Even if you have no intention of ever racing your boat, this is a great way to enhance your sailing skills in general, and also learn how to sail the boat more comfortably and more efficiently.

Who to Look Out For in 2002

Chris Mountford and his son aboard Little Hector, #5720

During the race/cruise to St. Helens in 2000, I noticed that despite Don Bateson's and my best efforts with Harmony, #14286, and my brand new North One-Design 150 genoa, I couldn't catch Chris Mountford on Little Hector, #5720.  This was my first indication that between Little Hector's speed and Chris' skill, they be great competition during the 2001 season.

Using a full-batten mainsail built my his son, and limited to only a 110 jib, because his son hasn't built the 150 yet, Little Hector proved to be a stiff competitor in both the 2001 Spring and Summer Series.  Little Hector's speed was equal to everyone else, she pointed 1-2 degrees higher then everyone else, and the Mountfords demonstrated, whether it was Chris or his son skippering the boat, that their race course management skills were among the best in the Catalina 22 fleet.  My hats off to a truly impressive showing by the skipper's and crew of Little Hector this season.

Friday Night Beer Can Races
By Dale Mack

The last 2001 Friday Night Beer Can Race is August 31.    No special knowledge about racing is required to come out and have fun.  More details about the races can be found here.  If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an email or give me at call.  Several members of Fleet 20 have participated in the Beer Can races, so there is lots of information available to help you feel comfortable about coming out on Friday nights.

August 25-26.  Fleet 20 Cruise - Canoe Bay Cruise (Grandma's Cove)

September 15-16.  Fleet 20 Cruise - St. Helens

September 22.  OWSA Sail for the Cure

September 22-23.  Columbia River All Catalina Rendezvous - Hayden Bay

October 13 (sa). SYSCO Awards Banquet

November 17 (sa).  (OCSA) Annual Tropical Party

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.