Newsletter for December 2001 - Catalina 22 Fleet 20

Saturday, December 8th Fleet 20 had their annual Holiday Party. Part of this get together other than eating is nominating and electing the Fleet 20 Captain for the new year. For those of you who were not able to make it to the party, it is my pleasure to announce to you the new Fleet Captain for the 2002 sailing year. This individual is someone who has been involved with Fleet 20 for quiet a few years. He and his wife had put their Catalina 22 up for sail at the end of the summer and were threatening to buy a bigger boat, but came to their senses. So before he can escape the opportunity of being Fleet Captain at least once, it was quickly decided to nominate and elect --drum roll, dlllltllt (or however it is spelled) ----- Mike Hibbs as our new Fleet Captain. Mike graciously accepted the position once he realized that his offer of $20 to anyone else to take the job was not going to work. He comes to this position highly qualified, he owns a Catalina 22. No seriously, there are more qualification than that, not many, and Mike has them all.

Some of you folks know Mike from the years of racing, cruising and the San Juan trips. He and his wife Deb (and daughter Rachel) own a 1989 Catalina 22 wing keel named Dream a Little Dream. Mike learned to sail in North Dakota on Sacagawea Reservoir while he was stationed there in the Air Force in 1977-78. Some friends of his own a Rhodes 22 and invited him along. Mike began racing with them on the weekends during the summers. He sailed with them for a couple of years and then had not sailed until 1995 when he bought his Catalina 22. In about 1997 while on a sail to St. Helens he came upon a group of Catalina 22’s. He inquired about them and learned about Fleet 20 and joined a short time later. After joining the Fleet Mike began racing his boat. He has also crewed on a number of other 22s. We wish you well Mike as you take the helm as our new Fleet Captain.

At this time I want to sincerely thank the members and friends of Fleet 20 for supporting me this past year as Fleet Captain. I have really enjoyed the friendship and camaraderie of all those involved with Fleet 20. The people involved with Fleet 20 are what makes it special. The Spring and Summer Race Series on Thursday nights, the Beer Can races on Friday nights, Pirate Night, Fiesta Night, Committee Boat Duty for the Tuesday night races, the Rendezvous at Grandma’s Cove and the list goes on. One of the best things about being Fleet Captain was that I got to know some of you folks better and meet some of you that I did not know.

As I look back on the year of course, I wish I would have done more than I did, a better job of it ---and yah I know you wish I would have as well but tough, too bad, too late, I had fun. Thanks again and I hope to see you on the river come Spring (only 4 months away ). Get those bottoms painted and decks cleaned. Remember racing starts in mid- April.

As one of my last actions as Fleet Captain I want to inform the Fleet that we are re-activating the position of Fleet Secretary/Treasure. I am pleased to announce that Dale Mack will be our Secretary/Treasure for the year 2002. As most of you know Dale has been the main contributing writer and publisher of the Fleet 20 newsletter for the last few years. He is willing to continue these duties as well for the year 2002. Dale also served as the Fleet Captain for the year 2000.

Now here it comes, we are in the month of December (end of the year) so membership dues for the year 2002 are due January 2002, a whole $10.00 folks, that equals only 3 cents a day, so please fill out the membership form and send your check or money order to Dale's address printed on the form. Check here to get a copy of the application form.

Fleet 20 Holiday Party Brings Out the Cheer
By Dale Mack

December 8. The Fleet 20 Holiday Party was hosted by Deb and Mike Hibbs. Organized as a potluck affair, the appetizers, main dishes, and eventual desserts, were outstanding and plentiful. Having a family of the Fleet host this annual event is such a special occasion. Each family has their own holiday traditions and approaches to decorating and celebrating, that it makes it a real treat to be invited into another's home to experience just a glimpse of their non-Fleet 20 side.

Laura and I had a wonderful time reliving the past season's sailing adventures and browsing through various photo albums. What's especially nice about Fleet 20 get togethers is learning something new about our fellow members. We come from such varied backgrounds, and yet our paths somehow crossed through the sailing of Catalina 22's. I enjoy listening to how folks got into sailing, or moved to the area, or any of the other personal experiences that make each of us unique.

Surrounded by friends we've cruised and raced with, the evening was a great success. We said farewell to our outgoing Fleet Captain, Dennis Thomas, and elected a new Fleet Captain, Mike Hibbs, for 2002. We also awarded our Fleet's two perpetual awards (see more later in "Racing").

The finale of the night was the always entertaining White Elephant Gift Exchange. We all congregated in the Hibbs' living room and dining room as numbers were read aloud and as participates either opened a new gift or choose to steal a previously opened gift.

Most of the gifts were incredibility useful, a sure sign we're all becoming too nice.

Missing were the resin grapes or velvet paintings. Whether or not you took home anything useful, the fun was in watching the exchanges as folks stole gifts, or tired to sell the merits of why their gift should be stolen.

Portland Boat Show
By Dale Mack

January 5-13. The Portland Boat Show has traditionally kicked off the planning for the new sailing season in the Portland/Vancouver area. For the past couple of years, a few of us Fleet 20 members have gone out to breakfast at Elmer's at 9 am followed by a trip to West Marine, and then onto the boat show that opens at 11 am. Admission to the show is $7.00 (free to children 12 and under).

The Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA) will also have a booth at the show, and I'm helping to man the booth from 11 am to 3 pm on Sunday the 6th. CRACA has grown to 66 boats, and for its $30 annual membership fee, provides Catalina owners with a variety of on the water and off the water activities. Come by and checkout the association's photo albums, the booth will be located near Sailboats of Oregon, the local Catalina Yachts dealership.

Seattle Boat Shows
By Dale Mack

January 19-20. The annual Seattle Boat Show, and Lake Union Boats Afloat Show will be held January 11-20. Laura, Sean, and I will be driving up on Saturday the 19th, and coming home on Monday (MLK holiday).

If you're planning to be there the weekend of January 19th, perhaps our paths will cross as the Macks will be visiting both shows and once again turning the weekend into a mini family vacation in Seattle. If you'd like to rendezvous, let me know. Be sure to visit the boat show websites for details on admission and discounts on tickets and parking.

The Seattle Boat Show is held in the Washington State Stadium Exhibition Center across the street from Safeco Field. What the Seattle Boat Show lacks in sailboats it makes up for in marine equipment booths. To see sailboats, you will want to go to the Lake Union Boats Afloat Show. A free shuttle bus operates between the Seattle Boat Show and the Boats Afloat Show.

This will be my third trip to the shows since moving to Vancouver, and it has become a weekend outing our family really looks forward to. The added advantage this year is that we'll be staying at the Residence Inn directly across the street from the Boats Afloat Show, so we'll be able to walk back for a snack or nap whenever we feel like it.

If your January calendar isn't completely booked yet, think about treating yourself to a wonderful weekend in Seattle.

2001 Racing Awards
By Dale Mack

Sailboat racing is not the focus of Fleet 20, in fact, only about 15-20% of the membership ever participates. Cruising and day sails occupies most of our sailing time, but for five weeks in the Spring, and five weeks in the Summer, Fleet 20 constitutes one of the recognized one-design classes on the Columbia River. While Catalina 22 racing in other parts of the country struggles to put enough boats on the line to race as a class (many C22 sailors around the country race PHRF in mixed fleets in order to compete), Fleet 20 still manages year after year to field just enough boats to keep our fleet racing viable.

I'd like to believe that our low keyed, learning experienced focused approach, combined will the impressive willingness to help by crew and former C22 owners is what makes this aspect of Fleet 20 successful. I've learned things while racing that would have taken much longer to learn if I had never raced. I've learned how to make the boat sail faster and more comfortably because of racing. I've had the privilege of having those with more experience point out ways to sail the boat better. While I consider myself primarily a cruiser who occasionally races, it has been racing that has taught me more about the boat and myself.

I want to thank everyone who came out and crewed for someone in 2001 or served on the race committee. Without your support there would have been no Catalina 22 class racing on the Columbia River.

The fleet annually presents a perpetual plaque to the Fleet 20 member who achieves the best racing record over the past year. The races we count include the five Thursday evening Spring Series, five Thursday evening Summer Series, and the two day One-Design Regatta in August. For the last two years, our San Juan Islands trip has landed too close to the One-Design, so we haven't counted it since no one raced.

For the 2001 season, the Fleet Champion Award went to Mike McGrath, who sails Solus, #6800. Like many of us who raced in 2001, Mike benefited from our wonderful crew support, that always made sure no one had to sail alone. It's a common sight in Fleet 20 racing to see boats exchanging crews out on the water just to make sure everyone has crew.

The fleet also annually presents a perpetual plaque to the Fleet 20 member whose racing performance has improved the most over the past year. Although the award can and has been awarded to experienced sailors, it's not uncommon to see it awarded to the Fleet's rookie of the year.

For the 2001 season, the Most Improved Racer award went to Chris Mountford, who sails Little Hector, #5720. Chris or either his son David where usually at the helm. Little Hector typically pointed higher than the rest of the fleet upwind, but suffered downwind due mostly to the lack of a 150 genoa in the sail inventory. David built Little Hector's full-batten main, and for the 2002 season, hopes to build a 150 genoa. Little Hector will definitely be the boat to watch in 2002.

Origo Alcohol Stove
By Dale Mack

The Origo 3000 is a two-burner, pressure-free, alcohol fueled stove that came as an option on most new style Catalina 22's. A free upgrade is available to stove owners which helps spread the flame out. If you want this free upgrade, just make a request to the email address listed below.

Origo Flame Diffuser 1070
for all Origo Alcohol Stoves and all Origo Alcohol/Electric Combo Stoves

1 per alcohol stove burner

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.

From the Captain
By Dennis Thomas

Fleet 20 Holiday Party Brings Out the Cheer
By Dale Mack

Portland Boat Show
By Dale Mack

Seattle Boat Shows
By Dale Mack

2001 Racing Awards
By Dale Mack

Origo Alcohol Stove
By Dale Mack

From the Captain By Dennis Thomas

Fleet 20 Holiday Party Brings Out the Cheer By Dale Mack

Portland Boat Show By Dale Mack

Seattle Boat Shows By Dale Mack