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| Newsletter |
March 2003 |
From
the Captain
By Blaine Dickason, blainedickason@hotmail.com
Well it's almost officially Spring and judging by natural cues like our blooming trees and lengthening days, we should all be getting ready to spend more time on the water.
My "off-season" has been spent doing some work on Gromit, notably replacing the rudder I had the misfortune of breaking in a race last season. As with most boat projects, this took a little longer than I was expecting but I was rewarded by learning quite a bit. I ordered a bare rudder blade and the required hardware for both the transom and rudder from Catalina Direct, a good outlet for C-22 replacement hardware. The most time was spent "measuring-twice" before drilling the holes into that pretty new fiberglass.
For those getting ready for racing this Spring, SYSCO has scheduled the pre-season Sailboat Racing Clinic on Thursday, April 3rd at 6:30P at the Elmer's Restaurant -Delta Park followed by an On-the-Water session on Friday, April 4th at 6:00P. This Clinic is an excellent opportunity to knock the cobwebs loose after the winter and be refreshed on the Racing Rules including starting procedures. This is useful not only for when we're racing but also for the two Tuesdays our Fleet (H2) is responsible for race committee duty (May 20 and July 8).
For now, I'm looking forward to putting my new rudder to use and seeing you on the water!
Fleet 20 Spring Meeting April 6th
Cindy and I would like to host the Fleet 20 Spring meeting at our house with a potluck brunch and the potential of going sailing that afternoon. We'd like to hold it on Sunday, April 6th at approximately 10 am.
| What | Fleet 20 Spring Meeting |
| When | Sunday, April 6th 10 am |
| Where | Blaine Dickason's & Cindy Moreno's home 2823 NE 12th Ave. Portland, OR 97212 503-460-3711 |
| Program | Discuss the 2003 season Possibly go for a sail afterwards |
| RSVP | blainedickason@hotmail.com |
From the Afterguard
By Dale Mack
As the days get longer and warmer, thoughts start turning to getting the boats back into the water. Winter projects never quite gotten to will be left undone, as once again our focus shifts to the pleasures of harnessing the wind to drive these boats through the water.
The 2003 season holds lots of promise for Fleet 20. Region events like the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association's National Regatta in Cascade, Idaho already has some Fleet 20 members making plans to attend in June, and a San Juan Islands cruise is still being discussed for July. Locally, the SYSCO Spring and Summer Series will be the center piece of Fleet 20's racing program, along with several cruises and rendezvous planned with the Columbia River All Catalina Association.
Fleet 20 has added several new members, and has received inquiries from half a dozen others. I believe our Fleet Captain Blaine Dickason and Race Captain Don Bateson have been discussing inviting everyone to a Fleet 20 Spring meeting to discuss racing and cruising plans for the 2003 season. Watch your email for an announcement about upcoming activities.
Please join me in welcoming our new members to Fleet 20.
Doug & Eliana Alexander of Portland
Sottovento, #14741 (wing keel)
Moorage Location: St. Helens
Interested in Racing & Cruising
Stephen & Chris Eldred of Battle Ground
#6389 (swing keel)
Moorage Location: Tomahawk Bay Moorage
Interested in Racing & Cruising
William & Evgeniya Ohle of Portland
Brave Utensil, #932 (swing keel)
Moorage Location: Columbia Ridge Marina
Interested in Cruising
Forrest & Lael Seitz of Beaverton (co-owned with Rob Hinz)
#13408 (swing keel)
Interested in Racing & Cruising
John & Ashley Weil of Portland
Asterisk, #14924 (wing keel)
Moorage Location: McCuddy's (Marine Dr.)
Interested in Racing
| Cruising |
Ladies Cruise 2003
By OWSA
Editor's Note: Fleet 20 member Sheila Drews is one of the planners for this event being held only ten miles downstream of the I-5 bridge. Click here for an aerial view of the PYC Outstation. Laura Mack is also planning to attend and has already filled the berths on her boat with family and friends.
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Ladies Cruise 2003 Island Getaway Held at the PYC Outstation May 16,17,18 |
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| This year's event will be at PYC Outstation on the Columbia River. All Women Sail and Power Boaters are invited to join us for this, the 18th annual event. |
SKIPPER AND CREW COORDINATION MEETING
TUESDAY MARCH 25, AT 7PM
Please come join us at the Rose City Yacht Club.
3737 NE Marine Dr.
The gate will be opened at 6:30pm
¨For information call or e-mail:
Your Cruise Captains:
Sue Johnson, lspbj@comcast.net , 503-661-7199
Sheila Drews, Sheila.drews@saiemail.com
Cheri Tuma, svabsolut@cs.com
Memorial Day Weekend Cruise to Martin Island
By Dale Mack
May 24 - 26. Martin Island is 23 nautical miles downstream from the I-5 bridge (St. Helens is 17 nm). While the man-made lagoon, leftover from the construction of I-5, remains a source of controversy because of the Army Corp of Engineers' purposed plan to partially fill it with dredged material from the Columbia River deepening project, for 2003 the lagoon is open, and will once again will serve as the destination for several local clubs this Memorial Weekend.
Getting There
 Click on chart to enlarge |
The Portland to St. Helens trip is among the top sails on the Columbia River. 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, it looks like open water, but there is long sand bar lurking just under the surface. To navigate around this shallow area, go down river to the red buoy "60" and then head directly toward Martin Bluff where the water is deep right up to shore. Turn to starboard and now you'll be heading up the slough that leads to the lagoon. After some distance the slough will fork. Follow the curve to starboard and watch for a cut into the island on the starboard side. Stay mid-channel going in because of shallows along the island.
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 recommend that you transit this area on a raising tide so if you do become stuck the raising tide will help you off. Catalina 22's shouldn't have a problem with the depth, because sailboats drawing six plus feet routinely visit Martin Island.
Equipment
Plan on anchoring and rafting up (there are no docks). Bring at least four dock lines and fenders for both sides of your boat for rafting. The dock lines need to be long enough to reach from your bow to another when sterns are close together and bows are far apart. 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.
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. It is a good idea to carry a tarp that can be made into a cockpit tent for protection from rain or sun. 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, but for all other meals you'll be on your own. We be rafted with or near the Columbia River All Catalina Association raft up.
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 the dinghy or kayak. Fishing is also popular.
| Racing |
Need Crew or Want to Crew
By Dale Mack
If you plan to race your boat, I recommend you visit our Racing page and fill out the OCSA Membership form and send it into OCSA. OCSA will mail you a laminated course chart, Racing Instructions, and 2003 Race Book with all the sailing related activities planned for 2003.
If you are looking for crew to help you race your boat, or you would like to crew on someone else's boat to gain experience, then please contact one of the following:
- Blaine Dickason, Fleet 20 Captain, blainedickason@hotmail.com
- Don Bateson, Race Captain, donbateson@yahoo.com
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Sailboat Racing Clinic Offered by: Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon
April 3, 2003 Chalkboard Session at 18:30 hours (6:30 p.m.) Elmer’s Restaurant – Delta Park Topics will include: Race Preparation April 4, 2003 On the Water Session at 18:00 hours (6 p.m.) The session will feature several practice starts and a
round-the-buoy practice race. The on the water session will be conducted in the vicinity
of mark “B” For more information contact: Alan Schamp |
Come Sail with Me
By Dale Mack
Fellow Fleet 20 member Bob Gales and myself are considering racing our Catalina 30's in the SYSCO Spring Regatta, April 26-27. Since I don't have lots of experience driving my C30 in a race, I thought I'd take advantage of the SYSCO Race Clinic and practice some starts on Friday evening, April 4th. For those new to racing or racing on the Columbia River, this would be a good opportunity to see the whole starting sequence.
Since the area being used for the practice starts is just outside Tomahawk Bay Moorage, where I keep the boat, I figure we can delay getting underway until 5:40 pm if need be to accommodate some folk's schedules.
2003 Racing Schedule
By Dale Mack
Here is a look at the 2003 racing schedule.
SYSCO Spring Series
- April 17
- April 24
- May 1
- May 15
- May 22
SYSCO Summer Series
- June 12
- June 19
- June 26
- July 10
- July 17
SYSCO One-Design Regatta and 25th Anniversary
- August 9-10
Fleet 20 Race Committee Duty
As in past years, Fleet 20 will serve as the race committee for two of the Tuesday evening races. Our dates are:
- May 20, Tuesday
- July 8, Tuesday
I'll volunteer Celtic Myst to serve as the race committee boat for May 20th.
| Upcoming Events |
See the calendar
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.