From the Afterguard
By Dale Mack

I hope everyone is enjoying their summer.  I missed the second half of June when I came down sick with something, so I feel like my summer got off to a slow start.  July, August, and September will be very busy months for racers and cruisers alike.  A quick glance at our calendar shows there should be activities for everyone's taste, especially if you're looking to do something beyond the day sails we all love to do here locally.

Racing

Racing this year has been a lot of fun.  Onboard Crocus, we're still trying to figure out how to break into the top two of the fleet.  It's interesting having three "skippers" aboard the boat.  Don Bateson still describes himself as a beginning racer, and Mike Hibbs and myself have no previous experience racing an old-style boat (Mike used to own #14924, and I used to own #14286).  Despite having won the SYSCO Spring Series twice before in Harmony, #14286, I'm finding that Crocus needs to be sailed a little different than my former new-style boat.  One example is tacking, I've notice that both Mike and I have been tacking Crocus in a manner that seems to have a much more noticeable negative effect on our speed coming out of the tack then it did on our new-style boats that were heavier and carried more momentum into the tack.  I guess we're going to need to get out and just practice tacking to see what seems to work best for us.

The top two boats racing this season have been Blaine Dickason's Gromit and perennial favorite Mike McGrath's Solus.  Mike along with Terry Annis aboard as crew, continues to demonstrate a real knack for sailing downwind against the river's current.  While you might beat them on the windward legs, you better be on top of your game for the downwind legs.  Blaine on Gromit has just exploded onto the local C22 racing scene in 2003.  After getting his feet wet in 2002, Blaine has demonstrated he's a quick learner and has a good eye for picking where he wants to be on the river.  Solus and Gromit are going into the final race  of the Summer Series tied for first place.

Cruising

Laura, Sean, and I missed the June 21-22 cruise upriver 9.1 nautical miles from the I-5 bridge to Government Island's East Dock (officially called Bartletts Landing).  I understand from others that four Catalina's made the trip.  Despite rain early Saturday morning, those that attended were treated to a break from June's unusual run of hot weather.

Individual plans to trailer up to Anacortes and spend one or two weeks sailing amongst the San Juan and Gulf Islands get underway for some members of Fleet 20 this month.  For others, like Laura and myself, we'll be tagging along with some boats from SYSCO as we explore the lower Columbia River for the first time.  More details on the Delta Cruise can be found later in the newsletter.

Fleet 20 has a cruise upriver to Beacon Rock (29.9 nm from I-5) planned for August 15-18.  Laura and I are serving as the host for this cruise which will be occurring at the same time as the Columbia River All Catalina Association's cruise to Beacon Rock.  The Beacon Rock cruise is wonderful, and very doable in a Catalina 22.  In fact, last year I was surprised that it took me longer motoring there in my Catalina 30 then it did the previous year in the Catalina 22.  Details about the Beacon Rock cruise can be found later in the newsletter.

Just a couple of reminders of cruises in September so you can get them on your calendar.

• St. Helens Cruise/Race sponsored by SYSCO (Sept 6-7).  This is an awesome sail, a wonderful little town, new concrete docks, and a great time shared in the company of others.  Whether you race there or just enjoy a leisurely sail there, this event should not be missed an has become a tradition for Fleet 20.

• Fourth Annual All Catalina Rendezvous (Sept. 12-14) sponsored by the Columbia River All Catalina Association.  This year the event is being held at McCuddy's Landing (formerly Brown's Landing) on Multnomah Channel.  Open to Catalina's of all sizes, this event continues to grow and is becoming the premiere regional event for owners of Catalina Yachts.  Featuring delicious potluck meals, boat tours, door prizes, and boat sponsored hors d'oeuvres, the rendezvous is open to all and can be easily reached by boat or car depend on whether you just want to come down for the day, or spend the weekend.

• Sail for the Cure (Sept. 20) sponsored by the Oregon Women's Sailing Association.  What is Sail for the Cure?:

• An event organized by OWSA to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
• The event starts out with coffee & snacks at check-in, then we sail a "fun race" stressing cooperation more than winning, followed by a post event party with food and prizes.
• Each boat must be skippered by a woman (she doesn't have to own it to be the skipper), and men are welcome to crew.
• The entry fee is $20.00 per person, with all profits go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Well, I hope I've whetted your appetite for some of the great sailing events coming up it in the next three months.  Whether it's day sailing your boat, participating in the fun of Friday night beer can races, or packing the bags and spending a night or two aboard as you explore one of the beautiful bodies of water in the northwest, I wish you all a fun and safe summer out there on the water.

Catalina 22 National Sailing Association
Awards Newsletter/Website of the Year to Fleet 20
By Dale Mack

Imagine my amazement when I was informed in June and then eventually received a plaque from the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association announcing that Fleet 20 had won the C22NSA Newsletter/Website of the Year.

Started as a hobby in 2000 while serving as the Fleet Captain for Fleet 20, and done at a time when I was still the webmaster for www.Catalina22.org (since passed onto Gene Ferguson in Texas), the newsletter and website has always existed for one purpose an that has been and continues to be to communicate the joy and benefits of Catalina 22 ownership and promote northwest sailors to get together and share ideas and experiences.

The C22NSA lists the following criteria for awarding this plaque annually:

Fleet Newsletter of the Year Award

This award is given in recognition of the fleet and editor who produced the best C-22 newsletter/website during the past year.

Criteria:  In order to be considered for this award, a newsletter must be sent to the MainBrace editor for at least six months prior to the award presentation at the Nationals.  The MainBrace editor serves as the judge for the newsletter award and he or she will be looking for the following:

1. General appearance - attractive design and layout.
2. Regular publication schedule - published at least bi-monthly, preferably monthly.
3. Content - contains a wide variety of articles, such as post-event pieces describing fleet activities, how-to articles, descriptions and results of races, member profiles, etc., as well as a schedule of events.
4. Competent editing - for language basics and style.
5. Use of paid advertisements for fleet revenue - optional.

When I sold Harmony (#14286) in the summer of 2001 I wondered how I'd continue to generate material for the newsletter, but thanks to many in the fleet who have invited me along to crew, or let me take pictures of their boats over the past years, I been able to chronicle the sailing adventures of a great group of folks.  I also want to thank our current and recent past  fleet captains, Blaine Dickason, Mike Hibbs, and Don Bateson, respectively, for responding to my monthly pestering for a fleet captain's article.  And lastly, I'd like to thank the C22NSA for bestowing this award on Fleet 20.

Helping Hands Across the Internet
By Dale Mack

I've been a long time reader of the Catalina 22 email discussion group, and have picked up a lot of useful information along the way.  One of the things I also look for while on the list are fellow Northwest C22 sailors I can connect with.  The Internet is actual how I found out about Fleet 20 in the first place.  Back in April of 1997, Laura, Sean, and I were living in Boise, Idaho and looking forward to taking our boat to the C22NSA Nationals on Lake Tahoe in June.  We were also scheduled to relocate to Vancouver, Washington in July, so I was interested in connecting with some fellow C22 sailors in the Portland area.  Much to my surprise the following got posted on the email discussion list:

Shortly thereafter Bob and I started corresponding, as he attempted to answer all my questions about sailing on the Columbia River.  In June I had the pleasure of meeting Bob and Gail at the Nationals along with fellow Fleet 20 members Terry and Kathie Annis who had brought their boat Lematike, #6800.

Continuing the Tradition

It was in the tradition of extending a helping hand through contact made first on the Internet that I met fellow Vancouver residents Rik and Konnie Roberts in June of this year.  The Roberts had just purchased and taken delivery of a 1998 Catalina 22 mkII that the boat's previous owner had had delivered to them from Arizona.  Rik had asked the list some questions about stepping the mast, so I volunteered to come over and give him a hand.

Wow! What a gorgeous boat!  Rik and Konnie had bought a time-capsule.  The boat is a 1998 wing keel model, with a 1998 8hp Honda, bimini, full cover, stainless steel telescoping mast carrier, mainsail, 150 Genoa, 110 Jib, VHF, Depth Sounder, kick up rudder, dual-axle galvanized trailer, and has only been in the water six times and stored for the last three years.

When I arrived Rik and Konnie had already removed the duct tape and unfortunate sticky residue it left behind, so we were able to set about making sense of all the fittings and wires that hadn't been put away in a manner most Catalina 22 owners who trailer much would be accustom to.   After checking for signs of chafing from the trip up from Arizona, and getting all the shrouds and stays reattached, we raised the mast carrier, walked the mast aft until we could secure it to the mast step, moved to the cabin top, and then swung and lifted the mast into the vertical position.  I then went forward and attached the forestay, followed by connecting the two forward shrouds.

The Catalina 22 mkII is suppose to have a "Gin Pole" mast raising system.  In fact the hole in the base of the mast was present, and so were the two pad eyes mounted to the tops of the cabin top turning blocks, but the pole and block and tackle wasn't present, so Rik is going to check with the previous owner to seeing if it is hiding in a garage.  I suspect the boom vang could be used in place of the block and tackle, but I'm going to have to see a standard factory gin pole and side cable supports to fully understand this portion of the system.

After get the mast raise, I talked over some of the other aspects of the boat with Rik and Bonnie, and then offered to made myself available in the future should they want any additional assistance.  The Roberts have a beautiful boat, and I look forward to seeing them out on the water.

Newsletters of the Northwest
By Dale Mack

Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:

• Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA)
• Small Yacht Sailing club of Oregon (SYSCO)
• Catalina Association of Tacoma and South South (CATSS)
• Catalina Association of Puget South (CAPS out of Seattle)

Looking Forward to the Columbia River Delta Cruise
By Dale Mack

July 26 - August 3.  Laura and I haven't been any further downriver than Martin Island in our boat, so cruising to Astoria will be a first for us this year.  We had original planned to go on the CRACA Astoria cruise July 19-27 but when no one showed an interest, Laura and I decided to loosely tag along for part of the SYSCO cruise occurring the same week as the Six Pac Regatta July 26 - August 1 which races from Portland to St. Helens, Cathlamet, Astoria, and back to Cathlamet before ending with a one or two day cruise back to Portland.  I've also discovered that Rose City Yacht Club's Lazy Day's downriver cruise is scheduled for the same week so it should be quite cozy at Cathlamet and Astoria's West Basin Marina.

Here's the tentative itinerary Celtic Myst might follow:

Bill's philosophy about rest and relax and not having even moment planned, fits Laura and my state of mind when we are on the boat, so who knows, our final cruise may end up looking nothing like our published itinerary.  I suspect Laura and I will make it up as we go.

If you're heading downriver that week drop me a line.

Beacon Rock Cruise Starts Friday, August 15
By Dale Mack

August 15 -18.  Laura, Sean, and I would like to invite you to join us on a Fleet 20 cruise upriver to Beacon Rock State Park.  This cruise can easily be enjoyed on a three-day weekend, and in fact one Catalina came up last year for just the night.  Laura and I are going to stretch it over four days so we can enjoy the peaceful moorage and give Sean a chance to try out his new kayak.

Here's a sample itinerary for the cruise:

Our plan is to get underway shortly after 6am on Friday and motor/sail straight through to Beacon Rock.  Send me an email if you are interested in attending the cruise so I can keep you apprised of any last minute changes in plans.

Summer Series Results with One Race Left
By Dale Mack

Rob Hinz and Forrest Seitz co-own and race #13408

Solus, #6800 skippered by Mike McGrath and Gromit, #12286 skippered by Blaine Dickason have treated us all to some really close racing in the Summer Series.  Sitting at the back of the pack in Crocus has provided me a front row sit.  All kidding aside it has so far been a blast to be out there with everyone.

The scores I've listed below is Fleet 20's version that extracts out the two Ranger 20's that are also starting with us and are mistakenly being scored by SYSCO as being part of SYSCO fleet H2 which is reserved for only the the Catalina 22's which are racing One-Design because we show up to the line with more than the minimum required boats to warrant our own trophies.  I suspect our fleet's Race Captain Don Bateson with have to call SYSCO and clear up the confusion in the results being posted on www.sailpdx.com.

Good luck to all my fellow racers both skippers and crews as we head into the last race of the Summer Series.  Lets keep our fingers crossed that we have wind.

Race Results:

No Catalina 22 Interest in the One-Design Regatta?
By Dale Mack

August 9-10.  It's beginning to sound like Fleet 20 is going to have great participation at the SYSCO 25th Anniversary Regatta (normally known as the One-Design Regatta), but the funny thing is that none of the members may be racing Catalina 22's.  Here's what I know so far about whose competing and onboard what:

• Terry Annis aboard his C25 Lematike
• Nate Hanson aboard his C25 Leucothea
• Bob Gales aboard his C30 Imagine
• Dale Mack aboard his C30 Celtic Myst

There is still time to organize something with the Catalina 22's if anyone is interested.  Also in celebration of SYSCO's twenty-five years of contribution to the local racing and cruising community, the regatta will offer starts for One-Design fleets, Level fleets, and a Cruising Class start with a fun course for those who don’t race.

Saturday will begin the 25th Anniversary Regatta and end the day with a party on the lawn at Tomahawk Bay Moorage on Hayden Island.  On Sunday we will sail the balance of the races.  Trophies will be presented at SYSCO's Fall Banquet.

Registration for the regatta must be turned in by Friday, August 9.  If you are interested in participating checkout the registration information at One-Design Regatta.  If you have more questions please feel free to contact me.

July

• 8,  Race Committee Duty
• 12, Summer Series Race #4
• 19, Summer Series Race #5
• 26 - Aug 3, Delta Cruise with SYSCO
• 26 - Aug 1, Six Pac Regatta (to Astoria and back)

August

• 9 - 10, SYSCO 25th Anniversary Regatta (known as the One-Design Regatta)
• 15 - 18, Beacon Rock Cruise (Dale and Laura Mack are the cruise hosts)

September

• 6 - 7, St. Helens Race/Cruise with SYSCO
• 12 - 14, All Catalina Rendezvous at McCuddy's Landing on Multnomah Channel hosted by the Columbia River All Catalina Association
• 20, Sail for the Cure

See the calendar

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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.