From the Afterguard
By Dale Mack

Welcome to the new year and what promises to be a great sailing season despite the inch of snow covering the boat.  Less than three months from launching the boat back into the water and I find myself still looking at a long wish list of projects to complete.

Fleet 20 has several on the water and off the water activities planned for 2004, so I'm confident you'll find something that matches up with your interests and availability.  We start things off with the Portland Boat Show running from January 3-11 at the Portland Expo Center.  Fleet 20 poster  boards, brochures and photographs will be incorporated into the Columbia River All Catalina Association's display located within the Sailboats of Oregon floor space at the show.  Sailboats of Oregon, our local Catalina Yachts dealership, will be displaying eight boats at the show (a C42, C350, C30, C270, C250, C16.5, an Expo 12.5, and a Sabot).

Boat Show Rendezvous

Laura and I are planning to attend the Portland Boat Show on Sunday the 4th, and would like to invite others to join us.  We'll start the day off with a 9 a.m. breakfast at  Elmers - Delta Park (9848 N Whitaker Rd Portland, OR 97217), followed by a visit to West Marine (looking for after Christmas sales), and then onto the boat show which opens at 11 a.m. (closes at 6 p.m.).  If you'd like to rendezvous, contact me via email (catalina22fleet20@comcast.net) or the phone (360-260-4196).

2004 Catalina 25/250 National Regatta comes to the Columbia River

Catalina 25 Fleet 94 of Portland, bid for and won the honor of hosting the national championship regatta for the Catalina 25/250 National Association.  Several Fleet 20 members have moved up to Catalina 25's over the years, and several Fleet 20 members crew on Catalina 25's.  In fact some Fleet 94 members crew on Catalina 22's.

The regatta is scheduled for July 14-17, with a tour of the race area on the 13th, and some local cruising through the 20th.  Tomahawk Bay Moorage will serve as headquarters for the regatta.

Anyone interested in helping out with the regatta or being available to crew can contact:

• Gary Bruner (Fleet 94 Captain, 360-687-2048 or molika@teleport.com)

• Terry Annis (360-260-0426 or terransea@aol.com),

I've been recruited to crew aboard Terry Annis' C25 Lematike, and am looking forward to the regatta.

Columbia River All Catalina Association

Besides being the Fleet 20 Secretary/Treasurer, webmaster, and newsletter editor, I'm also the current Commodore for the 70+ boat Columbia River All Catalina Association (www.ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org), sometimes known as CRACA.  The Association attracts Catalina's of all sizes from Capri 18's to Catalina 50's.

As the Commodore for CRACA, I'd like to extend an invitation to my fellow Catalina 22 owners to attend a couple of CRACA events in the coming year.  The 2004 schedule for CRACA has lots of on and off the water activities, and you'll find many of them blended  into Fleet 20's 2004 schedule.  You don't need to be a member of CRACA or Fleet 20 to attend a CRACA event.

Events of Interest in 2004
By Dale Mack

In addition to our own personal daysailing and weekend gunkholing activities, Fleet 20 has several events planned for 2004 worth considering.  If you've never attended a Fleet 20 event, I encourage you to give one a try.  If just showing up makes you uncomfortable, contact me via email (catalina22fleet20@comcast.net) or the phone (360-260-4196) and lets break the ice before the event so you know at least one person. 

West Marine Swap Meet and Daysail, April 17.  The morning will start off with a visit to the swap meet in the parking lot at West Marine, after which we'll sail about in the vicinity of buoy "14" and the pick a spot to raftup for an hour or so.  If your boat is not in the water yet, then we'll get you on one of the other boats.

Spring Racing Series, April-May (Thursday evenings).  Starting mid-April, this series of five races is conducted on the Columbia River between the I-5 and I-205 bridges.   Race your own boat or crew on another.

Ladies Cruise, May 14-16.  The Oregon Women's Sailing Association sponsors an annual ladies only overnight cruise (OWSA membership is NOT required).  This ladies weekend out gets high marks every year from participants, so Fleet 20 wants to encourage our members to take their boats, or crew aboard someone else's boat.

Lemon Island Rendezvous, May 15.  For those not on the Ladies Cruise, the morning will start off with a visit to the swap meet at Tomahawk Bay Moorage, after which we'll sail the boats upriver to Lemon Island and raftup.  A traditional Fleet 20 favorite, this daysail is always worth a try.

Martin Island Cruise, May 28-31 (Memorial Weekend).  Downriver from the town of St. Helens, the sail from Portland to Martin Island can be some of the best sailing you've ever enjoyed on the Columbia River.  Once anchored in the lagoon at Martin Island, you can enjoy the long weekend just kicking back or exploring the lagoon in your dinghy or kayak.  You'll have your choice of rafting up with Fleet 20, the Columbia River All Catalina Association, the Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO), or anchoring alone.  In fact you could join a raft up in the day and then go off and anchor for the evening.  You will absolute love this cruise.

Summer Racing Series, June-July (Thursday evenings).  Starting mid-June, this series of five races is conducted on the Columbia River between the I-5 and I-205 bridges.   Race your own boat or crew on another.

Government Island Cruise, June 19-20 (Father's Day & Summer Sailtice).  The cruise upriver to the East dock of Government Island makes for a great weekend outing.  Less than two hours motoring from most member's slips, this cruise can provide some nice sailing in both directions.

Friday Night Beer Can Races, June - August.  The winners are the best-costumed crew who provides the best bribes to the Committee boat.  These just-for-fun races are a great way for new racers to get some practice  without the pressure of a serious regatta.

Summer Rendezvous, July 17.  Throw a picnic lunch onboard and some snacks to share, and join the raftup on the north side of Lemon Island.

Columbia River Cruise, July 31 - August 8.  The 2004 itinerary takes participants from Portland to Cathlamet and back, and visits various gunkholes along the way.  The leisurely pace of the schedule encourages sailing between the destinations, and daysailing out of Cathlamet.  Also, Elochoman slough at Cathlamet is great for exploring in a kayak.

One-Design Regatta, August 14-15.  Absent from Fleet 20's schedule the last couple of years due to scheduling conflicts with the San Juan Islands cruise, we are hoping to get at least a minimum of three boats to the line so we can once again include this regatta in the points total for Fleet Champion.  Sponsored by SYSCO, this is an absolutely wonderful weekend of racing, with a BBQ dinner Saturday night.  Laura and I competed in our first One-Design Regatta when we were neophyte racers and we had a blast.

Beacon Rock Cruise, August 20-25.  Doable in two days; more fun if you can make it a 3-day weekend, and awesome for a week, you and other Catalina 22 sailors will join up with members of the Columbia River All Catalina Association on this cruise to one of the great destinations on the Columbia River.  Spectacular scenery, and some nice sailing await the participants on this cruise of the Columbia River Gorge.

St. Helens Cruise/Race, September 11-12.  A perennial favorite amongst Fleet 20 members, this event is more of a cruise than a race.  Starting on the Columbia River just upstream of the mouth of the Willamette River, participants sail to St. Helens and tie up at the city docks.  Fleet 20 typically holds a potluck on the docks Saturday evening.

All Catalina Rendezvous, September 17-19.  This annual event is hosted by the Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA) and attendance is open to all boats built by Catalina Yachts (membership in CRACA is not required).  Attracting boats from Capri 18's to Catalina 50's you'll spend a weekend surrounded by several models from the Catalina Yachts lineup.  Socializing and touring the boats are common activities during the event, so for those looking to move up, here's a perfect opportunity to look around and ask questions.

Sail for the Cure, September 25.  The Sail for the Cure is a fun family event to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.  The event is a two hour daysail topped off with dinner on the lawn at Tomahawk Bay Moorage.  Each boat participating pledges $20 for each person onboard, and must have a female skipper who doesn't necessarily have to be driving the boat.

Become a Member of Fleet 20
By Dale Mack

January marks the start of the membership renewal process for Fleet 20.  If you're one of the many local C22 owners who have thought about joining, then this is the perfect time to sign-up.  The 2004 season promises to be a lot of fun, filled with cruising, daysailing, racing, and shore side activities.  From the boat show rendezvous' in January to the Holiday Party in December, Fleet 20 provides you the opportunity to share your Catalina enthusiasm  with fellow owners twelve months of the year.

The Fleet 20 Membership Application is available online at  www.c22pdx.org/docs.  Simply print it off, fill it out, and sending it in along with $10 to the address listed on the application.

Notes from the Secretary/Treasurer
By Dale Mack

I'd like to make you aware of one of the great resources for Catalina 22 owners. The MainBrace is the official magazine of the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association (www.catalina22.org) and has been in continuous publication since 1972.

The MainBrace is mailed to Association members six times a year (January, March, May, July, September, and November).   The magazine contains articles about cruising, technical tips, family activities aboard C-22's, racing, regatta notices, and news from more than sixty Catalina 22 Fleets spread across the country who conduct many local activities.  I really look forward to the arrival my copy every two months and particularly enjoy the technical tips, cruising stories, and reading about the adventures of other Catalina 22 Fleets.  Information on how to join the Association and get the magazine is available at www.catalina22.org  .

Newsletters of the Northwest
By Dale Mack

Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:

• www.ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org

• www.sailpdx.com/sysco.htm

• home.earthlink.net/~catss/CATSS Web Page.htm

• capsfleet1.com/News Letters.htm

Portland Boat Show
By Dale Mack

January 3-11.  The Portland Boat Show will be held January 3-11.  Although this show tends to be geared toward jet-powered aluminum fishing sleds and PWC, it does do a pretty good job of showcasing Portland sailing.  Representatives from many of the area's sailing club's and merchants that cater to the sailing community are usually present.  Sailboats of Oregon, The Sailing Life, Island Sailing Club, Schooner Creek Boat Works, Gig Harbor Boat Works, and several sailing fleets bring boats for the public to examine.  This show is less about window shopping and is more about hanging out with friends and family while strolling the aisles talking sailing and consider your plans for the 2004 season.

Seattle Boat Shows
By Dale Mack

January 16-25.  The annual Seattle Boat Show, and Lake Union Boats Afloat Show will be held January 16-25.  The Seattle Boat Show takes place at the Seahawks Stadium and Exhibition Center across the street from Safeco Field, and it features lots of marine equipment booths, powerboats, and a few sailboats.  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, and for the first time, a single ticket will get you into both shows.

This is a special invitation to come and listen to former Fleet 20 members Bob Gales and Gail O'Neill describe their adventure north last year in their Catalina 30.