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| www.c22pdx.org |
May 2004 |
From
the Afterguard
By Dale Mack
Ah Spring! Swap meets, racing, and cruising. It has been nice getting out on the water. I and fellow Fleet 20 member Mike McGrath have been crewing for Terry Annis on his Catalina 25 as we prepare for the Catalina 25/250 Nationals in July right here in Portland. We are racing with a spinnaker which has introduced a new element into the mix. We're kind of making it up as we go and getting a little better each week.
I want to thank those who came out and served as the Race Committee (RC) on April 27. It was great to see that the volunteer spirit is alive and well in Fleet 20. Our next race committee duty is Tuesday, June 22. We'll use my Catalina 30 as the RC boat, and we will once again be looking for 5-6 volunteers to staff all the RC roles. Remember, you don't need to know anything about racing to help out, except for the Principal Race Officer, all the jobs are learned in five minutes.
Threatening weather adversely effected participation at the West Marine Swap Meet on Saturday, April 17. While the buyers were there, the sellers trickled in slowly. As always there were quite a few bargains to be had from anchors and fenders to dinghies and electronics. We used Terry Annis' booth as a home base from which we periodically ventured out to make the rounds and check out any new arriving gear. After a couple of hours we packed it in and several of us headed over to Elmer's restaurant for breakfast. For those that didn't make it this year, I encourage to to consider it next year because it is a great opportunity to discuss Catalina 22s with your fellow owners.
I
attended the Catalina Night at North Sails Oregon on April 28th. Kerry Poe
of North Sails did a great job of explaining sail shape and how to use the
various controls on a boat to adjust it. Kerry's presentation was awesome.
Each aspect discussed was accompanied by before and after pictures projected
onto the wall of the sail loft.
Kerry provided a charcoal BBQ for those who decided to bring their dinner to cook. We socialized and had dinner from 6-7 pm, and then enjoyed the presentation from 7-8:30 pm. If you ever get an opportunity to catch one of Kerry's presentations, I encourage you to attend. Kerry has a wealth of experience and information to share.
While
some of our Catalina 22 boats sit out the SYSCO Spring and Summer Series as
their skippers and crews race aboard the Catalina 25s this year, Blaine Dickason
has been racing Gromit in the Spring Series against the Ranger 20s.
If you are interested in racing your boat, or you just want more information about racing, don't hesitate to contact me at:
Speaking of racing, I grabbed Fleet 20 Captain Don Bateson, a crew member off of a Catalina 25, and a husband and wife team who were looking for a crew position, and went out and raced my Catalina 30 in the two day SYSCO Spring Regatta, April 24-25 against other Catalina 30s. The C30s race without spinnakers, which means downwind legs are wing-n-wing just like Catalina 22 racing. We had a great time racing and my crew helped me win the regatta.
If your calendar for May isn't full yet, here are some dates to consider penciling in.
- 15 (Sat), Tomahawk Bay Swap Meet
- 15 (Sat), Daysail after swap meet
- 28-31 (Fri-Mon), Martin Island Cruise
Tomahawk Bay Yacht Club Swap Meet
By Dale Mack
May
15, Saturday, 7am - 10am. The Tomahawk Bay swap meet is being held this year
in conjunction with the
Columbia River Yacht Showcase at Columbia Crossings'
Tomahawk Bay Moorage.
For those that show up before 10 am and you can purchase a pancake breakfast for only $3. TBYC will be offering hamburgers and hotdogs throughout the swap meet.
If browsing the swap meet isn't draw enough, you might consider taking in the more than 50 new and used yachts featured in the showcase.
I'll see you at the swap meet.
| Cruising |
Planning for the Martin
Island Cruise
By Dale Mack
May 29 - 31. Fleet 20's Spring trek to the lagoon at Martin Island is scheduled for Memorial Weekend. We'll be joining several other clubs who make this popular anchorage an annual event.
Information on how to navigate into the lagoon at Martin Island is available here.
Getting There
 Click on chart to enlarge |
Martin Island is 23 nautical miles downstream from the I-5 bridge (St. Helens is 17 nm). 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 possibly rafting up if you'd like. 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. Laura and I will 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 |
Race Committee Survivor
By Dale Mack
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Fleet 20 served as the Race Committee for the SYSCO Spring Series on Tuesday, April 27th. Current and former Fleet 20 members who came out to help included:
- Doug Alexander
- Terry Annis
- Don Bateson (Fleet Captain)
- Blaine Dickason
- Bob Gales
- Dale Mack
Normally serving as the race committee is pretty straight forward. Pick the course, set the marks, start the race, eat lots during the activity, and finish the race. This normally predictable pattern was interrupt on April 27th as we left the marina aboard my Catalina 30 Celtic Myst in wind conditions that were intense to say the least.
It was blowing a constant 25-28 knots with gusts to 31 knots. Everything about race committee duty seemed hard that night. The RC boat was rocking so much you didn't dare move about without holding on to something. The Boston Whaler mark setting boat (Pancho) was a constant threat to the RC boat. With every one of Pancho's fenders deployed and all eight fenders from Celtic Myst in play, we were still finding it necessary to have someone stand watch and hold Pancho away with their feet.
Despite the conditions, about two-thirds of the registered crews came to the line. Strange thing about racing, how it gets you to go out in stuff you'd normally pass on. On the other hand, it's a great way to develop skills in handling a variety of conditions.
I want to thank those hearty soles that came out and helped Fleet 20 fulfill its commitment while at the same time helping keep local racing alive.
Our next Race Committee duty is Tuesday, June 22.
| Scuttlebutt |
Catalina Newsletters of the Northwest
By Dale Mack
Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:
Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA)
Catalina 25 Fleet 94 of Portland
Catalina Association of Tacoma and South South (CATSS)
Catalina Association of Puget South (CAPS out of Seattle)
Small Yacht Sailing club of Oregon (SYSCO)
Sail Portland
| Upcoming Events |
May
- 15, Tomahawk Bay Yacht Club swap meet
- 15, Daysail: After swap meet
- 21-23, Ladies Cruise: Coon Island - East Dock
- 29-31, Cruise to Martin Island
June
- 19-20, Cruise: Government Island - East Dock
- 22, Race Committee Duty
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.