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| www.c22pdx.org |
July 2004 |
From
the Afterguard
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #4248
Between crewing on Terry Annis' Catalina 25, sailing my own boat, and hosting both Fleet 20 and Catalina 25 Fleet 94 as we used my other boat for race committee duty, I spent a lot of time on the water in June. I hope your sailing season is off to a good start.
Laura and I had a nice time on the Father's Day Government Island cruise. While we enjoy cruising on our own, it's fun to every once in awhile hook up with some other Catalina owners and share a night at a dock or anchorage. Our annual trip downriver starts the end of this month and runs into the first week in August. I'm looking forward to revisiting some of our favorite spots and perhaps finding some new ones. If you mostly daysail your boat but have thought about doing some overnighters, or you already do an occasional overnight but are in search of some new destinations, then please consider attending one of the many Catalina cruises occurring over the next three months.
The Friday night Beer Can Races commenced in June. The racing is casual with the emphasis on fun as we sail around the buoys. I find it a great venue to introduce friends to sailing and racing in an environment in which nobody takes the results seriously. I've enjoyed participating in these races this year, and can highly recommend them if you want to do something different than just sail from bank to bank or up and down the river. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask me at catalina22fleet20@comcast.net.
The
admission free Antique Boat Show held at Tomahawk Bay Moorage on June 26th
turned out to be well worth attending. From runabouts, and motor yachts to
Sea Scout vessels and a restored WWII PT boat, the waterside attractions were
wonderful. Ashore were more runabouts, antique cars, model ships, and
antique outboard motors.
I spent the day climbing about classic yachts and talking to owners of restored or reproduction runabouts. The PT 658 restoration story was quite interesting and I had a great time flipping through their photo albums which documented the project. Click here for a picture of the boat and a story by the Oregonian.
New Members
Please join me in welcoming the following new members to Fleet 20:
Lindy Hall & Gary McLean of Sandy, Oregon
C22, #10868, Sunrise, berthed at McCuddy's on Marine Drive
Lindy and Gary are interested in cruising
Lending a Helping Hand
One of the benefits I derive from belonging to a Catalina owners association like Fleet 20 is that it can put me in contact with a network of fellow owners I can ask questions of. Here's a recent example to illustrate my point. Dave Bradley, in Gresham, OR recently acquired an older C22 and had read my article about how to replace the impeller. He emailed me asking where to find parts for his 1979 Honda 7.5 outboard. I pointed him to Pacific Boatland in Vancouver, WA. Dave later asked about where the thermostat on the engine was located. I could not remember, so I put him in contact with Dan Dugan (Harmony, #14286) who I believed had a Honda shop manual for the engine. Sure enough, and Dan quickly responded with an emailed photocopy of the answer back to Dave and myself.
Don't hesitate to ask if you are looking for some advice or want to learn more about these wonderful boats from rigging to sailing.
Fleet 20 Boats For Sale
A couple of Fleet 20 Catalina 22's are for sale and can be viewed on the For Sale page. The page has helped in finding new homes for a half dozen boats since it was launched last year.
Report from the
Catalina Rendezvous Committee
By Dave Thomas, C30, Sunchaser (Rendezvous Chair)
Editor's Note: I want to encourage my fellow Catalina 22 owners to attend the rendezvous. Whether you boat in or drive in, the rendezvous will provide you with an enjoyable Saturday of demonstrations and hands on activities. Registration information will be emailed out to everyone in the next few weeks.
The
Rendezvous Committee is happy to announce that through hard work, sweat, and a
lot of talking, we are on track for a great Rendezvous in September. So,
mark your calendars for September 17, 18, & 19 at McCuddy's Landing on
Multnomah Channel. This is a "One Of A Kind", "Special Event" for the
year. Highlights include:
- Free moorage. CRACA will pick up the moorage fee for Friday and Saturday night.
- Keynote address by Gerry Douglas, Designer & Engineer, Catalina Yachts.
- Workshops on:
- Life Sling
- Kayak Safety
- West Marine Presentation
- And More -----
- Gift Exchange & Dessert (dessert provided by CRACA).
- Sunday Pancake Breakfast, prepared by our own Dave Peoples.
- Early Morning Walk or Run on Sat. & Sun. for those who feel the need for exercise.
- Games & Kayaking
- An option to purchase rendezvous T-shirts ($13) and Polo-shirts ($26)
Dinner on Saturday night is " On Your Own ". We recognize that some will want to eat at "Marks On The Channel", located at McCuddy's. So, at registration we will ask you to indicate if you plan on eating at Marks. This will help us arrange seating together, and will help Marks know how many are coming for dinner.
Those who have kayaks are encouraged to bring them along for a paddle on the channel.
Last, but not least, the cost! Nothing! Our location, and not having a catered dinner allow us to have a Rendezvous at a minimal cost that will be paid by CRACA. We will be asking for advance registration so we know how many to expect for moorage, Sunday breakfast, Saturday night dessert, and seating at Marks.
There are a wide range of ideas about what a "Rendezvous" should be. At a minimum, it is a gathering. So, the 2004 Rendezvous Committee is offering a gathering, and an opportunity to get together and have some fun. You can participate in as much, or as little as you choose. At a maximum, it is an opportunity to enjoy each others company.
See you all in September
| Cruising
Bartlett Landing |
Report from Father's Day Cruise to Bartlett Landing
By Dale Mack
This was Laura and my first overnight trip to Bartlett Landing (a.k.a Government Island, East Dock). Earlier this year, the old moorage was completely removed and replaced with new metal pilings, concrete docks, and an aluminum ramp.
It took us less than two hours motoring upstream to reach the moorage from our slip at Tomahawk Bay. While we could have sailed, there was a nice NNW breeze, we had gotten a late start and decided to save the sail for the return trip home on Sunday.
Early
arriving Catalina's had already staked out the covered picnic structure ashore
for the evening's potluck appetizers followed by a group hot dog roast.
We had a wonderful time meeting everyone, and the potluck Sunday breakfast on the dock was delicious. The sail home was awesome with Laura doing most of the steering while I handled the sheets.
With the rejuvenated Bartlett Landing in our own backyard, I know Laura and I will be planning future trips to this delightful destination.
Notes on Bartlett Landing
- Almost everyone refers to it as Government Island - East Dock
- Passing wakes make the riverside of the outside dock unbearable (bring lots of fenders if you stay here). If you can't get inside, you'd be better off anchoring between the docks and the beach.
- Two new composting toilets are ashore
- There are four campsites with fire rings (campfires are only allowed in fire rings).
- Campsites have a picnic table
- Bring wood if you want a campfire
- The covered picnic structure has 2-3 picnic tables, a BBQ, and a fire ring
- There are NO trash cans. You have to take out what you bring in.
- There is NO running water
- Pets are allowed as long as they are on a leash
- Great sandy beaches
- Lots of shade ashore under tall trees
Sand Island Cruise - July 17th and 18th
|
Cathlamet Cruise: July 31 - August 6
By Dale Mack
Laura and I are hosting a cruise to Cathlamet, WA. Other than being at Cathlamet on August 2nd & 3rd, we're going to make up our itinerary as we go. Below is what we are currently thinking.
| Date | Day | Destination |
| July 31 | Sa | St. Helens or Sand Island |
| August 1 | Su | Rainier |
| 2 | Mo | Cathlamet |
| 3 | Tu | Cathlamet |
| 4 | We | Anchor at Walker Island |
| 5 | Th | St. Helens |
| 6 | Fr | Portland |
A kayak exploration of Elochoman Slough and adjoining waterways is planned for Tuesday. On Wednesday 8/4, we will catch the rising tide in the early morning and start the upriver phase of the cruise.
Please RSVP your intention to attend to catalina22fleet20@comcast.net.
Plans for the Beacon Rock Cruise
By Dale Mack
August
19-22. Fleet 20 has an upriver cruise
planned to Beacon Rock in August. Laura, Sean, and I would like to
invite you to join us on this annual trek to one of our favorite destinations.
This cruise can easily be enjoyed on a three-day weekend. Laura and I are going to stretch our trip over four days so we can enjoy the peaceful moorage and give Sean and me a chance to explore the local waters in our kayaks.
Because Beacon Rock (30 nm upriver) is typically a 6 hr. 30 min. motor for us, we've decided to split it up by spending the first night at Bartlett Landing (Government Island, East Dock). Aside from knocking two hours off the trip, Bartlett Landing is a nice destination.
| Itinerary | ||
| Date | Day | Destination |
| 19 | Th | Government Is - East |
| 20-21 | Fr - Sa | Beacon Rock |
| 22 | Su | Portland |
On Friday morning we'll get underway for Beacon Rock, with an expected arrival time around midday.
With an assist from the river's current, our trip back to Portland on Sunday should take us about four hours motoring.
This cruise into the Columbia River Gorge is beautiful. From waterfalls and Douglas Fir trees that come right down to the water's edge to steep gorge walls and misty morning views, this cruise offers a lot to see. I look forward to having you join us there.
Send me an email (catalina22fleet20@comcast.net) if you are interested in attending the cruise so I can keep you apprised of any last minute changes in plans.
Notes on Beacon Rock:
- Moorage at the dock for a C22 is about $10/night
- Bring quarters for the showers (3 minutes for 50 cents)
- Great place for dinghies, kayaks, or small sailboats
- Running water is available at the top of the ramp
- Ice is available about a mile's walk from the moorage
- There is a one knot current that runs south passed the docks
- Stay more than one night. Lots to do and see.
Cruising Schedule
- July 17 - 19, Sand Island
- July 31 - Aug 6, Cathlamet
- August 19 - 22, Beacon Rock
- September 11 - 12, St. Helens
- September 17 - 19, Catalina Rendezvous
- September 25, Sail for the Cure
| Racing |
Fleet 20 Serves as Race Committee
By Dale Mack
On Tuesday, June 22nd, five members and friends of Fleet 20 went out and served as the Race Committee for the second race of the SYSCO Summer Series for the big boats. Onboard the race committee boat were:
- Don Bateson (Fleet Captain, Crocus, #4248)
- << a friend of Don's from work >>
- Blaine Dickerson (Gromit, #12286)
- Dong Alexander (Sottovento, #14741)
- Dale Mack (Crocus, #4248)
My Catalina 30, Celtic Myst once again served as the race committee boat, while Blaine skippered Pancho, SYSCO's Boston Whaler used for setting marks.
With a light wind blowing out of the East, we set a (B-C-X-B)*3 course knowing that unless things filled in, we'd probably shorten the course by removing some of the laps. Where normally you might just post (B-X-B)*3, placing an intermediate mark a "C" added interest and challenge to the race by effectively creating a gate between "C" and the downstream Restricted Zone buoy near McCuddy's. The use of "C" in this fashion had been used the previous week in a race I'd participated in, and it had provided new passing opportunities that a straight shot to "X" would not.
It was a very enjoyable evening out, and it was fun watching all the boat handling from a front row seat aboard the RC boat. Please consider joining us next time. As you can see by the attendance of Don's work colleague, no prior experience is required.
Crewing Aboard Lematike
By Dale Mack
It's an odyssey begun back in April when former C22 skipper Terry Annis, Mike McGrath (Solus, #6800), and I (Crocus, #4248) commenced racing Terry's Catalina 25 in the SYSCO Spring Series. While Terry normally crews for Mike in our local one-design Catalina 22 racing against myself an others, Terry had invited us to crew for him at the 2004 Catalina 25/250 National Regatta in Portland, and to use the SYSCO Spring and Summer series to prepare. Intrigued by the opportunity to learn to race with a spinnaker, and the fact that all three of us had had consider success racing Catalina 22's separately, Mike and I decided to not race our boats this year and crew for Terry.
Our inexperienced with a symmetrical spinnaker showed in those first few races. While flying it wasn't a problem, coordinating hoisting the spinnaker while dropping the genoa in the course of rounding a mark in traffic proved challenging. And then there were the spinnaker take downs that had us looking more like the keystone cops than sailors. We finished the Spring Series in second place, and along the way we slowly got better and made fewer mistakes each week.
Leading up to the SYSCO Summer Series that began mid-June, we'd been practicing one evening a week and racing one evening a week. With each race and practice session things were getting better. Our tacks maintained more of the speed coming out of the tack that we took into the tack. The complex ballet on the bow of the boat to get the sails up and down while at the same time keeping track of the spaghetti of sheets, guys, topping lifts, and downhauls started to work itself out. Jybing the spinnaker went from being an anxiety filled activity to a tactical weapon.
I plan to return to Catalina 22 racing next year, and I know I'll take several things I learned this year into the endeavor. One thing I've learned is that racing downwind (upriver) on the Columbia River is a lot faster and more exciting with a spinnaker than slugging it out against the current just wing-and-wing. Any takers for racing with spinnakers next season?
| Technical Tips |
Catalina
22
Sport
2004 Edition - Hull
#15540
Catalina Yachts debuted the Catalina 22 Sport at the C22 National Regatta in June. Built to more accurately reflect the original dimensions and weight of the early boats, this fourth generation of the Catalina 22 is being offered by Catalina Yachts as an alternative to finding an older boat, and then restoring it just to be competitive in Catalina 22 one-design racing. Catalina Yachts' objective was to make the Catalina 22 Sport a competitive boat right "out of the box".
Early photos of the boat are available on the Catalina 22 National Sailing Association's website at www.catalina22.org.
| Scuttlebutt |
Catalina Newsletters of the Northwest
By Dale Mack
Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:
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Columbia River All Catalina Association
(CRACA)
Catalina 25 Fleet 94 of Portland |
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Catalina Assoc. of Tacoma and South Sound (CATSS)
Catalina Association of Puget Sound (CAPS) Small Yacht Sailing club of Oregon (SYSCO) Sail Portland |
| Upcoming Events |
July
- 4, Daysail, BBQ, and Fireworks
- 10, Hayden Bay BBQ sponsored by Columbia Crossings
- 14 - 17, Catalina 25/250 National Regatta in Portland
- 17 - 18, Catalina Cruise: Sand Island, St. Helens, Upper Dock
- 31 - August 6, Catalina Summer Cruise: Downriver to Cathlamet
August
- July 31 - August 6, Catalina Summer Cruise: Downriver to Cathlamet
- 14 - 15, SYSCO One-Design Regatta
- 20 - 24, CRACA Cruise: Beacon Rock
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.