Mast Raising Workshop, February 25th
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #8244

I've been sailing Catalina 22's since 1987, and until I arrived in Vancouver in 1997, I had always been a road warrior.  You get pretty good rigging the boat when it sits on the trailer when not in use.  Along the way I've bent my share of turnbuckle t-bolts, snagged shrouds, and forgot to install the Windex.

The theme of this workshop is raising and lowering the mast.  Besides showing the two person unassisted method, we'll also be showing how to use a gin pole to make the job easier.

Since questions about rigging frequently come up, the workshop will also provide you a chance to see how Crocus is rigged, discuss alternative rigging choices, and ask lots of questions.  The workshop will be held rain or shine.  If it is raining you'll be able to stay dry in the garage and watch while I and a helper go through the steps for raising the mast.

Program

• Raising and lowering the mast, no assist method
• Raising and lowering the mast using a gin pole
• How to make a gin pole
• Double Ended Mainsheet
• Single Line Reefing (aka Jiffy Reefing)
• Mast Gates
• Jib Downhaul
• Cunningham
• Boom Vang
• Boomkicker
• Topping Lift
• Leading all lines aft
• Rigging for a Spinnaker
• Traveler Control Lines
• Tiller Tamer
• Tuning the Rig

Where

Dale & Laura Mack
16405 NE 38th St.
Vancouver, WA  98682
360-260-4196

It will be the two-story white colonial house with black shutters and a yellow-hulled Catalina 22 parked on the driveway.

When

Saturday, February 25th, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm (Rain or Shine)

Lunch will be provided

RSVP

RSVP Dale Mack at catalina22fleet20@comcast.net or  360-260-4196

By Reservation Only

Catalina Owners Party, February 18th
By Dale Mack

Saturday, February 18.  The Columbia River All Catalina Association is hosting a party that is open to the families of CRACA, and those interested in joining CRACA.  Applications will be accepted at the party.  CRACA membership is $30/year.

CRACA Commodore Bob Gales and his First Lady Gail O'Neill are hosting the party at their home in Welches, Oregon.  CRACA will provide pizza, soft drinks and plates.  Party participants are being asked to provide an appetizer or a dessert to share, and their favorite beverage if soft drinks/water/coffee is not their first choice.

Don't forget to bring your photo albums or photos CD's to share.  It's always fun reliving last year's adventures as we get ready for the new sailing season.  Several CRACA members are former Catalina 22 owners and many have logged several days in the San Juan and Gulf Islands aboard Catalina 22's.

Canoe Bay
Aka Grandma's Cove
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #8244

Whether it's a lunch stop, an overnight destination, or a sunset raft-up with friends, Canoe Bay remains one of those "out of the current" anchorages that most folks just cruise on by as they head to some place else.  Also known as Grandma's Cove because of the mobile homes lining its shore, Canoe Bay is also the home of Schooner Creek Boat Works.

A short 0.7 nautical miles downstream of the Interstate Bridge (I-5), Canoe Bay is tucked into the north shore of Hayden Island.  I've always stayed outside the dolphins for fear that there might be some old broken off pilings just below the surface.  There is a bit of a sand bar coming off the low water beach at the downstream (left side of photo) side of the entrance.  I've near had any issues entering the bay in the center of the channel.

The bay itself has a very flat bottom and good depth even later in the season when the river is typically lower.  I've never had a problem getting an anchor to hold well in the bay.  The bay's flatness extends right up to the shore in many areas, meaning you can be almost on the bank and still have the keel and rudder in deep water.

Schooner Creek Boat Works has allowed folks to tie up to their docks in the past.  You can contact them at 503-735-0569 or info@schoonercreek.com to see if they still permit this practice.

This a is a great overnight destination or a brief lunch time stop.  Later in the summer when the water is warmer, the bay is a great swimming spot with a nice low water beach.  A kayak, raft, or dinghy is nice here also.

Notes:

• 0.7 nm downstream from the Interstate Bridge (I-5)
• The anchorage is protected from the river's current.
• Accessible all year.
• Great location to swim and bring the dinghy.
• Boats typically anchor or tie up at the Schooner Creek Boat Works docks.
• The anchorage shallows as you move southwest (north is the top of the overhead photos)

Catalina 22 Racing
By Dale Mack, C22, Crocus

Local Catalina 22 racing starts Thursday April 13th with the SYSCO Spring Series.  Crocus will be out there, how about you?  All we need is a minimum of three boats to race one design and we'll qualify the winner for a trophy at the end of the year.

The SYSCO Spring Series is a series of evening races with one race scheduled each night (Thursday, April 13, 20, 27, and May 4, and 18).  The First Warning Signal is 6:30 pm.

Please contact me if you are interested in racing your boat or crewing for someone in 2006.

Dale Mack:  360-260-4196 or celtic-myst@comcast.net

Upcoming Training Events

February 22, 6:30-9:00 pm at North Sails Oregon sail loft

North Sails Oregon Team Management.  Sailboat racing is a complex sport that involves more than tactics and strategy. Fun and successful programs also understand the importance of building a good team. This social event is about how to "manage your sailing program”. We will have guest speakers share their formulas for success. Please come prepared to share your own tips and experiences.  This FREE course is intended for boat owners and race program managers.  Please register in advance at the North Sails Oregon website.  For information contact:  Kerry or Amy Poe, North Sails Oregon, kerry@sales.northsails.com or 503-282-4282.

March 4, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Old Hayden Island Yacht Club

Dave Perry on Positioning Yourself to Win.  OCSA is once again bringing Dave Perry to the Portland area for a full-day seminar in conjunction with the US Sailing / Mount Gay Rum Speaker Series.  The old Hayden Island Yacht Club (next to Zupans) on Hayden Island will serve as the venue.  A catered lunch will be provided.  This year's topic is: "Positioning Yourself to Win (Tactical application of the RRS on the Race Course)".  Post-event will include drinks containing Mount Gay Rum.  See the US Sailing link at: http://www.ussailing.org/sponsorship/speakerseries/index.asp

March 14, 21, & 28, 6:00 pm BBQ Social and 6:30-8:30 pm Class

North Sails Oregon Trim Course.  North Sails Oregon invites all skippers and crew to participate in three evenings of instruction on sail trim.  Topics include understanding rig tune, upwind sail trim and downwind sail trim.  The fee is only $15 per course or $40 for all three.  North U Course books ($25) and CD’s ($40) will be available for purchase.  Register online at  North Sails Oregon.  For information contact:  Kerry or Amy Poe, North Sails Oregon, kerry@sales.northsails.com or 503-282-4282.

March 15, 7:00 pm at Portland Yacht Club

OCSA Race Management Clinic.  The Oregon Corinthian Sailing Association invites all sailors to participate in an evening of instruction and discussions.  This extremely informative seminar is not just for race captains. The seminar will focus on the planning and coordination involved in putting on a sailboat race. There will be something for everyone. The topics will include courses, timing, calculations, planning, promoting, handling protests, and more.  Registration is not required and there is no cost.  Portland Yacht Club, 1241 NE Marine Drive, Portland, OR

March 23 - 24, 6:30-8:30 pm 3/23 & 6:00 3/24 at Rose City Yacht Club

SYSCO Race Clinic.  The Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO) invites all sailors to attend its FREE  Race Clinic. The Thursday evening classroom and Friday evening on the water clinic is targeted at new racers and those who have never raced before.  This extremely informative seminar is perfect for new racers. The clinic will teach you how to enter a race, read and understand the course board, how to start and finish, pass along some local knowledge of racing on the Columbia River, along with other topics.  Registration is not required and the clinic is free.

 

Tarp Longevity
Steps to extend the life of your tarp
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #8244

I've had good luck using tarps to protect my boat in the winter.  Even when the boat is at the dock I use a trap to cover the cabin to keep the sun and rain off the wood.  I get two to three years out of a trap before having to replace it.  A couple of steps I've taken seems to help extend the life of the trap.

I cover both ends of the mast with a large plant container.  The surface area of the container reduces the chafing that normally occurs at the ends.  The second useful tip is to pull the cotter pins that secure the spreaders to the spreader brackets.  This allows the spreaders to be removed and the trap to fall more naturally.

Catalina Newsletters of the Northwest
By Dale Mack

Checkout these links to Northwest Catalina newsletters and local racing:

Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA) www.ColumbiaRiverCatalina.org Sail Portland www.sailpdx.com Oregon Women's Sailing Association www.owsa.net

Catalina Assoc. of Tacoma and South Sound (CATSS) home.earthlink.net/~catss/CATSS Web Page.htm Catalina Association of Puget Sound (CAPS) www.capsfleet1.com/News Letters.htm Small Yacht Sailing club of Oregon (SYSCO) www.sailpdx.com/sysco.htm

February

• 18, CRACA Boat Show Survivors Party
• 22, North Sails Oregon Team Management
• 25, Workshop:  Mast Raising & Rigging Workshop

March

• 4, Dave Perry on Positioning Yourself to Win
• 14, 21 & 28, North Sails Oregon Trim Course
• 15 OCSA Race Management Clinic
• 23 - 24, SYSCO Race Clinic

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.