www.c22pdx.org

September 2006
 

From the Captain
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #8244

Could the sailing this summer be any better, apart from having more time for it?  I do miss the weekly racing enjoyed during the SYSCO Spring and Summer Series, so I'm thinking about signing up, in 2007, for the six evening CYC Summer Series that runs from July through August.  It's not really the racing I miss as much as the excuse to get out on the water with others.

I did a lot of single-handled sailing on Crocus during August.  The jib downhaul and the Boomkicker sure made it easy.  If you're interested in these upgrades, be sure to check out the fleet's Technical Tips page.

Catalina Rendezvous

Laura and I are looking forward to the annual Catalina Rendezvous.  Whether you boat in or drive in, the event is always a great opportunity to talk boats with fellow enthusiasts.  One of the guest speakers is Eric Rouzee who outfitted and competed with his Catalina 36 Legacy in this year's Oregon Offshore race from the mouth of the Columbia River to Victoria, B.C.  I've heard Eric plans to display a lot of pictures during the presentation.  If you are making dinner plans, I can highly recommend Mark's on the Channel, the floating restaurant at the marina.

Sail for the Cure

I'm hoping to see some Catalina 22's out there this year for the Sail for the Cure fundraiser for beast cancer research.  The Oregon Women's Sailing Association does an absolutely wonderful job putting this event on.  The Sail for the Cure is NOT a race, it's just a sail with an optional on the water game thrown in for those interested.  This has become one of my favorite annual events.  Cast of the dock lines and come out sailing for a couple of hours on Saturday, September 23rd.  You can always mow the lawn another day.

 

2006 Catalina Rendezvous
September 15 - 17
McCuddy's Landing on Multnomah Channel

The pleasure of your company is hereby requested for the 7th annual three-day weekend of fun, festivities and socializing with fellow Catalina owners.

Organized by the Catalina Owners Rendezvous Committee and sponsored by the Columbia River All Catalina Association (CRACA).

Those unable to bring their boat are encouraged to drive to the rendezvous on Saturday and enjoy a day full of fun and fellowship.

Notes About the Rendezvous

  • Moorage will cost you $10/night regardless of the length of the boat
  • Water and 30 amp power is available on the docks.
  • Bring
    • Folding chairs and a small table
    • A potluck appetizer for Saturday
    • A potluck dessert for Saturday
    • A potluck breakfast item for Sunday

A Docking Crew will be on duty to help all boats with berthing.  The Docking Crew will be monitoring channel 16 and then moving to working channel 72. Just ask for the “Catalina Rendezvous” and they will answer.

 

Sail for the Cure
By Dale Mack, Crocus, #8244

Saturday, September 23rd.  If you haven't signed up to participate in the Sail for the Cure there is still time.  Details about the event were covered in last month's newsletter so I won't rehash them here.  What I'd like to encourage is your participation.  In addition to being for a good cause (the fight against breast cancer), the two hour sail is always some form of whacky game.  One year each boat was given a large letter to hang from the backstay.  As the fleet sailed round the course (they had set a buoy upstream and downstream) the crews collected letters and formed nautical words (a form of watery Boggle).  It was amazing all the unique words that survived (no other boat identified the same word) once ashore.

There will be lots of twenty-something foot boats out there, so the Catalina 22 will fit in just fine.  Grab some crew, load up the ice chest and come out and enjoy a marvelous day.

 

Cruising

Beacon Rock Memories
By Dale Mack

Fleet 20 and the Columbia River All Catalina Association sponsored their annual cruise to Beacon Rock State Park on August 17-20.  Laura and I were the hosts for the cruise.

This once six and a half hour motor thirty nautical miles upstream from Portland has in recent times been broken into two parts with the first night spent at the Port of Camas - Washougal, WA after a three hour motor. Several boats decided on the two day upriver option this year. Thursday evening saw some crews dining at the Puffin Café, a floating restaurant at the marina, while others, like Laura and myself decided to try the newly reopened Parker House restaurant overlooking the marina and the Columbia River. Great meals were reported by all.

The second half of the trip took 4.5 hours instead of the customary 3.5 hours because we had to contend with an unusual east wind on the nose from Cape Horn to Beacon Rock.  Despite the slower progress, the scenery was wonderful as always as we headed into the Columbia River Gorge.

David Smith and Chris enjoying dinner
aboard Sea Star (#10904).

Kayaks continued to grow in popularity, with several being brought on the cruise. Those with kayaks were very generous in welcoming other Catalina enthusiasts to explore the local waters in these remarkably stable craft.

Another popular activity was the one mile hike to the top of Beacon Rock along the paved and handrail lined trail. The views east to Bonneville Dam and west to Portland are spectacular and well worth the hike.

Catalina gatherings are noted for their food and this cruise was no exception.  Each afternoon we gathered on the docks and share appetizers and stories. The appetizers had a familiar habit of becoming the dinner  substitute for many.

Laura, Sean, and I had a great time meeting with everyone.  It was nice putting faces to some of the emails I had exchanged with folks.  Didn't make it this year, get it on the calendar for 2007.  It's typically the middle of August, or for you racers, the weekend after the SYSCO One-Design Regatta.

 

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)

Sail Portland

Oregon Women's Sailing Association

 Catalina Assoc. of Tacoma and South Sound

Catalina Association of Puget Sound

Small Yacht Sailing club of Oregon (SYSCO)

 

Upcoming Events

September

  • Cruise: 15 - 17, Catalina Rendezvous, McCuddy's Landing, Multnomah Channel
  • Cruise: 23, Sail for the Cure October

October

  • Meeting: 25, General Meeting Mars Meadows Restaurant, 6:30 pm
  • Cruise: 21 - 22, Bartlett Landing, Government Island - East Dock

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.