|
From
the Captain
High
on the list of To-Do items is readjusting the bunks so they support the hull
properly. Currently the fore and aft supports are not set high enough
which results in the center support pushing the bunk into the hull creating a
dimple. The dimple has popped out since putting the boat in the water, but
the trailer needs to be corrected. As a former "Road Warrior" with by
previous Catalina 22, I'm pretty cautious when it comes to the trailer.
Here's my current To-Do list for the trailer:
This
marks the 67th edition of the Fleet 20 newsletter I've published. Begun during my first
term as Fleet Captain, the newsletter came about after reading a manual on fleet
management published by US Sailing. One of the practices the manual
promoted was the regular publishing of a fleet newsletter in order to create a
sense of community. I had been the
newsletter editor for Fleet 4 in Sacramento shortly after getting my first C22.
The "Fleet 4um", as it was called, was created, published, and distributed before
the time of Windows, desktop publishing, and the Internet. While much of
the text was created on my computer, the actual layout was still cut and paste
with scissors and glue. Publishing meant generating a clean photocopy, and
then taking the master to a professional printer. Distribution involved
printing mailing labels on my dot matrix printer, and then applying them along
with stamps to 120 copies, before the whole thing went off to the Post Office.
I
spent the weekend of June 25-26 crewing aboard Bob Gales and Gail O'Neill's
Catalina 30 Imagine as we competed in the 2005 C30 National Regatta in
Seattle. Photos from the regatta can be found at
The
racing started at 11 am on Saturday with three races scheduled to be run,
followed by two on Sunday. In the very light wind, the Race Committee was
too timid to start the race so we sailed around for four hours waiting.
And yes I do mean sailed. Despite the light wind we managed to sail the
entire course even with the tidal current. Considering that Columbia River
Race Committees start races in just the slightest hint of wind, even with our
constant 2.5 knot river current, it was fascinating to see how cautious the
committee provided by the Corinthian Yacht Club of Seattle was. One
possible influence behind the cautiousness is that unlike the Columbia River
where anchoring during a race is not uncommon when the wind dies, the race venue
for the regatta was in 500+ feet of water, unlike the Columbia's 20-40 feet.
Another interesting practice of the CYC Race Committee was the lack of use of
the "Come Within Hail" flag once the course was posted. You had to keep
sailing around and around the RC boat just to make sure you didn't miss the
course.
The
lack of racing on Saturday was followed by a catered dinner, silent auction, and
a raffle at | Cruising |
Government
Island Cruise
By Dale Mack
July 16-17. Less than two hours motor upstream of the I-5 bridge is Bartlett Landing, also known as Government Island, East Dock. Maintained by the Oregon Parks system, dock space, campsites, and picnic tables are available on a first come first serve basis. There are no fees to use this marine park.
Park features include wide concrete dock floats, a sturdy ramp, a covered picnic structure, picnic tables, BBQs, two new in (2003) compositing toilets, campsites, lots of shade from the tall trees, grassy areas, and wonderful expanses of sandy beach. Potable water is not available at the park. While trash receptacles are available, the park service encourages boaters take out what they bring in.
Fleet 20 has a cruised scheduled to Government Island on the weekend of July 16-17. The cruise is designed to coincide with the Columbia River All Catalina Cruise to the same destination, so there should be plenty of Catalina folks to mingle with.
Beacon
Rock Cruise
By Dale Mack
August 18 - 21. Nestled amongst the slopes of the Columbia Gorge is Beacon Rock State Park just downstream of the Bonneville Dam (the last dam on the Columbia River). Part of the Washington State Park System, Beacon Rock features, wide docks, picnic and camping sits, BBQs, sandy beaches, a launch ramp (popular with the local fishermen), excellent restrooms with hot showers, and potable water. New in 2005 is the addition of power on the dock floats, and a marine head pump out station. One of the added benefits of Beacon Rock is that you can have family and friends meet you there by car.
Reachable in six and half hours motoring upstream from the I-5 bridge, the trip to Beacon Rock can sound intimidating if you haven't cruised that long non-stop before. Although I've gotten accustom to motoring straight through, many I know split the upriver trip up into two parts, spending the first night either at Government Island - East Dock (2 hrs), Parker's Landing (Washougal, 3 hrs), or anchoring at Reed Island (3.5 hrs). One of the treats about staying at Parker's Landing is going to the floating Puffin Cafe for dinner. Washougal has fuel, launch ramp, and guest berthing available. The return trip from Beacon Rock takes about 4 hours.
My biggest concern on my first trip was whether I'd have enough fuel along to run the motor 10.5 hrs plus have a reserve. My 4-stroke 7.5hp Honda burned about 0.75gals/hr, which meant that the trip up would consumed roughly 5 gallons. I carried 8.4 gals divided between the the standard 3.4 gal. fuel tank and a 5 gal. Rubbermaid fuel container.
This is an easy three-day weekend cruise, although some in the fleet have done it in a Saturday/Sunday. I recommend planning to get to Beacon Rock in the early afternoon, because the late afternoon wind blowing East can sometimes generate a considerable swell.
Notes on Beacon Rock:
- Moorage at the dock $.50/foot per 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.
-
Camp sites, boat ramp, and picnic area available.
-
The walk to Beacon Rock is very doable if you want to hike to the top.
|
Time |
Location | Speed (knots) |
Distance |
| 8:00 | Tomahawk Bay Moorage Entrance | 0 | |
| 8:16 | Buoy "14" | 4.8 | 1.4 |
| 8:47 | Buoy "18" | 4.5 | 3.7 |
| 9:00 | I-205 Bridge | 4.5 | 4.7 |
| 9:26 | Government Is. West Dock | 4.7 | 6.7 |
| 9:36 | Government Is. East Dock | 4.6 | 7.5 |
| 10:03 | Chinook Landing | 4.6 | 9.5 |
| 10:21 | Overhead Power Lines | 4.3 | 10.9 |
| 10:42 | Parker Landing (Washougal) | 3.5 | 12.3 |
| 11:21 | Reed Island | 4.4 | 14.6 |
| 11:57 | Buoy "65" near Rooster Rock | 4.5 | 17.5 |
| 12:31 | "67" at Cape Horn | 4.5 | 20.2 |
| 12:50 | Phoca Rock | 4.7 | 21.6 |
| 1:17 | Buoy "76" near Skamania Island | 4.5 | 23.8 |
| 1:25 | Multnomah Falls | 5.0 | 24.4 |
| 2:30 | Beacon Rock Entrance | 29.1 |
Note: Data collect via GPS on a past trip.
2005 Cruising Schedule
| Date | Destination |
| July 16 - 17 | Government Island, East Dock |
| Aug. 18 - 21 | Beacon Rock (Thursday – Sunday) |
| Sept. 17 - 18 |
Sand Island, Upper Dock (Catalina Rendezvous) |
| Oct. 22 - 23 | Government Island, East Dock |
Note: Fleet 20 cruising is a no host affair. Most of our destinations overlap with the cruising schedule of the Columbia River All Catalina Association.
| Racing |
Don't
Leave Home Without It
Why I always
carry a knife while sailing
By Dale Mack
It's the third race of the Summer Series, and unlike the Spring Series we've got plenty of wind this evening, and it is raining hard as the showers move across the race course. Crocus is reefed and flying the 110 jib, while its crew of four sits on the rail going to weather.
Although, I'm wishing we had a functioning traveler (it's on the to do list), the boat's sail trim looks pretty good as we sail upriver against a strong current and an East wind. The East wind is usual for the Summer Series and it's making getting around buoy "14" challenging. Time after time, boats are underestimating how far toward the Washington or Oregon shore they need to sail before tacking toward "14", and time after time they find themselves below "14" once they near it because of the river's current. Making things worse is that eight boats are all trying to do the same thing in close proximity (there are sixty boats racing this night).
 |
"...I've got to tack, cut the line!" |
I'm preparing for our first run at the mark while Mike Hibbs, on the bow, directs the other two crew in trying to pull the main sail up six inches since it looks like it wasn't fully hoisted. The crew runs the halyard from the cabin top line clutch and down to the starboard side headsail sheet winch. Although everything is under a lot of tension, they manage to complete the hoist, unfortunately the angle of the halyard coming down to the winch has allowed an extremely tight over wrap to occur that two grown men can't release. We are on a starboard tack heading toward "14" along with four other boats. I can tell we won't make it, and I have less than 150 feet to get things resolved before I run into traffic. I reach into the outside pocket of my foul weather gear and grab my knife. Calling to the crew, I announce, "I need that winch, I've got to tack, cut the line!" Although surprised by the command, the crew makes short work of the halyard, frees the winch, and we immediately tack over to port only boat lengths from three oncoming competitors.
Most
folks I sail with don't carry knives, and in fact I didn't for a long time until
I read a sailing article about the safety aspects of having a knife easily
within reach. Today it's not uncommon to see a knife secured to the rigid
boom vang of many performance race boats. While this lesson may have been
reinforced for me while racing, having lines foul can occur even when day
sailing. Having a knife readily at hand is something we should all consider
when putting on our lifejacket and sailing gloves. Thank goodness I
thought that evening to move the knife from my belt to my outing pocket of my
foul weather gear.
Ten Inches and Rising
How I almost sunk the boat
By Dale Mack
|
|
"...I'm going to lose the boat..." |
I'm standing in ten inches of water watching the river rush over the cockpit seats as the Crocus' port stern quarter disappears underwater. Three thoughts are running through my head: 1) I'm going to lose the boat, 2) boy I'm glad the cockpit lockers are held shut with clasps, and 3) I wish the crew would RELEASE THE MAINSHEET! So how did I get myself in such a predicament in the first place? Like most disasters or near disasters, mine wasn't just one thing, but instead a series of individual decisions and events, none of which was that bad, but collectively created the right combination for a near knock down.
It's a Thursday evening, and I and my crew of two other Fleet 20 skippers are preparing Crocus for the fourth race of the five race Summer Series. Although the wind is blowing pretty good, it doesn't seem as strong as the previous week, and I don't see whitecaps on the river. Under sunny skies we depart Tomahawk Bay Moorage and head out onto the river. The Race Committee is anchored about a mile upriver and it is clear they are expecting the wind to continue coming out of the Northwest, our typically summer pattern.
So what contributed to the excitement this evening?
- At the time we left the marina, the wind was blowing 10-12 knots. Once out on the river it was easily blowing 14-16 with gusts in the low twenties. The wind was also oscillating through an arc of about 30-40 degrees.
- The experience level of the crew and their familiarity with Crocus required a conservative approach, and while I was conservative, I wasn't conservative enough. Things happen faster in higher winds, and any delay due to miscommunications or a lack of understanding of nomenclature can compound a problem.
- There's and old adage that the time to reef is when you first start thinking about it. I should have left the marina reefed and I did not. I should have reefed out on the river once I noticed that the wind was building but I did not. While I knew a full mainsail would be a lot to handle in the conditions, I let my concern about the crew's inexperience reefing guide my choice. Bad decision. Even with a tight cummingham, tight boom vang, and a tight outhaul, no amount of sail trim was going to overcome the fact that Crocus had too much sail up for the experience level of the crew.
- The choice to go with the 110 jib was a good one, but the decision to attach a 24" lanyard to the tack in order to raise the sail off the deck for better visibility was a bad one. Putting the sail higher up increased the effect the gusts had on heeling the boat.
- Crocus has a double ended mainsheet, so either the skipper at the transom or one of the crew at the cabin hatch can adjust the sail. In high winds I like to have a crew member play the mainsheet, letting it out in gusts to keep the boat on its feet, and pulling it in to help us point better. On this night the crew gets confused on the correct direction to pull to release the mainsheet.
So here we are with the river rushing through the cockpit, the crew climbing to the high side, the boat heeling past 45 degrees, and the wind gust that started the whole thing showing no signs of letting up. Convinced we are just moments away from having water rushing into the cabin (the cribboards were stored below), I climb down off the rail to try and reach the mainsheet that my crew is still struggling with at the cabin end. Stepping where I hope the port side cockpit coaming should be, I find solid footing even though the river is flowing past my knee. I quickly locate the mainsheet, and with a quick tug release the sail. Crocus rights itself to about 30 degrees of heel and then starts down again. With the mainsail flogging, it's the 110 jib that's holding the boat down. I command "release the sheet" and once again the crew struggles to comply but finally the sheet comes out of the cam cleat and Crocus stands right up. Back on our feet, we sheet everything in, and continue toward the windward mark, this time with me doing all the mainsheet handling.
|
|
"Always make reefing an option!" |
A reefed main and a 110 would have been a killer combination that night, I just wish that's what I had gone with. Despite all our mishaps, we went on to win that race. The crew work got better on each tack, and the downwind runs wing-n-wing in the high wind was exhilarating. While several old lessons were reinforced that night, I did take away a couple of new ones. First, spend more time with new crew showing them how all the sheet holding devices work. And secondly, practice reefing the sail with the crew so that steps to accomplish the task are understood by everyone. Failure to teach reefing can leave the skipper thinking that it isn't an option because of the experience level of the crew. Always make reefing an option!
Beer Can Racing on Friday Evenings
The simplest
way to ease into racing
By Dale Mack
Every summer the local sailing clubs rotate sponsoring Friday evening Beer Can Races on the Columbia River. This year's races started on June 10th and will run through August 26th. The official Notice of Race can be found here.
Designed to be just-for-fun, the races are more about getting out on the water on Friday evenings with friends and family, than they are about racing. The race committee will drop a couple of race markers, post the course on the committee boat, and then send everyone on their way by 6:30 pm.
Each Friday has a different theme, where participants are encouraged to dress up. Themes ranged from sports night, hat night, western night, flag night, toga night, tropical night, formal night, pajama night, reggae night, pirate night, to fiesta night. There is a social held after each race at Pizza Mia, where various crews are recognized for the creativity of their entry.
These races are free, but you still must submit an OCSA form to the Race Committee boat before you start. Introduce your family and friends to sailing. Practice flying your spinnaker. Invite a non-racing Fleet 20 member to crew on your boat. Better yet, non-racing skippers could invite a Fleet 20 member who does race to come crew with them.
| Technical Tips |
Flaking the Mainsail
By Dale Mack
Racing sailors understand the value of properly caring for a sail. At my marina, all the J/24 sailors roll their mainsails and headsails after each race. In fact, those that have crewed aboard Crocus know that we roll the 150 after every race (it's an old Mylar racing sail). While most of us aren't going to roll our sails, particularly the mainsail, there are steps we can take to extend the life span of our sails. Unlike my Mylar headsail that retains much of its shape, even as it ages, from the combination of fibrous strands sandwiched between two sheets of Mylar, Dacron sails on the other hand rely on the weave of the material and a process that impregnates the Dacron with resin. Allowing your sails to flog excessively combined with improperly stowing them contributes to turning your nice stiff sails into flannel sheets that won't hold a decent shape. By the way, Dacron stretches over time, so regardless of how well you handle the sails they are going to gradually loose the shape your sail maker originally cut them to.
Flaking is my preferred choice over the "stuff it in the bag" method I occasionally see other sailors use that perhaps haven't priced a new set of sails lately. The objective with flaking sails is to use gentle folds that allow the sail to be stacked upon itself. If you are like me and leave the mainsail's luff slides (aka slugs) attached to the mast, then what you want to do when the sail is lowered or after the sail is lowered is to have the luff follow a zigzag pattern. The zigzag pattern is created by pulling the luff between two slides to port, and then the next stretch of luff between two slides to starboard. You keep alternating this sequence all the way to the head of the sail.
With
the luff squared away, it is time to move aft and start the flaking process at
the clew of the sail. Using the folds at the luff as your guide, extend
the folds aft starting at the foot of the sail. The folds should be
resulting in about a foot of sail material being draped on each side of the boom
as you follow the zigzag pattern. Once you're about two feet forward of the
clew, consider applying your first sail tie. As you continue the flaking
process, apply another sail tie about every three feet to hold the sail in
place. One note about sail ties, however, don't over tighten them. I
too often see folks pull them so tight that the hanging portions of the mainsail
are drawn tight against the boom. This is a very bad practice and defeats
the whole purpose of gently flaking the sail in the first place. Why?,
because the tightly pulled sail tie induces wrinkles and contributes to breaking
down the resins in the sail. When it comes to sail ties loose is good.
Now you are reading this and probably saying yea you bet I'm going to do that every time I drop the mainsail. When possible, I have a crew member pull the sail down in the zigzag pattern and then we just gently gather the sail around the boom with a couple of sail ties so we can get back into the marina. Once at the dock, I release the sail, correct the zigzag at the luff, and then follow the steps described above.
When it comes to battens, the best thing you can do for your sail is to remove them before flaking and then store them somewhere flat. If you choose you leave your battens in their pockets when flaking the sail, then don't allow them to twist or span from one side of the boom to the other. Battens have a habit of memorizing shapes if stowed improperly, which translates into hampering the sail trimmer's ability to create an efficient shape with the sail. Also, the luff facing end of most batten pockets contain a strap of elastic which forces the batten firmly into the leech end of the batten pocket, thus helping to keep your battens in place. By removing the battens when not sailing for extended periods of time, you allow this elastic strap to relax and help extend its life.
| 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
|
 |
Catalina Assoc. of Tacoma and South Sound (CATSS) |
| Upcoming Events |
July
- 8-10, Columbia River Yacht Showcase, Tomahawk Bay Moorage
- 16-17, Cruise: Government Island, East Dock
- 16, Hayden Bay BBQ, free to sailors
- 23, Jantzen Bay BBQ, free to sailors
August
-
13-14, Race: SYSCO One-Design Regatta
- 18-21, 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.