Catscan 2 September/October, 2004

From the Poop Deck
Seaworthy Ideas and Stuff
Paul Kurkowski

Ahoy mates. Happy extended spring to you all. What else do you call this weird and wacky season? Just when we warm up to 80 plus degrees, we cool back down to the low and mid 70’s.

In addition, how about all the rain we’ve had. Jeez, where are we? In Seattle? The last and highest water temperature for our wonderful Lake St. Clair was 75 degrees.

You cannot blame it on living in Michigan. The entire Great Lakes Region has been in the grip of this weather pattern. Pattern is probably the wrong word. Phenomenon is a better choice. The Idea… is that the global average temperature is warming. You cannot deny the evidences that we get just watching the daily news. Better yet, check the reports on the Science Channel. This phenomenon will eventually shift into a new pattern but science is still unclear what it will be.

At least the water levels were on the rise.

The Blue Moon sail of July that many club members did was tons-o-fun. It will be a few years before we can do that again.

It has been suggested to me, at this time that I write about winter lay-up plans. Dang, now that is a cold thought. We still have a CRCA cruise left to Windsor.

That means talking about fogging the two cycle, changing the diesel engine oil and filter, topping off the transmission, red popping the fresh water holding system, checking the engine anti-freeze level, pulling the seawater impeller, de-rigging the boat for sail, off loading all those provisions and gear, loosening the alternator belt and leaving all the through hulls open…… I just am not at that point to consider all of that …Stuff.

Oh, I have just one last thing. I heard that a bridge across the North Channel to Harsens Island has been approved. It will be high enough to let tall ships pass beneath it. I could not confirm this fact at this writing.

Have a happy, dry and warm September.

Well that’s it for now.

Casting off all lines. Color me gone.

Paul Kurkowski “Space Hunter”

A Sailing Adventure Documented

Lynn and Larry Yeaster

I thought some of our CRCA friends might be interested in this web site. The Bishops are old friends of ours who are living their dream to go ocean sailing after retirement. They sailed in Michigan on a CAL 34 for many years and were on many of our trips to the North Channel.

They now winter in Florida. This year they embarked for England and will cruise Europe next year. They plan on returning to their Sun City, Florida home during the winter and storing the Nauticat 43, Triumph in England until they return to cruise in the summer. The web site has info on the boat and a log of their journey.

You can find the Bishop’s web site at:

www.nauticatowners.com/bishop/.

Lynn & Larry Yeaster “Chinook”

Editor’s note, Triumph is apparently now stored in Spain. Web site is great. Follow links at top of page. Lots of neat pictures.

2004 CRCA Racing

Jack Gray

Windward/Leeward Conditions have been Excellent.

The first four races of the fall series have been windward/leeward. When we made the decision to race windward/leeward whenever possible, it took a while for the idea to get established with all committee boats. Of course the weather also needs to cooperate. There are four possible courses to the following marks, PH1, C, A and B. The committee boats are instructed to call the windward/leeward race if we are in +/-10 degree’s of these marks. That means of the 360 degrees to possible wind direction 80 degrees are potential for the windward/leeward race. That is about 1/5 of all possible courses, because to prevailing winds, it is actually more like 2/5 for race windward/leeward conditions to occur.

The opportunities in the fall have been outstanding. The wind speed has been 12 to 16 knots and steady, with the exception of race one, which started out fluky. Now we just have to learn to take advantage of the opportunity to pass competitors on down wind legs. That’s a matter that brings both strategy and boat handling skills into play. What is the proper way to accomplish this feat? Ah yes, a great topic for after the race kibitzing.