Catscan                                                                                  2                                                                      September
From the Poop Deck
 Seaworthy Ideas and Stuff          
 Paul Kurkowski
Ahoy mates! Wow, it seems like a blink of an eye and it’s September. Maybe this sailing season has appeared to go by so quickly due to the lack of bad weather. It has been quite a while since we’ve had a season with such dry spells between the torrential downpours of rain. The sailing gods have been kind to us here in the St. Clair basin by mainly allowing the rains to flow while most of us have been off doing other things, like working  for wages. The dog days of summer have left us leaving the warm days of the autumnal equinox, which will soon be here.
I figure four to six weeks and we’ll be thinking of engine oil changes, red pop in the water lines, and wondering, where is that missing piece for supporting the boat tarp. ‘Til then though, sail on sailor ‘cause it ain’t over ‘til the sails leave the boat.
Recently, in early July, (That’s not recent. See, it has been a fast-paced season for me.) Well back in July, a health report was issued for Lake St. Clair. After three years of monitoring via 25,000 pieces of data from 90 sights at a cost of $2.5 million (you do the math) it said, in short, the “sick patient” is recovering. Since 1994, quite a few anti-pollution projects have been in place thus helping the “recovery”. I am sure my little friends, the zebra mussels, have played a part by filtering near a quart of water a day (each).  You may have heard of the record number and sizes of sport fish being caught.
Recently, (oh there I go again) a 41.85 pound Muskie was boated. For years 30 pound Muskies were (and still are) considered trophies. Muskies can grow to 70 pounds.
Then too, on August 15 (notice I didn’t say, recently) a four and a half pound, 18 inch Piranha was caught off St. Clair Shores. No doubt, that was an over eating pet at one time.  So, the lake, our lake, is finally getting better.
Now for the bad news…the Clinton River remains the primary (not my word) polluter of our lake. E.coli, nitrates and phosphorus are the big three pollutants. Read more about those on your own please, this is only a newsletter. Researchers found that easterly winds trap these pollutants forcing them to concentrate together and thus causing the troubles they do, like beach closings. Luckily, this year has been the best year yet for lower pollution levels.
That’s it for now.
Casting off all lines. Color me gone.
Paul Kurkowski  “Space Hunter”
Race Report                                 
 Paul Krutty, Race Chair
By the time you read this, the racing season for CRCA will likely be over.
We had 14 boats racing in the Summer Series just as in the spring. The competition has been good in both divisions. We had ten boats register and eight participate in the CRCA Invitational in spite of a wet weather forecast. It turned out to be dry with good air and about 40 CRCA Members and guests enjoyed dinner at the Gazebo afterwards. All of the results are on our web site and will be reviewed at the Commodore’s Ball.
Think about joining us on the water for some Thursday night fun next year if you did not participate this year. I would encourage the racers to invite their Catalina owning friends to join us so that we can increase the size of our divisions.
I look forward to seeing all of you at the Commodores Ball where the Spring and Summer Series Awards will be presented as well as the Cruising Class Winners of the CRCA Invitational Race.

Paul Krutty  “Sea Quell”
Cruising Column                          
2007 Cruise Schedule
PUMPKIN CRUISE – METRO
(SATURDAY, September 29 - (Tentative))
Cruise Leaders –  Glen & Becky Ellison
(586) 463-7876
The Ellison’s would once again like to invite you to the annual pre-Historic pumpkin cruise.  Located in Bed Rock, (Metro Beach South Marina) look for our cave (tent) September 29, 2007 in the afternoon on the sundial (2 PM or so).  Please show up in your best cave attire.   Be prepared to be whisked away on Pterodactyl Airlines to Rock Vegas.  We will be exhibiting our latest invention that we call fire as well as providing Dino dogs and buns, which you roast yourself.  Bring a dish to pass and use your sharpest stone ax to chisel out a pumpkin.   Prizes will be awarded for best costume (boat or person), pumpkin, and games.  Come via water or land everyone is welcome.  After dark old time horror movies will be viewed.  Extra helpful hands of firewood are always welcome.  Hope to see you there.