From the Poop Deck
Seaworthy Ideas and Stuff
Paul Kurkowski
Ahoy mates and, a happy month of March to you all. You all know the saying, “careful what you wish for, because you just might get it.” Well, after years of wishing I finally did get it, “a long cold and snowy winter in northern Michigan with the snow developing from the moisture all the way from the Gulf of Mexico.
This just in, the U S Army Corps of Engineers has just released their data regarding the water levels for the Great Lakes. Given the near record water level lows of last fall, all I have to say is, “whew!” I had a genuine fear of not getting into my dock this spring. I am feeling much better now. The preliminary data is projecting lakes Superior, Michigan and Huron to have levels six to twelve inches higher then August 2007. I know, I know, one foot (max) does not sound like much but, giving the entire surface area of the lakes that is huge! After all, what happens on the big lakes has a profound affect on our little great Lake Saint Clair. The end result, however, is not that exciting. It, in my opinion, only helps. It helps by giving our lake a projected August 2008 level of being equal the lake level of August 2007. Actually, thinking about it, in the great scheme of things, that is pretty darn good. Now I am hoping (again/still) for a very wet Spring.
Hey, remember Smelt? No, not the guy who use to work in accounting, the fish. They are making a slow comeback and it is due in part to those darn Zebra mussels, yeah, it’s true. Too bad the Zebras are also blamed for reducing the numbers of game fish (like salmon) that feed on them. It’s a food chain thing.
Yep, it won’t be long now until the smells of cleaning products, solvents, waxes and bottom paints fill the marina atmosphere. Giving way to wearing T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops, and barbeques, ice-cold beer with family and friends.
I can’t wait to say, “Let’s go Sailing!”
That’s it for now.
Casting off all lines. Color me gone.
Paul Kurkowski “Space Hunter”
Race Report
Paul Krutty, Race Chair
Calling all racers to the Commodores Ball on April 12th. The awards for Spring, Summer, Cruising Class Racers at the Invitational and Boat of the Year JAM & PHRF will be presented. Invite your crews to join you at this fun party.
It is time to think about getting our boats ready for the spring racing season. I know that we will see some new sails and improved equipment on the course this year.
Invite all of your Catalina owning friends to join us for Thursday Racing. Put together 5 boats and we will have Class Starts as well as JAM & PHRF.
Race Applications will be on the CRCA Web Site in early April. Prompt sign up will greatly assist in planning class structures, committee boat assignments and general organization.
I have been in Florida since the middle of January and will return the day before the Ball. It has been tough spending the winter down here in this balmy weather but if some one has to suffer, I’m happy to make the sacrifice.
Paul Krutty “Sea Quell”
Strictly Sail Chicago
Well here we are, four couples all trudging through the snow to make it to Chicago on Friday. The temperature is a great 32 degrees. This is the warmest weather I can remember in a long time since coming to this show for the last 12 years.
On Saturday evening at the Catalina display, we enjoyed drinks and appetizers provided by Catalina while we all watched the christening of the new C-375 by Frank and Jean Butler, Sharon and Dave Day, and Gerry and Tina Douglas, the owners of Catalina.
As we made our way back to the Hampton Inn hotel to enjoy the company of Chicago Fleet 21 and LMCA, I was thinking about John & Laura Pecha who just happened to be returning from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico this same evening. If you remember, they won that trip at this same party last year.
Well CRCA did it again this year. Of the four couples attending, Dave and Julie Otey won a Catalina beach towel while Jack and Nancy Gray won a sweatshirt. I wonder if CRCA will be invited back next year? CRCA members keep winning the prizes raffled off by Frank Butler and Sharon Day! Fleet 21 and LMCA may get a little upset with us new comers. (smile)
The four couples attending were Jack and Nancy Gray, Paul and Barb Kurkowski, Dave and Julie Otey, and Chuck and Linda Reed. A past member was going to attend, but never contacted us so I could hand them an application to
join CRCA again. The party at the Hampton Inn is for members only of the different Catalina fleets.
For those of you who weren’t able to attend this year, put this event on your calendar now for next year. Not only do we win prizes at parties, but the seminars are informative and free, the vendors have many goodies for us to buy, the boat tours are free, there is live music by Eric Stone, they have great shopping and dining in Chicago, and best of all we get to know each other just a little bit better.
Chuck & Linda Reed “Silent Dream”