February 1999 Catscan

Calendar of Events Commodore's Ball - March 13, 1999 Edison Inn, Port Huron, Mi. Picnic - May 15 General Membership Meeting - May 15 Cruising Schedule Windsor Lakeview Marina - June 5 Metro Beach - June 19 Belle River - July 3-5 Bouvier Bay - July 31 Idle Hour Yacht Club - August 7 Radlin's Marina - Thames River - August 21 Racing schedule Skipper's Meeting - April 15 Tune-Up Race - May 13 Fun Race - May 15 Spring Series - Thursdays May 20, May 27, June 3, June 10, June 17, & June 24 (Make-Up July 1) Fall Series - Thursdays July 29, Aug 5, Aug 12, Aug, 19, Aug 26, & Sept 2 (Make-Up - Sept 11) International Regatta - September 11	1998 CRCA OFFICERS Commodore: Chris Cook Vice Commodore: Doug Post Treasurer: Janet Creed Secretary: Fred Locke Member-at-Large: Larry Yeaster Cruise Chairmen: Phil / Pat Morell Social Chairman: Mike Bracket Race Chairman: Ervin Zimmerman Membership Chairman Jack Creed Newsletter: Barb / Paul Kurkowski Contents (Click on item to read) Commodore's Corner - Chris Cook Membership - Jack Creed Cruising Corner Lake Erie Cruise - Doug Post Race News - Erv Zimmerman Social Report - Mike Bracket From The Poop Deck - Paul Kurkowski October 1998 Catscan November 1998 Catscan


Commodore's Corner Chris Cook
This year was kicked off with our Board Meeting on January 25, 1999. Dates for the cruising and racing schedules have been tentatively set, and are printed in this edition. Look them over and begin planning all your other activities around this great schedule. Thanks to all of last year's officers, your time and effort was greatly appreciated. With another successful year under our belts, let's make this upcoming season just as enjoyable as last year's---weather permitting. Let's all set our "Land Sails" for the Commodore's Ball on March 13, 1999. Everyone knows how much fun we had last year, so here's your chance to experience it all over again. For those of you who plan on staying overnight, get your reservations in!! Those of you who are planning on bringing children, as Karen and I, and others, did last year, we are planning on setting them up in a room with activities and food to keep them busy. So let's look ahead to a long and safe year of sailing. We'll see everyone at the Commodore's Ball.

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MEMBERSHIP Jack Creed
I would like to put together a membership roster of all members in good standing. This list will include boat names, sizes, member names, phone numbers, and addresses. I would hope to have the list together for the Fun	Race/Picnic/Meeting. Membership fees are always due January 1st, if you have not yet sent in your application, PLEASE do so.
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Cruising Corner Phil/Pat Morrell
CRCA 1999 Tentative Cruising Schedule
Ahoy all CRCA Cruisers! It's time to start thinking of warm weather and those enjoyable ports you visited last. Because we had a real winter this year, it'll be much better when we finally get to do some sailing! On the right is the tentative schedule for the 1999 CRCA cruising program. Deposit information and a firmer schedule will be in the next CATSCAN. The deadline for slip deposits will, again, be the Fun Race/Picnic. New This Year ---You must make your own arrangements (reservations and deposit) if the cruise chairpersons have not received your reservation and deposit one week prior to the cruise. Fun Race & Picnic at Markley - May 15 Picnic and Meeting following the race Windsor Lakeview Marina - June 5 & 6 Hosted by Sandy & Ken Bousum	Metro Beach - June 19 & 20 Hosted by Deanna & Bill Lundy and Michelle & Ron Niborski Belle River - July 3,4, & 5 Hosted by Nan & Al Suydam Bouvier Bay - July 31 Hosted by Becky & Steve Smith Idle Hour Yacht Club - August 7 & 8 Hosted by Chris & Ken Mette Radlin's Marina/Thames River - August 21 & 22 Hosted by Barb & Paul Kurkowski and Rose & Frank Lauricella Labor Day Weekend - TBD International Race - September 11 Picnic & Meeting following the race
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LAKE ERIE CRUISE - JULY 1999 Doug Post
In the last newsletter, I had an article for a proposed weeklong cruise to Lake Erie. The tentative schedule was to leave CR1 on Saturday, July 17, spend Saturday night at Boblo, Sunday depart for Put-In-Bay, depart Tuesday morning for Cedar Point, leave Thursday morning for Boblo Island, Friday depart for Windsor. If anyone is interested, Please call me with suggestions/comments/questions.
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RACE NEWS Erv Zimmerman
Proposed 1999 CRCA Racing Schedule Please contact me if you see any conflicts or have any suggestions.
Skippers meeting: April 15 at The Tannery(formerly Hadley's) 7:00 PM Tune-Up Race - May 13 Fun Race - May 15 Spring Series Race #1 May 20 Race #2 May 27 Race #3 June 3 Race #4 June 10 Race #5 June 17 Race #6 June 24 Make-Up July 1 Send me an E-mail	Fall Series Race #1 July 29 Race #2 August 5 Race #3 August 12 Race #4 August 19 Race $5 August 26 Race #7 September 2 Make-Up September 9 International Regatta - September 11
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Social Report
Mike Bracket

The CRCA'a 11th Annual Commodore's Ball will be held once again at the romantic Thomas Edison Inn in beautiful Port Huron, Mi. on the evening of March 13, 1999. Be sure to send in your reservation. See you then! - Mike.

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FROM THE POOP DECK
SEAWORTHY IDEAS & STUFF
Paul Kurkowski

Ahoy mates. Enjoying the February thaw? Now if we only could get some February precipitation. I write that because we need the moisture. We have been spoiled the last couple of years with water levels in our beloved Lake St. Clair around eighteen inches above normal. Late fail of 1998 showed us where the level is heading. It is heading down (to normal). I admit it has been fun sailing along close to shore and over the shallows that for many of us were bottom-thumping experiences in years past. Unless the reigning(pun intended) boating gods favor us in the next eight weeks with much wet or better yet much frozen stuff from the sky, our depth alarms will be the common sound of summer. But, don't be alarmed. Again, the summer levels should be normal and that ain't bad.

Every time I think that I've said my final words on those foreign (aquatic) invaders of the Great Lakes, they surface again. Yep, Zebra (or the plural version Zabrae) mussels are in the news again. After writing abut these pests off and on for nearly ten years it never ceases to amaze me how nothing can be done about them. First it was a local problem. Then a regional disaster, including our Canadian neighbors. Now, yes now, it is a Federal battle. The departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Interior have joined forces to combat all those foreign invaders that are causing losses of over 123 billion dollars. The Feds are throwing well over 28 million dollars into the battle against the invaders. But, Now Hear This, the Secretary of the interior has been quoted as saying, "that the new federal push will likely only contain the spread of existing foreign species and stop the arrival of new species rather then eliminate the established populations completely." Like dah, where in the deep blue sea have these people been? Talk amongst yourselves. There is just too little space here to go on.
Being that it is February, I should mention the Cobo Boat Show. There, I did, and unless you are looking for accessories I wouldn't bother going. It's a powerboat thing once again as per my sources. Hope to see all of you at the 11th Commodores Ball. Be there or be rigged square.
Well that's it for now. Casting off all lines. Color me gone.

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NEXT MEETING GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING SATURDAY, MAY 15, 1999 MARKLEY MARINA - FOLLOWING FUN RACE AND PICNIC.