Catscan                                                                                  2                                                                              July,
From the Poop Deck
 Seaworthy Ideas and Stuff          
 Paul Kurkowski
Ahoy mates and, a very happy season of Summer to all. As the song says, “Summer is here and the living is easy”. With this early and, for the most part, persistent heat wave, that is all we can do, live easy. We can sail fast as long as those big high-pressure areas do not sit on top of southeast corner of our state’s mitten. Wow, and what a dry end of Spring we had and without a substantial change in Lake water level. I am glad it is still raining elsewhere, north and west of us, to help keep the levels where they are now.
So far, we have experienced a few minor Fish Fly blooms. A few weeks ago at the mouth of the Clinton as I motored past the Sheriff Station I watched the larvae crawl out of the top of the water, spread their wings and fly off to join the others in a large mass cloud. The seagulls were barely making a dent in their numbers. To my surprise, Because of the lack of substantial rainfall I thought mosquito outbreaks would be lower but they have turned out to be more then I expected. Then again, rainfall is really a small factor around a lake.  Now remember mates, the West Nile Virus is still out there. So please, use good protection against them thar blood sucking little pests. Minor infections have flu like symptoms.
The spring series of CRCA racing is over and without the need for a make-up race due to bad weather. Speaking of racing, the America’s Cup final series has been quite interesting.
By the time you read this, it should be a done deal. My bet is on the Kiwis, who at this writing have a slight edge over the Swiss. The racing is so evenly matched that, it is truly exciting with the multiple lead changes during each race. The leader at the start is not necessarily the leader at the finish. Truly, it has been fun to watch.
If you want to feel you are part of the 32nd AC racing in Valencia, you can purchase the “Virtual Skipper 5” video game. The graphics are reported to be amazing. You can test run it at www.virtualskipper-game.com.
That’s it for now.
Casting off all lines. Color me gone.
Paul Kurkowski  “Space Hunter”
Comments                      
From “Member at Large" Steve Smith
Her are some thoughts on docking in a strange (not your home) port.
Have your docklines out and attached to all four corners of the boat, plus a spring line.  The crew on the front of the boat should throw or Hand a spring line to the person on the dock. This will help stop the boat in case you can't.  That person should put a wrap around the piling to give some friction, just like a winch.  Trying to stop the boat without using the piling will not work.
Have your fender(s) out and ready to attach or even have them attached and ready to swing over when you need them.
The first dockline should be the springline and it should be at least as long as your boat. The other ones should be 15 to 20 feeet long to allow for large slips and rough water. This may not be neccessary for a lot of the ports we go to, but you may be needed on Erie or Huron.
These hints will make it a lot easier on yourself, your crew (spouse) and the people trying to help you in.
 
Member at large Business: I haven't heard from anyone interested in holding a postion next year. I don't want to break out my tequila yet!
Steve Smith  “Twice Blessed”
On the Club Website                  
Erv Zimmerman, “Webmaster”
I've added a slideshow to the CRCA home page at: http://www.crcasail.org/. The photos posted there now are getting old and it would be nice if everyone could send a photo or two to replace them. It's better if the photos are not touched up or cropped as the slideshow works best if they are all the same size and proportions.
If any of you have photos you would like to share from a recent trip or cruise, take a moment and jot down a few sentences explaining the photos. It doesn't have to be much. Some examples are the tune-up and fun race photo pages by Ted & Gae Wing.
See: http://www.crcasail.org/racing/2007/funrace/index.html and http://www.crcasail.org/racing/2007/tuneup/index.html)
Send the text & photos to me in almost any electronic format & I will add them to a page on website. It's hard to believe the spring series is over!  See you in August on the race course!
Remember: Life's a breeze,
Erv Zimmerman “Adventuring”

“If a man must be obsessed by something, I suppose that a boat is as good as anything. Perhaps a bit better than most. A small sailing craft is not only beautiful; it is seductive and full of strange promise and the hint of trouble”
E.B. White, “The Sea and the Wind That Blows”