Propeller and Sail Ketchikan Yacht Club Newsletter Fall 2005 Current Soundings So, the summer is over again and the fall colors are bright. Which is more than we can say for the sky. Which also means that: Meetings have started again first Tuesday of the month potluck at 6:30 and meeting at 7:30pm. It is a great opportunity to find out where other members cruised this summer so you can plan for next summer. (see Elfin Cove and Icy Strait articles by members Sam and Marvol Barnard M/V Princess) This summer saw our elected Commodore Kris Jensen get promoted to Senior Chief Petty Officer and sail away (Ok, so he drove) to a new assignment in Petaluma, California. He took his race boat but Aleutian Tern is still at our dock for the winter and we expect to see them at least once this winter. (His last column as Commodore is below). Deb Davis was promoted to Interim Commodore and Terry Thompson accepted the job of Vice Commodore for the remainder of the year. This summer also saw the departure of Roger and Barb Maynard they really did sail away on Camai to points south. They had a great trip and are ensconced in Port Ludlow for the winter (letter in this issue). They will be up to visit the end of October. (Just a note: the designated keepers of a hot coffee pot are falling down on the job, Roger.) And this summer saw the running (sailing) of the 25year of KORC (see Mary Lynne s article below). Summer activities thank you s. Many thanks to Alan Rockwood for starting the summer BBQ s and to Barb and Randy Roberts who continued them all summer long. Plus all the members who helped clean up. We really appreciate the time you guys took to do that. Yes, we will need to do something to fix the BBQ so we can start it properly before next year. Many thanks to Sheila Engstrom for rounding up cooks for Sunday brunch. And many thanks to all the cooks. By the way, great food, too. We had lots of great visitors this summer (including former members Bob and Jean Latham traveling with friends on the beautiful S/V Southern Cross). In this issue we included some comments they wrote on their moorage forms. The hospitality of club members is the thing mentioned most. (Not to mention Brunch and BBQ).
Welcome New Members: Ignatius Baran S/V Krystphiggy Terry Bennett Michael George Bob and Lynda Haskell SV Black Mist (returning members) Chris Herbey M/V Never Say Never Larry Flake S/V Eclipse Larry McQuarrie M/V Showgirl (Who hosted an awesome Memorial Day cruise (see report from Mimi Kotlarov below) Harry and Melva Olsen Wayne Weihing S/V La Selva Upcoming Events.. Nov 1 KYC Yacht Club meeting (potluck 6:30, meeting 7:30) Theme: Pecan Day Agenda: Nominations for 2006 Officers, Vote for Articles/Bylaws change. (Absentee ballots available call Deb 225-1016). Program: Skip Thompson (boats and metals) Nov 12 Commodore s Ball and Awards Banquet (RSVP-invitations in mail) Place: Annabelle s Time: 6pm Drinks, 7pm dinner Cost: $45.00 per person (some wine and beer included). No Host bar. Program: Commodore s Awards, Racing Season awards Music and Dancing (in the planning stage) Dec 6 Annual Meeting (potluck 6:30, meeting 7:30) Agenda: Election of Officers Program: White Elephant give away
Commodore s Comments By Kris Jensen Howdy folks, this is my last Commodore s Comments, which may cause jubilation for some, confusion for others, (who was that guy?) or a heavy heart for a few. (mostly me) Currently I am scheduled to depart in mid-july for Petaluma, CA and may not be back for 3-4 years. I hope I ve been at least helpful as Commodore if not inspirational or informative. Anyway it s been great and this year is shaping up pretty good so far also. This year s Luau went famously despite the rain. That was Some Pig, genuinely Terrific, baked over the Radiant coals, the Humble beast can make a truly magnificent feast. Everyone please give Judith, Sam, George, Louie, Wade, Debi, Marvin, Donna, Jim, Wilbur and anybody else I can t remember who helped out a big thanks for a job well done. And we got the flag pole back up. We have new cabinets in the galley and more insulation in the overhead. The contractor will start soon on residing the back wall and putting a new door in. Other upcoming projects would be replacing the carpet, some minor plumbing and the lights for the flag and sign. Any experienced volunteers would be appreciated; I m running out of time to get it all done. Trivia: What was the name of the dog Lieutenant (now Judge) Henry C. Keene met on February 7 th, 1943? Answer: Ricky. And now the rest of the story: Early in the morning of February 7 th, 1943, U-402 under the command of Kapitänleutnant Siegfried von Forstner, part of a 20 boat wolf pack, torpedoed and sank the USS HENRY R MALLORY a 6442-ton troop ship 600 miles south of Iceland. MALLORY was part of the 61-ship convoy SC-118 guarded by 8 escorts. The ship sank in about 30 minutes sending over 500 men into the water. Only a few boats made it away safely and many of the rafts were tied with 1-inch lines and pulled down with the ship leaving the men adrift. The Destroyer USS SCHENCK spotted lights nearby and requested permission to investigate them but was denied by the convoy commander. The COAST GUARD CUTTER BIBB, also escorting the convoy, under the command of Commander Roy Raney came across a boat from the MALLORY about four hours after the attack; this was the first that anyone knew the MALLORY had been sunk. There were submarines nearby so Cdr Raney took a big risk to pick up the men. At least once he had to break off when sonar contact was made to press home a depth charge attack before returning to pick up more survivors. Several times the convoy commander ordered BIBB to leave the survivors and resume her place guarding the convoy but Cdr Raney refused until he could no longer find any men left alive. BIBB rescued 205 men. USCGC INGHAM who arrived later, picked up 22. And the dog? As the rescue was drawing to a close they came upon a raft with a small white dog clinging to it, Somebody get that damn dog ordered Cdr Raney. Wally Cudlipp, a petty officer from the communications department was throwing a line at the dog when the communications Officer Lieutenant Henry C Keene grabbed the line from him and jumped over the side to get the dog. The dog was named Ricky and belonged to the MALLORY s cook who they had rescued earlier. The convoy commander was furious with Cdr Raney and threatened a Court Martial but no paperwork was ever filed. This still ranks as one of the greatest at-sea rescues of life in our maritime history. To close; revenge was had on October 13th that year when Wally Cudlipp operating the HF Direction Finding equipment got a bearing on the U-402 in mid-atlantic, passed the information to the Jeep Carrier USS CARD who crossed that with bearings from two other escorts to get a position. Her planes caught U-402 on the surface and sent her to the bottom permanently..
KORC XXV 25 Years of Sailboat Racing Tradition in Ketchikan, Alaska By Mary Lynne Dahl, Ketchikan, Alaska It is hard to believe that the annual Ketchikan, Alaska sailboat race regatta called KORC (Ketchikan Ocean Racing Circuit) has just passed the 25 th year! It seems like just yesterday, as they say. It all started in 1979 when a small group of 4-5 sailors decided that they wanted to race.somewhere so the Tongass Sailing Association was born. In 1980 the racing expanded. At first, they raced from Ketchikan to Seal Rocks and back. Then they raced from Ketchikan to a rock called Streets Island, which is across Clarence Strait west of Kasaan Peninsula, and back. The racing was informal and the main rule was not to hit another boat. The first boat to cross the line won, period, regardless of the differences in the boats. It was all pretty simple. The boats were bigger in those days. There was Camper Down, owned by a doc at Ketchikan General Hospital, Jim Dahl s Shadow Fax, Dave Johnson s Aeolus, Lou Bartos Odyssey, Jim Wilson s Crealock 37, Mark Bergoyne s, Thistledown and others whose names I can t locate. After these 2 races, the group decided that they wanted to do buoy races in Tongass Narrows and figured that a spring opener in the following year would be a good way to get the sailboat racing season underway. They named this spring opener Ketchikan Ocean Racing Circuit, but the joke has always been that the acronym might really stand for Ketchikan Ocean Racing Circus, or maybe even something else equally appropriate. Eventually, the skippers wanted to become more organized, so Dave Johnson put a set of rules together that would govern the racing, set the parameters and score the winners of each race. Today the boats are smaller, more outfitted for racing instead of cruising, and are more competitive. In addition, all race boats are handicapped, allowing the slower boats as much potential to win a race as the faster boats, which encourages more participation. Thus, crossing the finish line first no longer means that you actually won first place, especially for a fast boat with a low handicap; a fast boat must, in fact, correct over the other boats to win a race. And today we have rules adopted from US Sailing s 2005-2008 edition of Racing Rules of Sailing. Based on the goal of good sportsmanship and safety, these rules now govern all aspects of sailboat racing in Ketchikan, as well as in most sailing fleets in the US. Originally, races were around the 3 existing cans, WR6 (just off of the Safeway store shoreline), R4 (the downtown buoy in front of the cruise ship docks) and the PR (Pennock Reef) buoy. Today, racing sailboats still race around these 3 buoys, but now they also have a buoy in Clam Cove ( C buoy) next to the southern shore of Gravina Island, one at the south end of the airport along the Gravina shoreline ( A buoy), one south of downtown in front of Trident Seafoods ( Z buoy), one off of the entrance to Bar Harbor ( B buoy) and a buoy north in Tongass Narrows near the Boyer Barge terminal (Boyer buoy). In addition, there are races that go from WR6 to the buoy in front of Vallenar at the far northern end of Tongass Narrows, a race around Pennock Island that includes the buoy at the end of the west channel and the buoy at the southern entrance to the east channel, a race around Gravina Island called Gravina to Port (not used as much by the smaller boats nowadays), a race up the west channel to Nichols Passage, out to Stomach Rock and back to town via Page 2 the east channel, and a race from WR6 up to the buoy near Vallenar Rock, back down the Narrows, around Pennock Island and back to WR6. In year s past there were even some cruising races from WR6 to Port Stewart, with an overnight and a return to WR6 the next day, with fishing, berry picking and some of the famous raft-ups in the cove at Port Stewart. Over the years, various stories have been told and re-told of the adventures and misadventures of skippers, crew and boats during one or another KORC. For instance, there have been more than a few sailors who have broken the #1 racing rule of going swimming off of a racing boat.meaning falling overboard. There is a favorite story told by many of Myron Bloom getting grounded on Guard Island, requiring a rescue of his crew by Ralph Yetka in a Temsco helicopter. Seems the entire sailing group observed the grounding from the Lindemann home, with periodic use of binoculars to report the predicament of the boat, until finally the tide lifted the boat up so that Myron was able to bring it back to port for a lot of repeated ribbing, with the expert assistance of Jon Kumin (recently deceased and sorely missed by many) who refused to be rescued and flown out by helicopter, preferring instead to stay aboard the grounded boat with Myron.
There was also the year when Dave Johnson got knocked overboard by his own boom and was fished out of the water by Curt Lindemann, and who could forget the big raft-up in front of WR6 the year that there was no wind? In desperation for something to do, more than one crew not only visited from boat to boat during the raft-up, some even carried snacks and drinks back and forth (but of course!). And no one will ever forget Ralph Bache, calmly at the helm, pipe in his mouth, with his rowdy young crew of Brian Lieb, Hunter St. Clair, Liz Agnew and Gail Luellyn sailing around with a huge Alaska Brewing banner carelessly draped off of the stern of the lovely Misty Isles during the regatta. We could go on, but we risk telling secrets. In the beginning, the purpose of KORC was simply to have competitive fun as sailors. After a few years, however, KORC organizers saw an opportunity to contribute to the greater Ketchikan community by using KORC as a fundraiser. As a result, Ketchikan Yacht Club, the parent organization of KORC, has donated thousands of dollars to local charities. In fact, in several years, Ketchikan Yacht Club s KORC donation made up the majority of the budget for our local Ketchikan Search & Rescue group. This year, 2005, KORC will make a substantial donation to the local chapter of the First City Council on Cancer, in memory of Jon Kumin, who died of cancer only a week before KORC XXV was to begin, an event he had planned to attend. This year 2005 marks the 25 th year of KORC. From August 10 to August 14, we were blessed with 8 boats participating, great weather and mostly good wind. Over the years, the participants in sailboat racing in Ketchikan have honed their skills, with the result being a very competitive group of skippers, well-trained crews for the most part and very competitive racing. As everyone gets older, however, we wonder.will the next generation keep up this tradition? We hope so. Sailing is a wonderful sport. Even the spectators in town enjoy it, so it benefits more than merely the sailors who participate. It has become a tradition in Ketchikan, something that lends flavor and character to the town. The boats and owners of the race competition are, alphabetically: 1. Aeolus, owned by Dave & Jenny Johnson 2. Ariel, owned by Jim and Mary Lynne Dahl 3. Blizzard, owned by George Shaffer 4. Kermit, owned by Sally Hansen 5. Possum Fargo, owned by Dwight & Mary Ann Lindemann 6. Racy Lady, owned by Cari and Allen Serwat 7. Scoundrel, owned by Lou & Jean Bartos 8. Spirit, owned by Tom & Norma Thompson Sponsored and promoted by local businesses (Mariner Sails, Shaffer Family Dentistry, Davies Berry Insurance, Carl s Photos, Alaska General Seafoods, Otter Creek Partners Investment Advisors, Alaska Glass & Supply) and individuals (Lindemann family, Christiansen family, Serwat family and Thompson family), sailboat racing in Ketchikan is the most successful, longest-lasting sailing program in Alaska. Our hope is that it will continue for the next generation and that they will love it enough to pass it along to the kids who will follow them. And before you know it, KORC XXVI will be in the planning stages for the summer of 2006! Photos of KORC by Carl Thompson
No man can be called an able seaman unless he know how to haul down a reefearing in a gale of wind, and lay out on a yard arm in a tumbling sea. He should also thoroughly understand the use of the marlinspike, and be capable of making both long and short splices in a rope; he should know how to turn in a dead eye, strop a block, pass seizing, and make all the ordinary knots in a neat, workmanlike manner. SPORTSMAN'S COVE LODGE ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND Five boats from the yacht club responded to the invitation from the Sportsman's Cove Lodge at Saltery Cove for the Memorial Day Weekend. The Osborns and Kotlarovs arrived first on Saturday afternoon followed by the Barb and Roger Maynard, Ken and Jean Kemmerer and Terry and Carolyn Thompson. We were welcomed by owner Larry McQuarrie who was supervising repairs on the dock. Most of us went on the tour of the lodge which is built up the hillside from the cove. Up the ramp from the dock is a deck and gift shop, then the lounge, dining room and kitchen. Up another set of stairs the guest rooms begin as well as the office where we found Patti working. On up the hillside were more guest rooms, staff dorms and finally the generator shed. The generator is so well insulated that you can almost not hear it. The dinner prepared by the lodge cook was wonderful. He served baked halibut, grilled shrimp, and crab. We brought salads and side dishes. Dessert was a blueberry crumble. After dinner Larry told a little history of the lodge, and then everyone introduced themselves. The lodge employs about thirty people from all over. It was interesting to learn about all the jobs at the lodge. In the morning several of us took the trail up the hill in back of the lodge. This trail winds through an old growth forest for about a half mile and ends at a look out point. Sunday most of us went over to Smith Cover and anchored. After some discussion we decided to investigate Old Kasaan. The picture shows how we accomplished this. About this time the Porters arrived and also anchored their boat. There are still some poles visible at Kasaan as well as house sites and graves. So we had a good time exploring. So it was a great weekend made possible by Ketchikan Yacht Club members Larry and Patti. We are all looking forward to an invitation next year. It was fun. You sho u ld go. Mimi Kotlarov GG George and Gail Porter, Barb and Roger Maynard, Pat Osborn, Jean Kemmerer, Mimi Kotlarov investigating Old Kasaan
How they got to Kasaan Tied up at the Dock at Sportsman s Cove
Cruising News: Roger Maynard watching the world go by September 16, 2005 - Seattle On September 12 we moved from Prideaux Bay to Grace Harbour, still in the Desolation Sound Marine Park. We awoke to what looked like mist or smog in the hills but it turned out to be smoke from a forest or tundra fire, the smell becoming stronger as the day went by. Grace Harbour was another beautiful spot and there were lots of other boats there to enjoy it too. It was here we received news via e-mail (winlink) that my mom passed away that afternoon (the 12th) in Seattle. She had another short bout with pneumonia and slipped away as my dad held her hand and sang to her. So early on Sept. 13th we rounded Malaspina Peninsula to make a phone call in Lund (and have a cinnamon roll at The Bakery) and then crossed Georgia Strait to Comox where we have friends (Jennifer & Tom McQuade) who helped me make arrangements to get to Seattle. Early on the 14th I took the bus from Comox to Victoria and then the Victoria Clipper (fast ferry) to Seattle. I had 4 hours to lay over in Victoria but this was no hardship as it was a warm, sunny day - what a colorful city with all its greenery and flowers. The ferry was full and I booked the last seat - how thankful I am for that! Roger single-handed and continued south on Camai taking 3 days to get to Port Townsend. He overnighted in Nanaimo and Poet's Cove then today entered Washington through Friday Harbor and on to Port Townsend. He will join me in Seattle in the next couple of days. So our plans have changed and we will be here for awhile and play it by ear as to what we do next. Barb & Roger S/V Camai Seattle & Port Townsend
Cruising News from ELFIN COVE During this cruising Summer, the PRINCESS has spent a considerable time in Elfin Cove between cruising Icy Strait and fishing on the outside of Yakobi Island and Cross Sound. This small community is one of our favorite spots in South East. It has a small grocery and liquor store, a restaurant and a unique library which is open 24 hours a day year round. There is also a Post Office, fuel dock, laundromat and showers, one pay phone and daily float plane service from Juneau. There is a Ships pilot boat stationed here to deliver and disembark the ship pilots from the cruise ships as the enter or exit Cross Sound. The harbors are on a first come first serve free moorage. The State docks are on the inside and outside of the harbor. The passage into the inner harbor is dredged to 8 feet on the chart and that has been confirmed by our sounders. The inner harbor has two floats and the outer one is a single float. The town has a board walk that circles the community and it is a joy to stroll around this unique place, after being on the boat for several days. There are now no less than 7 fishing Lodges operating out of the community, which takes away from what it was originally, but the customers are housed in the lodges and don't seem to have much effect on the permanent inhabitants (which are not many). Elfin Cove can be reached from the East by transiting South Indian Pass from Icy Strait. However, one should attempt it at or near slack tide for, if not, it can be an interesting experience. You can simulate this same interesting experience at home buy climbing into a large commercial size laundry washing machine and having someone push the wash/rinse cycle button. If traveling in this area, be sure to stop in and visit this unique and friendly community. Marvol and I always try to support our remote South East Alaska Communities such as Elfin Cove, Pelican, Tenakee, Baranof Warm Springs, Craig, Point Baker, Meyers Chuck, Port Protection, Port Alexander etc, as we don't want to see them fold up and go away like some others have in the past. They are all very unique and they are all holding on by a thread. They are special places in our Alaska history and we need to not forget them. Sam and Marvol Barnard Cruising Icy Strait Icy Strait is one our favorite areas for cruising. It provides abundant whale watching opportunities as well as great fishing and crabbing. The two state floats at Couverden Island (or Swanson Harbor) offer great protected moorage to begin your trip from the East. You can most always find room there and if not anchorage is available in the back of the bay. Hoonah, in Port Fredrick has all the services one may need to re-supply, and has one of the best run and safest harbors in S.E. Alaska. The back end of Port Fredrick offers some great crabbing and several safe anchorages. Recently Hoonah has begun to have cruise ships visiting their town, so that distraction has brought itself to an otherwise pristine cruising area. The dock at Gustavus on the north side of Icy Strait is not recommended for moorage, as it is exposed and sometimes hazardous for boats there. Of course, most of us know about the permits required to enter Glacier Bay, but a trip there should include that special place. If you go early or late in the season permits are not required. Our favorite bay in Icy Strait is Dundas Bay, which is inside Glacier Bay Park and therefore off limits to commercial crabbing and entry permits are not required. (Which is good for us). It also has some of the best Halibut fishing anyplace and wildlife is plentiful in this area. No trip to Icy Strait should be made without a stop in the cutest place in all of South East, Elfin Cove. Watch the currents when transiting North or South Inian Passes. Slack or near slack is best. Sam and Marvol Barnard
Notes from Guests: --Thank you so much for allowing us to stay with the club. Your hospitality and warm greeting was outstanding. Hope to see you all again soon. Arctic Traveler (Juneau YC) -- This was a godsend for us to wait out the fog and storms. Thank you for the friendliness that your members share with us visitors Shonto (Rio Grande Sailing Club) -- Thanks so much for your hospitality. We enjoyed our stay in Ketchikan. Your generosity was appreciated. Southwind (BC, Canada) --. Hospitality top drawer. Safe and secure. Great, friendly people. Cruising persons delight. Bluewater (HYC, Oregon) --Very much the friendliest, nicest, most comfortable Yacht Club I ve ever stayed in. Will recommend you to all Kubapeety (Winchester Bay, OR) --Most friendly moorage and yacht club I have ever been to. The dinners and Sunday breakfasts are super. Sea Badger (Anacortes, WA) --Your club is like home away from home. Always friendly races and the sun always shines. Our 6 th stay with you and we have never been disappointed. Argus I (Royal Vancouver YC) --The best stop we have had! Wonderful brunch, friendly atmosphere. Our yacht club could take a lesson from you guys and gals. If you come our way, stop in at the John Wayne marina in Sequim Bay, WA and look for the American Tug Good Vibrations. We will give you a lift into town.. Good Vibrations (Sequim Bay, WA) --Still the best, most hospitable place in Southeast. Thanks Callisto (Comox, BC) -- Thank you for the warm club hospitality. Southern Cross (Encinal YC, San Francisco) --A wonderful place to visit for weather to clear. We truly appreciate the work and care that goes into providing a place for visitors! You can be very proud of your clubhouse and dock. Ketchikan is a much better place because of your work and efforts. As a fellow Alaskan, I would hope that all Alaskan harbors would follow your lead. Seventh Heaven (Seward, Alaska) Reminders to Moorage Holders: Ensure your boat is secure to the dock and your lines are not fraying. We have had several boats in the past who have broken frayed lines and only observant boaters have prevented damage. If you are leaving town for the an extended period (like all winter).put someone in charge of watching your boat and put that person s name on the chalk board in the club with a phone number. If there is a problem, we want to know who to call. The port captain is not responsible for watching your boat unless you have arranged for him to do so. Winter moorage holders: remember, it is your responsibility to get with the owner of the slip to pay for any electricity you use.
From the Interim Commodore s desk: Articles and Bylaws change. Most of you know that, for several years now, I have felt strongly that the jobs of Secretary and Treasurer h0ave grown to the point that one person should be split in two. So, instead of splitting the person, we are proposing to split the job in two. Both the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws need to be changed. Included in your newsletter is that proposal. You can see easily where the changes will be made. The basics are that the single job becomes two with the duties normally associated with each job placed appropriately. The total number of Trustees will remain 7 (as before) by deleting one Trustee. There will still be one Trustee and the Past Commodore to provide the historical continuity and oversight. In addition, we updated the duties of the Rear Commodore in the Articles and we restated the meaning of a quorum in order to be more clear. If voted in favor, we will reprint the Articles/Bylaws handbook for all members and send them out in December so all will have a new copy. As stated at the October meeting, the vote will be taken at the November meeting. Absentee ballots can be obtained from me by email or phone (225-1016 or svpuffin@kpunet.net). Deb Davis, Interim Commodore 2005 BY Sheila Engstrom DOCK TALK Fall 2005 Another season past and winter is almost upon us. Around the dock boats are getting ready for a long winter s nap. Gracious Lady is looking smart with aluminum bulwarks, shiny and bright. Really nice work Jim! Terry and Carolyn Thompson are the proud new owners of Rascal they brought her up this summer from down south. Also a big thanks to Carolyn and Cheryl Goodale for bringing in deserts for the BBQ all summer long. The otters have taken up residence in Randy and Barb Roberts sail boat on our dock when they are not looking as they do, otters love other boats too, eating and sleeping on a boat is so much better than the dock. And speaking of eating we all enjoyed munching on Barb s cookies every Friday all summer long. Yum!! Several club members have gone South already, Linda and Gary Young, Dwight and Maryann Lindemann, Jim and Barb Hodgeman, Mimi and Al Kotlarov (all the way to India). Vern, our port captain has a new first mate, he is called Little Bit, he is not any higher than the bull rail, and he totally runs the show. Our summer BBQ and Breakfasts were great. Thanks to all those who pitched in, Al Rockwell, Barb Roberts, Chris Charles set up the BBQ all summer.. Good times and good food was at hand. And big special thanks to all of you who signed up and came in and cooked breakfast for us all summer long. It was great. Another Good Eats! Jack and I head for Hawaii and Oregon (first stop to see little Engstroms). Keep Dry and a big ALOHA. See you in the Spring. Sae.