Home Port Corinthian Yacht Club of Bellingham 122º 30 06 W 48º44 55 N May, 2008 Volume 23 Number 5 STYROFOAM REGATTA August 9th, Spencer Spit The Styrofoam Regatta will be a joint cruise this year with the Squalicum Yacht Club. We will be supplying you with the necessary components to build a styrofoam sailboat. You must use all of the components that comes with the kit. You will have approximately 1 hour to construct your sailboat. The only other material you may use to construct your sailboat is duct tape. Be sure to have some available. We would like to know in advance if you are planning on attending so that we may have enough kits. Each person on your boat can participate with a boat of their own, including children. The race will be held at approximately 3 p.m. Awards will be presented at the potluck at 6 p.m. Further information will be provided with your kit. This is CYCs 5th Regatta and our first with Squalicum Yacht Club. We would like to know by August 1 if you are planning on attending so we may have enough kits. If you would like to have your kit before leaving, which would help us out a lot, we can make arrangements to do this. You will be receiving another email in July. Barbee and Larry Folenius Cruise Hosts Photos by Doug Holmstrom 1 Wishing For More Time On The Water? If so, then you should consider sailing on Thursday nights. CYC has about 15 boats out sailing on Thursday nights with a total of 23 or more saying they will be at some time. There s 3 groups of sailors showing up each night. One group ranges from 27 footers like an Island Packet and O day to the 40 foot likes of a Sabre 40 and includes a single handed Islander 30. The second group is comprised of cruising boats that like to fly spinnakers including a San Juan 7.7 up to an Islander 36. The third group also fly spinnakers and ranges from 24 feet to 35 and is made up of of racing type boats. Wait, did you just read the word racing? Well, yes, that s what I wrote and we call it Thursday Night Racing but lets face it it just time on the water for most of us. Yes, time on the water. Consider Ray Gobush sailing his Islander 30 by himself. Sure he s racing, but what is he really doing? In his own words as reported in a previous HomePort: Racing really helped me with my skills, he says. If you want to fine-tune your skills, try racing. And then there s David Cunningham sailing his San Juan 7.7 for the first time with the cruising boats who like to fly spinnakers group who told me that he s out there learning all about his spinnaker. Some of us have been going out on Thursday nights for as long as we can remember and why? For me, it is not only time on the water but also for the same reasons that Ray and David are coming out. I ve not only become a better sailor but really do get to know my boat and its ways very well. Thursday Nights have helped me learn to how to get my boat going in light wind. They also have helped me to learn that by moving the traveler down to the leeward side a bit when the wind builds the boat heels less and goes faster; tell me that won t please the crew as well as the skipper. So yes, if you like to collect trophies we do race on Thursday nights with the winners adding to their collections. But if you want to build your skills and get to know your boat better then come on out with us and join the fun. Who knows, maybe you ll even start a collection, Ray has. Your boat doesn t have to be a racer as there are more cruisers out than racers, you only need a desire to spend time on the water. For more information about Thursday Night Racing please visit our website at http://www. cycbellingham.org or email the race chair, Mick Corcoran, at micksails@aol.com. Mike Reed
2008 CYC Bellingham Officers Commodore Don Beasley 922-0168 Don-Beasley@Comcast.net Vice Commodore Wendy Barrett 756-8028 WendyBarr@Comcast.net Secretary David Cunningham 366-0357 directascent@earthlink.net Treasurer Bob Cooper 738-0934 bxxcooper@aol.com Administrative Officer Laurent Martel 739-2860 laurentmartel@bellcoho.com Membership Ray Gobush 647-9004 Rgo9932@msn.com Race Chair Mick Corcoran micksails@aol.com Cruise Chair David Barrett 756-8028 dbbarre@comcast.net Reciprocity Steve Clevenger 384-6731 skclevenger@comcast.net PIYA Rep Mick Corcoran 595-2198 PHRF Rep Rob Galbraith 671-9146 Commodore s Corner GREETINGS FROM THE WICKIE Thank you CYC members for all that you do to make our club a success. I am amazed by the creative energies demonstrated by you on a regular basis. The extraordinary pot luck dinner presentations, your involvement with various club activities and your willingness to help with the meeting site set up are truly appreciated. I thank you all for what you have done. Those of you who missed the Poker run really missed an opportunity to see the creative genius of some pretty wild pirates. The follow up meal at Bruce Henninger s residence was yard arms beyond par. Our next cruise activity will be the Matia clean up cruise. I sincerely hope many of you will participate. I am responsible for this cruise so I have a special interest in the outcome. The resident Ranger of Sucia/Matia informs me the trails appear to be in good shape so our primary efforts this year will be the replacement of picnic table tops. The parks folks will supply all the tools and supplies so please bring your gloves and your eagerness as you have in the past. I have not developed a theme for this event so I am hopeful I will get some help from the masses at our next club meeting. The cruise schedule indicates Saturday May 17 and Sunday May 18, 2008. Our host ranger will post reserved signs on the Matia dock for us beginning Friday May 16, 2008 for those who wish to get an early start on our work day Saturday. Please remember to bring adequate rafting fenders and mooring gear so we can accommodate our entire fleet. Our May 20 meeting will present an opportunity for a $100.00 haul out certificate for a lucky participant in a drawing. The original recipient had a conflict so he offers the prize up for a second person. The opportunity is offered by The Landings at Colony Wharf LLC. The certificate expires August 1, 2008. You must be present to win and only one ticket per family. I thank you all for your support and I look forward to seeing you in the near future. Respectfully, Don Beasley, Commodore CYC Newsletter Editor Mike Reed 733-4252 losreeds@comcast.net 2
Executive Board Meeting Notes Tuesday 6 st of May 2008 Board Members Present: Don Beasley, Wendy Barrett, David Cunningham, Bob Cooper, Kaye Clevenger, Mike Reed The meeting started at 18:00 (6 pm) with discussion and agreement that the board would hold a June board meeting (June 3 rd ) to get a jump on planning and organization for the next year. There was a long list of items for that meeting, including how to attract more young people to the club, a cookbook, our official involvement in the opening day ceremony, our relationship with BBCBC, etc. The minutes were read and accepted and a discussion ensued about the idea of putting them on the web site. The website idea was approved and that will be worked into a web site update sometime soon. Our new Treasurer arrived, but had not yet taken over the books, so Kaye gave the report of the results of the month s activities indicating we are still well within budget. Mike Reed reported that we collected over 3 tons of trash in April from the Bellingham Bay Community Boating Center (BBCBC ) clean up and got back $50 (which went to the BBCBC) for metal recycling thanks to the hauling efforts of Grant & Mike. David reported that the swap meet collected $53 in donations for the BBCBC. The board approved a motion to include the BBCBC as regular part of our stewardship program and will develop more specific guidelines for an ongoing relationship with the center. Mike asked for more ideas for the June newsletter, which is the last big issue of the spring. There will be a small one over the summer to report on cruises etc. At the May Bar-B-Q there will be a sheet asking for your favorite anchorages/harbors and activities or events you think others would be interested in. Regarding the awards for cruising boats it was suggested we change the overall award ceremony to the December general meeting to coincide with the election of new officers etc. as well. (Another item for the June planning meeting!) The board approved a $25 donation to a charity to honor Jenny Gelhar s father who recently passed away. In response to the request by the Port for the BCYC approval of dry storage for 4 boats from the Bellingham Yacht Club, a motion was made to send a letter to the Port endorsing the concept of a pilot program for dry storage, but with the provision that there be a list of all those interested in dry storage of their boats with a lottery to chose the boats from that list. The new Reciprocity sign is up and looks nice, thanks to Steve C. The meeting adjourned at 17:55 (7:55pm) David J. Cunningham, your Secretary The May 20 th general meeting... will be our spring barbeque with the program centered around safety. For those who would like to forgo the battle of the grills, Larry and Barb Folenius will be preparing their infamous Pulled Pork and several folks have been designated to bring the accompanying cole slaw (they know who they are). Considering that there are those of us out there that insist on grilling their own grub BBQ grills will be available so bring your own alternative to the pulled pork if you wish. Wendy Barrett will be bringing ice cream for dessert (enough for everyone). Laurent will be bringing wine, a bottle of red and white for each table. Everyone else should bring a side dish or possibly something like brownies to complement the ice cream. Don t forget to bring your own utensils, plates, napkins, wine glasses and appetite. Our safety program has two componets including a short (20 minutes) review of lifesling techniques by mike Reed followed by a fire extinguisher and flare demonstration. It would be a good idea to bring any out of date flares or extinguishers for practice. Peter Border of the Coat Guard Auxillary will be conducting this part of the presentation. MR ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ / ) ~~ / ) ~~~~~~~ / ) ~~~~~~~~~~~ At the April Meeting If you ve been dreaming of a trip to Alaska and you can t get the lyrics... I ve never really been, but I d sure like to go... out of your head, then the April general meeting would have kick started your trip. Barbie and Larry Folenius slide show and musical presentation of thier trip last summer made for a very stimulating evening. The rumor around town is that sales of cruising guides for the inside passage have been up recently and can be attributed to this wonderful presentation. If you are considering a trip to Alaska but missed the April meeting You may want to get intouch with the Folenius to see if you can arrage a private screening. MR 3
Reciprocity Flounder Bay Yacht Club Guest Moorage Slips are available on the membership sign-out listing posted in the FBYC laundry room. A courtesy dock is available for check-in purposes. Visiting vessels must display their home YC burgee at all times while utilizing reciprocal moorage. Visitors should also be prepared to present a current yacht club membership card if requested. Moorage slips are available from 30 to 44. Occasionally, there may be a 50-foot slip available. No part of a vessel may extend over the walkway and no more than 4 feet of the vessel may extend beyond the piling into the marina fairway. Vessels may not be left unattended overnight. Dock Rules are posted at the head of the ramp and on the bulletin board near the FBYC exit gate. Visitors must complete the Guest Register and fill out a Registration form as soon as possible upon arrival. Visits are limited to a total of five (5) days per calendar year. Moorage rates: Day number one is complimentary, although there is a $3 charge for electricity. Days two through five are $10 each and include electricity. Dockside water and 30 amp power is available at each slip. An Honor Box for moorage payment is located in the laundry room. Restrooms, coin-operated showers and laundry are located at the head of the dock ramp in the downstairs portion of the two-story building. FBYC has a Club House with kitchenette, restroom and social activity area, as well as natural gas BBQs and ample deck space for visitor use. Our facilities are available for visitor use by making arrangements with the Dock Master. If there are any Clubs that you would like me to include, in future issues of our newsletter, please let me know by calling 384-6731 or email at skclevenger@comcast.net. Steve Clevenger, Reciprocity Chair Gas by the Bucketful No doubt about it, the best stuff to cook on is gas. It has problems, though. Liquid petroleum gas is heavier than air and it s explosive. I remember smelling gas when I woke up one morning on a 72-foot ketch in Ramsgate, England. It was during the dog days of summer, dead calm. We fixed the gas leak and tip-toed around softly so as to cause no sparks, and waited for a breeze to ventilate the bilges. We had a 12-volt bilge blower, but neither Gary, the skipper, nor I, the mate, wanted to risk switching it on. They re supposed to be spark-free, said Gary, but Yeah, it only takes one spark, I said. Eventually, after considering everything, we decided to bail the gas out. Soon the residents of Ramsgate were treated to a strange spectacle. The crew of Thelma II would appear on deck one after another and solemnly pour seemingly empty buckets into the harbor. In true British fashion, the locals were too polite to enquire about this lunatic ritual. After 45 minutes we figured it was good enough. We all went ashore except for Gary, who bravely flipped the switch for the blower. We saw his hand move. There was no explosion. He grinned widely. All r-i-g-h-t! We cheered and yelled from the dockside. The locals shook their heads and pretended to be watching seagulls. Copyright CYC member John Vigor, author of The Boatowner s Handbook. Reciprocity Box Information Wanted Have you ever pulled up to a visitor dock and wondered where the nearest grocery store is or who a good mechanic might be? Ever broken a tooth on vacation in a strange place and wondered if there might be a dentist on call? If so, share your questions and answers with Steve and Kaye Clevenger. They are putting together an information list that will be kept in the CYC s reciprocity dock box for those who are visiting. Information as mundane as where the nearest pay phone is to contact information for a local rigger or sail maker who could help with repairs will be provided. If you have names and phone numbers of someone with a special service that you would like to recommend, email or phone Steve or Kaye. Let them know of any unique situations you ve been in where a little bit of local knowledge would have been helpful. They can be contacted at 384-6731 or skclevenger@comcast.net. Jon Martin 4
Meet David Cunningham CYC secretary David Cunningham and his wife, Jeanne Richardson, have a range of interests as big as all outdoors they love hiking, kayaking, RVing and camping, and David grew up sailing. The good hiking and kayaking helped draw them to Bellingham in 1999. Then, five years ago, they found their boat, Tiramisu, a San Juan 7.7/26. Jeanne was new to sailing, but when she saw the boat s name she knew it was the one. It was her favorite dessert at the time, David said. I had gone 15 years without sails, David said, but the two are making up for it now. I don t think we ve missed a week of sailing. Make that summertime sailing. David grew up in the mountains of Colorado, but his boyhood sailing was in dinghies, and later a 24-footer, on the balmy Sea of Cortez where the family vacationed. As a result, I don t like cold water on my body, he said. Later, he owned a 24-foot catamaran and he s thinking he d like another, bigger one when he s ready for the next boat. David and Jeanne enjoy sailing on Bellingham Bay, and this season they expect to join in on a club cruise. David is also racing his boat this year, after crewing last year. I m an independent kind of guy, David said. I like being in charge. With a novice friend as crew, he skippered his first race in April. We missed the start... We got the lines tangled... The committee boat had to wait for us. But my goal was to get around the course and have fun, and we did that! David and Jeanne retired in 2005, after reinventing their careers in mid-life. David started out as a contractor. A spell in the Navy came next, with three tours in Vietnam, followed by college and time as a teacher in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Then he went back to contracting, but After a while the body started to get tired, he said. So he and Jeanne left their home in Monterey, Calif., where she worked in her family s oil-distribution business, and moved to Santa Fe, N.M. There Jeanne qualified as a hypnotherapist and David turned himself into a mediator for at-risk youth. Then they got into their RV and traveled 30,000 miles around the U.S., looking for just the right place to live. They found Bellingham when they came to visit David s daughter at WWU. There s no place better in the world than this, he said. This area has the best overall multiple opportunities for outdoor activities of any place. In Bellingham, Jeanne practiced as a hypnotherapist and David worked as a juvenile court mediator. That was my most satisfying job, he said. As CYC secretary, David says he d appreciate input from members. If you see something you re not satisfied with, that could be better, call a board member. He d like to give members more chances to participate in the club in small ways. The more we can break things down into bite-size pieces the more we can get people involved. If you have suggestions or questions for our new secretary, call David at (360) 739-1338 or e-mail directascent@ earathlink.net. June Vigor yachttecbham@aol.com 5
On Entering Tasu Sound By PK Connor I can t explain why it is that a foggy, five am entrance adds to the wonder of slipping into one of those rare places that you weren t sure you d ever get to. That s how is was as we lined up the trusty battleyacht Havfruen to angle its way between the entrance walls of Tasu Sound, midway down the west coast of the Queen Charlotte Island s largest member, South Moresby. We were on the way home from our first serious voyage with our new supersized moneypit. We had spent several months on a trip to the west side of Prince of Wales Island practicing, tuning and repairing whilst touring the countryside and proving that fish are indeed smarter than we are. At the end of June, we decided to return to our slip at Campbell River on the outside so we could see how this vessel behaved out in the big water. Theory took a backseat to our cowardly nature however as we headed out into intentionally calm weather, a requisite for approaching the farside of the Charlottes. East of the Charlottes is the disreputable Hecate Straight with depths of 50 to 300 feet and winter waves reported at 50 feet by the survivors, even higher by the deceased. Not many miles across the islands, the west edge drops into 5,000 feet of water within several thousand feet of shore. The landscape is a largely unbroken rampart, steep as a scandalous politician s demise and wide open to the criticism of the Pacific Ocean. We lacked the courage to approach that shore until we were assured a downwind shot to Tasu s door. The door proved to be misplaced. I learned to sail with a boy scout compass for bearings, a float on a knotted line for speed and an old crescent wrench for depth. Havfruen came equipped with Nobeltec and charts. Oh golly, how quickly had I been suborned; how swiftly had I succumbed continued on page 7 Cruising Cuisine Recipies collected by Barbee and Larry Folenius MEXICAN MOCHA 1 Cup instant coffee crystals 1 Cup cremora 1 Cup hot chocolate (sweetened) mix --such as Nestle s or what ever is on sale 1/2 Cup sugar or sugar substitute such as Splenda 1/2 t cinnamon 1/4 t nutmeg Put all ingredients in food processor and mix well. Matt Hardin Owner phone 360) 961.2568 fax 360) 676.1738 shop 360) 734.2502 matt@nwdieselpower.com Use 2-3 t of mixed ingredients per cup of hot water. Cruising Cuisine Recipies collected by Barbee and Larry Folenius MEXICAN SALAD 2 ripe avocados 3 vine ripe tomatoes 1/2 sweet onion, sliced Chopped fresh cilantro, about 2 tablespoons 2 limes Coarse salt Extra virgin olive oil for drizzling Cut avocados in half, working around the pit. Separate the 2 halves. Remove pit and scoop out avocado flesh with a spoon. Cut avocados in medium sized chunks. Seed the tomatoes and cut into medium sized chunks. Put the above along with the sliced onion in a bowl and mix very gently. Sprinkle bowl with chopped cilantro Squeeze the juice of the 2 limes evenly over the vegetables. (You can use bottled lime juice also) Season with coarse salt. Drizzle with olive oil. Makes 4 servings Jon Lopez-Master Marine Cabinet Maker Licensed and Insured Design, Construction and Installation of Top Quality Yacht Interiors 3843 Brownsville Dr. Bellingham, Wa 98226 (360) 319-3638 6
continued from page 6 to slothfulness. I had descended into decadence, I had. Comeuppance arrived about ¼ mile from the entrance as I learned (a)the coarse chart is way wrong and (b)nobeltec hasn t bothered to include the detail charts of the west side of the islands in its chart pack. Shame on them. There is a good chart of the sound but I didn t have it. Shame on me. Scrambling for the old basics of chartless navigation, wishing we d not been up all night, thrilled to be there at all, we favored the steepest wall and slid into the silence of the little sound. There are no especially good anchorages and anchoring is especially difficult without a good chart. The shores are steep-to and very deep. And it can blow like the devil in there. And the bottom is rock. We set the anchor on the windward side of an 80 foot mound after several tries elsewhere with even worse results. We had a lot of dragging room but we d be in deep water if we tore loose. I napped next to the GPS anchor alarm instead of next to Julia. It was wonderful; we had made it to Tasu Sound. Classified Ads Wanted: Wooden boat 10 to 6 feet, cheap and condition unimportant. Jack at 360-739-2287 For Sale: San Juan 24. 1975 with furler, spinnaker, 4 stroke Honda and lots of xtras. Gate 9, slip LE-9. $5000.00 obo. Former members Pat and Rod Hicks. 733-1265 If you didn't sell it at the Gear Swap why not list it here? Like the wind, its Free! April 26th Dinner Dash and Pirates A Plenty Our cruise started at the fish tank by the Bayside restaurant. Some club members had taken the pirate theme to heart, while others were lilly livered bilge scum. One small girl on the docks was heard exclaiming, There s a real pirate with a gun! Out on the bay and the sun graced our souls while the wind filled our sails. All Captains sailed the course with pirattitude. The faster boats sailed in the back of the fleet to create opportunity for all to finish about the same time, great fun! After the 11 sailing ships were made fast it was on to Henninger s home for food and fun. The feast was set out for 29 members and the grog was poured. As the sun was setting, high and low hands were determined, and Delayne was declared best costume. Each winner received a Redden Net gift certificate. The evening closed out with a bonfire and the roasting of marshmallows for s mores. There was fine wine, tasty beer, delectable food and great conversation! All in all a good day on the bay! Bruce and Cindy Henninger 7
CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB OF BELLINGHAM P.O. Box 101 Bellingham, WA 98227 CYC Events Calendar Matia Clean-up............. May 17&18th May General Meeting......... May 20th Squalicum Boathouse, Squalicum Harbor, - 18:00 hours June Newsletter Deadline....... May 30th Email materials to: editor@cycbellingham.org June Board Planning Meeting... June 4th Sucia Cruise............... June 14&15th Inside This Issue: 1 - Styrofoam Regatta Time On The Water 2 - Commodore s Corner 3 - Board Meeting Minutes May Meeting AprilMeeting 4 - Reciprocity News Gas by the Bucketful 5 - Member Profile 6 - Recipies On Entering Tasu Sound 7 - Pirates a Plenty Classified Ads