PORTLIGHT - Portland Yacht Club

PORTLIGHT
June 2015
P O R T L A N D Y A C H T C L U B M O N T H LY Opening Day, 5.2.15 Volume 65, Number 6
Photo by Norene Kudrna
The Portlight page 2
June 2015
C ommodore ’ s C omments
T
By Larry Justice
he Cinco de Mayo Friday
Night Cookout featured one
of the best Taco Bars in the
City and PYC had a record number
of people enjoying the festivities.
“Wind Raven” flew the giant PYC burgee.
It was a great kickoff for the
Opening Day festivities the next
day. About 200 people had brunch
between the early hours of 7 am to 9 am, the most people
we’ve had for the Opening Day Brunch in some time.
Opening Day, itself, actually began with a ceremony
around the flags outside the PYC clubhouse, with Rear
Commodore Gil MacGregor as the officer in charge. It
began promptly at 9:30 with the introduction of guests
and the many past Commodores and First Ladies, as
well as Columbia River Yachting Association dignitaries.
PYC hosted the CRYA’s Opening Day Ceremony
this year, so there were more than the usual number
of people at the ceremony. Here’s how the ceremony
unfolded:
Ruth Parr began with an outstanding invocation,
blessing the day and the fleets of boats that would be in
the parade later.
The Daughters of Neptune raised the CRYA burgee.
All the other club burgees and the American flag were
raised by the Sea Scouts, Ships Tsunami and Sun Sail.
After the ceremony, we were all off to our boats to get in
place for the parade of boats. All PYC boats were decorated with blue and white flags and the sailing vessel
Important Reminders for PYC Members
Insurance
The Board has put some teeth in the Proof of Liability
Insurance rule. Starting last month, PYC must have the
proper insurance documentation in the office in case of an
accident. To ensure that members are in compliance the
board has approved the following policy: “The club will
make ‘positive’ contact with members whose insurance
renewal is outstanding either by voice, electronic, or registered mail. They will be informed that they are given a 30
day notice to provide insurance verification or they will be
fined $100.” Please be prompt in responding to insurance
requests to avoid such fines from this new policy.
It was the pleasure of First Lady Vicki and me to watch
the fleet salute and pass by our boat. Club Manager
Daniel Wilkins and fiancé Christina Cullbertson joined
us on “Just Us 2.”
The review of boats was not without incident: the Portland Fireboat decided to join us in the parade – not a
good thing – requiring some of the boats to show a bit of
good seamanship in order to accommodate the boat and
its water spouts. Fortunately, nobody received deductions for their seamanship.
All in all, it was a good parade. PYC finished either in
first or second place in all categories, receiving second
place overall behind Tyee Yacht Club.
My special thanks to Laura and Larry Cirotski for
­providing all the boat decorations. We got first place
for best decorated boat and second place for best
­decorated club.
As I write this, we just finished the Mother’s Day
Brunch, another well-attended and delicious event.
My special thanks to Jan Molenaar and Al Mirati for
helping Chef Joe; Donna Kay, Mary Kaye and Joe
Brady for the special table settings, along with Judy and
Rod Wells; and Greg Allison for pouring the sparkling
wine. Many others worked on the event, as well, and
thanks to all of you for making this a great brunch and a
happy Mother’s Day.
Remember, it’s your participation in the club that makes
it successful.
Dock Boxes
If you’re in the Open Moorage, spring cleaning includes
making your dock box tidy. Unfortunately, several dock
boxes are beyond ‘making tidy’ and are real eye sores.
Some have rotten plywood tops and sides and need more
than a new coat of blue paint. Those should be rebuilt or
replaced with fiberglass dock boxes. If your dock box just
needs a new coat of paint, Terry Truan, PYC’s dock master,
has blue paint.
Pursuant to club moorage rules, dock boxes will be
removed if not repaired in a timely fashion. One derelict
box has been removed already. Subsequent notice of box
removal will by telephone.
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 3
June 2015
M anager ’ s R eport
W
By Daniel Wilkins
hat a great start we’ve
had to the boating
season with a beautiful
spring and many successful events
including cruises, regattas, and fantastic meals. The upcoming summer
season is surely going to be a memorable one and I hope that you will
make many memories with us here at the club.
parking lot for more than a week. Security reports daily
on cars left in the parking lot and to keep from raising
any alarms we would appreciate that help. Additionally,
please leave your keys with the office in case we need to
move your vehicle in an emergency.
Our initial test of adding more food services has been
very successful with a lot of great member feedback. The
new menu has been well received and revenues are up
in all segments, especially during our new Friday lunch
and dinner program. We hope that our casual, comfortable, and affordable menu continues with success during
the summer and that you invite your friends, family, and
potential new members in for a great meal on the best
river front patio in Portland. Please check out the menu
every Thursday for updated lunch and dinner specials,
along with any of our happy hour, beverage or catering
menus. If we can keep this up, you can expect that we
will be able to continue these additional services all
summer long.
The new bar program is going well but we need a little
more help to ensure that everyone is getting what they
paid for, at the right price. Please remember that the
pricing structure remains the same as it has been for
almost two years for members, but only when one gets
their 25% discount. Please ensure that you are signing
your tab at the end of your visit to verify that your bar
tab is correct. You should always see a 25% discount on
your bar tab at the end of your visit, but if there happens
to be an error the office can always make the adjustment
to ensure that you don’t overpay. Due to some technology restrictions, food and bar needs to be rung up on
two separate tabs, so there may be two tabs to sign.
One quick reminder to members who utilize the storage
yard: PYC will recycle boat oil and oil filters but the
­disposal of anything else is the boat owner’s responsibility. Please do not dispose of refrigerators and other
items in the storage yard. These items must be hauled
off property and disposed of at the proper facility. We
appreciate your help in keeping the storage yard clean
and debris free.
Lastly, with cruise season picking up we need to ensure
that you are informing the office of any cars left in the
Remember: The gated parking lot will be closed from
June 12th-15th. No cars may be parked due to moorage
construction. Please coordinate parking with the office if
you need to leave your car at the club during these dates.
Thank you for all of your support and membership.
Cheers to a great summer!
Portlight Deadline
Submission for July issue: June 10th
Email articles & reports to: Mike O’Bryant
[email protected]
Photos to: Skip Nitchie
[email protected]
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PORTLIGHT
PORTLAND YACHT CLUB
2341 NE Marine Drive, Portland, Oregon 97211
503-285-1922 (ph) • 503-283-4960 (fax)
[email protected] • www.portlandyc.com
Committee – Mike O’Bryant, editor; Sandy O’Bryant, graphic design;
Skip Nitchie, photos; Nancy MacGregor and Mary Ann Nitchie
Officers and Trustees
Commodore
Vice Commodore
Secretary/Treasurer
Rear Commodore
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
Trustee
www.portlandyc.com
Larry Justice
John Colby
Dave Simonson
Gil MacGregor
David Stuckey
Al Parr
Mark McCuddy
Robert Dubay
Craig Shambaugh
(power)
(sail)
(power)
(sail)
(power)
(power)
(sail)
(sail)
(sail)
The Portlight page 4
June 2015
Staying Aboard at PYC Moorage and Moorage Agreement
I
John Colby, Vice Commodore
t is not a coincidence that PYC’s rule allowing
members 10 overnight stays a month for a total
of 120 days a year mirrors local law and Oregon
State administrative rules defining what constitutes live
aboards (see PYC Moorage Rule Article IV Section R).
The PYC rule prohibiting longer stays, which would be
considered living aboard, may have originated long ago
as a policy choice for our Club but has now become our
only responsible choice under Oregon State law.
The PYC Board considered changing this rule in February and March after a member couple presented a
petition to do so. Commodore Larry Justice contacted
other yacht clubs on the river and found that they were
moving away from allowing live aboards. Only Tyee
Yacht Club permits a couple of firewatchers to stay on
board their boats full time. However, they are having
problems with the system. The Board in March voted to
deny a change in this rule.
Commodore Justice continued to pursue thoughts
and ideas from other clubs on the river to accommodate those who need more than 10 days to prepare for
summer cruises. However, the problem is the application
of the Oregon Landlord Tenant law applying to long
stays onboard moored boats. Oregon’s Landlord Tenant
law favors tenants and we do not want that law to apply
to our moorage.
On December 20, 2012, the PYC Board voted to institute a written and signed Moorage Agreement for all
who moor at PYC. Because of intervening events this
has not been brought to your attention, nor has it been
instituted. But now is the time and it will be mailed to
all members moored at PYC in the June billing. Please
complete it, sign it and return it to the PYC office.
Concerning our stay aboard policy and rule, please note
paragraph 9 of your moorage agreement and the language
“except pursuant to authorization from PYC Board.”
It is anticipated that a member may apply to the Board
in writing for longer stays, not live aboards, of short
periods beyond the 10 days a month and paragraph 9
gives the Board the option to allow that longer stay.
The Board would not only have been irresponsible but
in dereliction of its duty to protect all PYC members if
it had changed the live aboard rule. It is hoped that the
Moorage Agreement will make the rule somewhat flexible.
Two Summer Races Benefit Prostate Cancer Foundation
One in seven men will get prostate cancer. In fact, a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer every 2.3 minutes.
The Prostate Cancer Foundation (www.pcf.org) is dedicated to stopping this cancer and, now, you can help
your friends and PCF by doing one of the activities you love best – sailing.
This summer, two SYSCO-sponsored races in Portland, Ore. will benefit research by PCF, targeting $10,000 in
total contributions through sponsorships, boat challenges, personal donations and an end of race raffle.
SYSCO PCF Beer Can Race, June 19, Start time 6:30 pm
See general race instructions: http://www.sailpdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SYSCO_PCF15.pdf
SYSCO Dual Bridge Duel Race, June 20, Start time 2 pm
See general race instructions: http://www.sailpdx.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/SYSCO_DBD15.pdf
Join us after Saturday’s race for a social gathering at the Columbia Crossings Tomahawk Bay Lawn for good
food and more fundraising activities for PCF.
Skippers, crew, family and friends are encouraged to make a tax deductible donation to PCF.
Challenge other boats on the water with your “all-crew” donations. PCF will track your donations by boat. Just
use the boat name as you contribute.
Set up an account at http://give.athletesforacure.org/sysco2015 to track your boat’s personal donations. Or,
make personal checks payable to “Prostate Cancer Foundation” and mail the check(s) to SYSCO, P.O. Box
5502, Portland, OR 97228. All contributions must be made by June 20.
For more information or questions, contact Mike O’Bryant at [email protected]
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 5
PYC Sailing News
By Nancy MacGregor
Mauni Elliott
Sailors, prepare your yachts for the annual PYC Mauni
Elliott race series on Wednesday evenings in June.
There will be 3 classes; Fast, Not So Fast, and Cruising.
The Kelly bar will be open during and after the races,
plus a limited menu will be available. The popular
Spaghetti dinner event is scheduled for June 24th, following the final race. Kindly make reservations prior to
Tuesday, June 23, with the office for the dinner. Skippers, please register directly with the club office for the
race series. See you on the water!
Light winds persist
The PYC Spring Regatta, April 25 and 26, experienced
two consecutive days of light winds and frustrating conditions. Unfortunately, the one race on Saturday was
not scored due to a committee oversight, and only the
PHRF-A fleet was able to finish the one race held on
Sunday.
Results - PHRF A Fleet
1 J-105
Troublemaker
2 J-105
Free Bowl of Soup
3 J-122 Anam Cara
4 Mumm 36 Panama Red
5 J-35
Stray Currents
June 2015
while others are brewing up some top-secret, special
family recipe chili. We are currently doing our part
by sending a crew to the end of the breakwater with
a jigger of 10-year-old bourbon as an offering to King
Neptune. Whatever it takes, we need to get our race
boats into the Strait of Juan de Fuca by 17:00 to catch a
favorable wind and tide.” (posted by the Kahls)
Two PYC skippers and crews should be commended
for their tenacity and determination. Both Rage, skippered by Steve Rander, and Velocity, skippered by Tom
Keffer, finished the race. Rumor was that Steve needed
to finish in order to get to his birthday festivities!
Fleet Awards
Rage — 1st to Finish
Rage — 1st Overall
PHRF A
Rage
Velocity
Wylie 70
J-42
PHRF C
EvermooreMoore 24
1st Fleet
2nd Fleet
1st Overall
2ndOverall
1st Fleet
3rd Overall
Sisk
Hopper/Schenk
Kelly
Schweiger
Heil
Oregon Offshore – Light winds, again
Last year the CYC Oregon Offshore race from Astoria,
Ore. to Victoria, B.C. had ideal conditions, averaging
15 to 20 knots of wind. Many boats set their personal
best times and Icon set the race record shaving four
hours off the previous best finish time.
Many skippers and crew were hoping for repeat conditions this year, but for the racers on the 13 boats, their
hopes were dashed fairly early into the race. The start
on Thursday, May 7, was in a light breeze of about
10 knots and the fleet worked against headwinds and
currents on their northbound course. Many of us landlubbers were following the race on the event’s blog,
and instead of reading about finishes, the posts were
announcing that one boat after another had withdrawn
from the competition (http://www.oregonoffshore.org/).
One entertaining post read “Hello, race enthusiasts!
It’s beautiful here at the finish line in Victoria, but our
racers are in a holding pattern off Cape Flattery without
wind. We need help creating the wind with prayers, rituals, superstitious deeds, and semi-scientific procedures
to help our racers. I’ve heard of such things as biting
the heads off mackerels, sailors dancing in their undies,
Rage crew, top row L to R: Jim Cullison, Alex Krawarik, Patrick
Doran, Justin Lamarche, Jeff Lamarche, Kerry Sherwin. Bottom row
L to R: Mike Pitarresi, Jacki McLaughlin, Paul Oliverio, Alex Reed,
Steve Rander, Denny Damore, Eric Rouzee
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 6
Open Moorage Update
A
By Gil MacGregor, Dick Dyer & Frank Bocarde
s you are all aware the Moorage redesign has
been moving forward and the next step of
the construction will be taking place June 12
through 15. This next stage requires removal of the old
ramps located near the clubhouse and then replacing
them with new, longer, aluminum ramps. This will
require a large crane, Pacific Power bucket truck and a
large flatbed truck with trailer for the job and they will
need a large section of the parking lot to maneuver.
The current plan is to remove the old ramps on Friday,
June 12. Remove and replace the marginal walk from
E row east to C row over the weekend and then install
the new ramps on Monday, June 15th.
What this means to you is there will be large sections of our parking lot that will not be available for
parking. Most of the parking located on the north
side of the lot (river side) will be unavailable. The
parking spaces along the Marine Drive side of the
fence at the west end need to be vacant and the center
section near the clubhouse needs to be open.
This can be a major inconvenience, but the large pieces
of equipment need a lot of room to maneuver and we
do not want to damage any vehicle in this process. Any
vehicle that is found to be parked in an area that
is identified as “no parking,” and if we do not have the
June 2015
vehicle keys, will be towed from the spot at the owner’s
expense. We will do our best to cone off, sign or otherwise mark the areas of no parking in advance.
Please keep this in mind as you prepare to travel out of
the area and leave your cars in the lot. Past practice is
to leave your vehicle keys with the office staff if you are
planning to leave your vehicle in the lot for an extended
period of time.
Clubhouse and Grounds rules of Portland Yacht Club,
Article II, Grounds, Section 3 Parking Rules requires
you to make arrangements with the club manager if you
plan on leaving your vehicle parked in the club parking
lot for longer than one week.
The Moorage Redesign Committee apologizes for the
inconvenience but hopes that it will only be for this one
weekend.
We will also be removing the existing fire standpipe
system on the dock and replacing it with a new underwater system. We estimate that work will take up to 10
days to complete and, so there will not be fire standpipe
coverage for part of the open moorage. The Portland Harbormaster has requested that we close
the fuel dock for fuel deliveries during this time. Please
make your plans for fuel accordingly, since fuel will not
be available from June 12 to approximately June 25.
We will do our best to expedite the process and limit the
inconvenience to the club.
Wednesday’s Golf, Men & Women
Contact Terry Johnson at: [email protected]
CRYA REPORT
Ken Kudrna
A
s reported in the May Portlight, Columbia River
Yachting Association representatives will not be
chasing you down to buy raffle tickets to support the organization. There is another way.
New in 2015 will be the first annual Golf Tournament.
We are hopeful that this approach will enable CRYA
to do more for boaters of the area. It would be great
if PYC could generate four or five golf teams for this
event, which will be September 12. For all details see
flyer on page 18. Contact Terry Johnson or Larry
Snyder to join a team.
May 2 was Opening Day and PYC placed in all cate-
gories which included two first places. Much planning
goes into scheduling this event and thank you to all who
took part. Complete parade results are reported on page
14 of this issue.
In news of the area, the derelict boat situation and
Switter Landing stand out. Eight derelict boats have
been taken off the river, but the problem is not totally
solved even though progress is being made.
Switter Landing is another story. The connecting
walkway between the inner and outer fingers will not
be repaired for the 2015 summer season as had been
previously reported. State Parks tells us that getting the
required permits and quotes will take longer than anticipated. It now looks like early spring of 2016.
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 7
June 2015
H istorian ’ s C orner
P
By Walter A. Witschard
YC was founded by motorboat racers who drove
gas powered boats.
In browsing the “Portlight” predecessor, “The
Motor Boat News,” February 1918 edition, there is an
article by Frank C. Barks entitled “The Carburetor.”
(Please be aware that Barks’ reference to women in this
article reflects his time and is not indicative of PYC in 2015.)
“Well take it from me, a carburetor is exactly like a
women – requires a lot of fixing and needs a lot of petting to keep them at their best. When a carburetor is
cold, nothing doing, when hot, same thing; when it gets
too much gas it won’t perform; when not enough same
thing; when you will, it won’t; when it will, you don’t
want it- all the same [for] women”.
In the March 1918 edition, we learn, “After one season’s use, the motor in your boat is usually ready for
a thorough overhauling” and “To get the best results
from your (gas) motor, the valves should be ground
three or four times during the season, especially if you
are burning distillate, which quickly gums the exhaust
valves.” And “Practically all of them have motors that
are built to turn from one thousand to fourteen hundred
RPM.”
Aren’t we lucky to have modern diesel and gas engines?
BAR & GALLEY NEWS!
LUNCH
Thursday, Friday & Saturday — 11-2 pm
HAPPY HOUR
Thursday, Friday & Saturday — 2-6 pm
DINNER
Friday & Saturday — 5-9 pm
No Bar or Galley Services
Thursday, June 11th through Monday, June 15th
due to ramp replacement
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 8
June 2015
Mystery Cruise – Spring 2015
OK, you know the saying, “what happens at the Outstation stays at the Outstation.”
In this case, it's the Stag Cruise, and the author wasn't even there so this is all second hand
(you will never hear everything anyway). Oysters, the special Friday night attraction, were
absent due to an unfortunate event. Saturday morning breakfast was delicious as always, but
peanut butter French Toast was absent from the menu. The lunch run to Rainier on Saturday
started out to be a blast, but surprise wind and waves blew it out of the water. Fortunately,
the Saturday steaks were fabulous, no doubt inspired by the historic blowup mounted in the
kitchen.
Bob Morgan and his five brothers played a lot of Texas Hold'em. No word on the outcome.
Four other guys spent most of their time playing bridge (no telling who won. No, really, we’re
not telling). A bunch of remote controlled sailboats raced and/or patrolled the marina. Most
of the other activity involved bottles and snacks.
The usual suspect started it all off with his conch shell, accompanied by air horns. The
weekend ended with Gilligan in the mud, requiring a tow by Mike House’s inflatable. Thanks,
big guy and the able seamen who manned the lines. To be fair, it was a low high tide, the boat
had one of the smallest draws, and the water was really, really shallow.
Next year, maybe one of the actual attenders can report in a few words, or not.
Respectfully submitted,
Anonymous
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 9
Stag Cruise June 2015
photos by Terry Johnson, Skip Nitchie & Stan Borys
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 10
Opening Day
June 2015
photos by Norene Kudrna & Penny Spaziani
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 11
Opening Day
June 2015
photos by Norene Kudrna & Nancy MacGregor
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 12
June 2015
Mother’s Day Brunch – May 10, 2015
By Mary Ann Nitchie
ortland Yacht Club was the perfect setting to
honor the mothers and grandmothers in our
midst. The day was mild and sunny, but not too
hot for hanging out on the patio. Staggered seating times
kept the crowds and noise to a friendly, comfortable,
level. Each party had a table reserved to accommodate
their number, from 2 to at least 10 or 12. Most were in
the dining room, but some large groups were seated at
the north end of the ballroom, and several small tables
occupied the stage. No lines at the bar, where some early
comers enjoyed libations served up by Brian.
P
photos by Skip & Mary Kay Nitchie
The ballroom was devoted to food laid out on four
enormous tables, with everything one could think of
and more, from custom omelets, ham, waffles, sausages,
bacon, shepherds’ pie with Joe’s special Canadian
bacon, bagels and lox, salad, several cakes, pies and
cookies, and fruits and sauces to complement each dish.
Champagne at the table kept company with bouquets of
fresh tulips.
Our family is already looking forward to sharing Mothers’
Day with our PYC friends next year. It ­definitely surpassed the dining experience in any public restaurant on
this popular holiday. Thank you once again to all of the
PYC management and their able ­helpers...a class act.
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 13
Cinco de Mayo Cookout
June 2015
photos by Norene Kudrna
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 14
June 2015
2015 Opening Day Parade Results
Clubs Under 60 Members PLACE
Multnomah Channel YC
1
Hayden Island YC
2
NOTS Boating Club
3
Multnomah Channel YC
1
NOTS Boating Club
2
Hayden Island YC
3
Multnomah Channel YC
1
NOTS Boating Club
2
Hayden Island YC
3
Multnomah Channel YC
1
Hayden Island YC
2
NOTS Boating Club
3
Multnomah Channel YC
1
NOTS Boating Club
2
Hayden Island YC
3
Multnomah Channel YC
1
NOTS Boating Club
2
Hayden Island YC
3
Category
2015 BEST
PARTICIPATION
2015 BEST
SEAMANSHIP
2015
APPEARANCE
2015 BEST
DECORATED
BOAT
2015 BEST
DECORATED
CLUB
2015 BEST
OVERALL
CLUB
Clubs Over 60 Members
PLACE
Tyee YC
1
Rose City YC
2
Portland YC
3
Tyee YC
1
Portland YC
2
Rose City YC
3
Portland YC
1
Tyee YC
1
Rose City YC
2
Portland YC
1
Tyee YC
2
Rose City YC
3
Tyee YC
1
Portland YC
2
Rose City YC
3
Tyee YC
1
Portland YC
2
Rose City YC
3
PYC
MAUNI ELLIOTT
RACE SERIES
SAVE THE
DATE
June 26th
Pig Roast
Wednesday evenings
June 3, 10, 17, 24
sailpdx.org
June 24– Spaghetti Dinner
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 15
June 2015
No Host—MiniCruises

Sign up with the Office: That way we’ll know how many are coming.

No charge, No agenda, Come as you are, Stay as long as you want!
June 5 (Friday) - June 7 (Sunday)
Martin Slough
A sheltered lagoon, about 26 miles
downriver.
Great Anchorage, well protected.
Bring an extension cord.
We usually raft up with about every
2nd or 3rd boat anchored, with a couple stern anchors.
Lots of fun, appetizers in tenders.
I N DE P E N DE N CE DAY CELEBRAT ION
Saturday, July 4th, 2015
EnJoy an “All American”-themed
cookout.
No Host—MiniCruises

Sign up with the Office: That way we’ll know how many are coming.
 No charge, Bar
No agenda,
Stay asBurgers
long as•you
SCHEDULE
Opens at Come
2 pm as you are,
MENU
Dogswant!
• Baked Beans
Dinner from 5-7 pm
June
5 (Friday) - June
7 (Sunday)
Games
for all
Martin
SloughFort Vancouver Fireworks at dusk
A sheltered lagoon, about 26 miles
downriver.
Watermelon • Portato Salad
Apple Pie & Ice Cream
$10 per person
Great Anchorage, well protected.
Bring an extension
cord.
Kids
Under 12 - Half
price | Kids 3 and Under - Free
We usually raft up with about every
2nd or 3rd boat anchored, with a couple stern anchors.
NOTE: No Saturday
Lunch on July 4th
Lots of fun, appetizers in tenders.
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 16
June 2015
Cruising with Kids – On the Way to Maine
By Michael Bradford
PYC members Mike and Amy Bradford left Sept. 10, to cruise aboard
S/V Pelagic, a 42-foot Hallberg Rassy, for two years, along with their
three children; Anakena age 4, Porter age 9 and Zander age 12. As
of the first week of April, the Bradley family had passed through the
Panama Canal. You can follow their journey with three young kids at
www.sv-pelagic.blogspot.com. This article is edited for brevity.
By the time you read this, we’ll be in Maine.
Hurricane season in the Caribbean starts in two weeks
and we are now cruising off the coast of Northern Cuba.
We have decided to head to Maine for the summer to
escape the storm season. As I write, we are riding the
Gulf Stream, and we can see the lights of Havana as we
head north to Florida.
Arriving back in the U.S. will be a shock. We’ve been
cruising for eight months, often in remote regions.
Returning to the fast pace of American culture will be
bittersweet. While I will welcome the availability of
parts at West Marin, our boys, ages 10 and 12, will no
longer be able to drive the dingy by themselves like they
have over the past eight months due to U.S laws.
As we sailed north in April, we stopped in Guanaja and
Roatan, Honduras which are the Bay Islands off the
coast of Honduras. We stocked up with provisions at
the local grocery, which had many brands from the U.S.
Meals at sea and at anchor are a highlight of our days.
As cruisers we receive an inordinate amount of joy when
we see familiar comfort food on the shelf.
From Roatan we sailed overnight on a rough downwind passage and entered Belize at the southern end
of the barrier reef. We spent two weeks cruising inside
the reef, stopping each night at a different cay. Many
were deserted and we were able to have bonfires, collect
chicken eggs from feral hens, open coconuts, and fish for
lobster and barracudas in the clear water. We often had
only 1-2’ of water under the keel but we learned to judge
the depth from the color of the water.
We then sailed to Cozumel, Mexico. On the way, I
noticed that the rudder felt loose, so we decided to haul
out to repair it and also sand and paint the bottom.
We arrived at a local boat yard at 8:00 a.m., the boat
was hauled at 9:00 and by 9:15 six workers were hand
sanding the bottom and three were tightening and
fiber-glassing the rudder. By 5:00 the same day there
were two coats of anti-fouling paint on the bottom and
“Pelagic” was ready to go back in the water. The boatyard labor bill was $450!
North of Cozumel the Gulf Stream gave us a 4-knot
boost and carried us the 50 miles to Isla Mujeres in
4.5 hours. We rented a car to tour the Yucatan; over a
period of five days we visited Mayan pyramids, rode a
horse and carriage in Colonial Merida, scuba dived in
jungle sinkholes and were stopped 3 times by Mexican
traffic police asking for contributions to their retirement
funds. Of the eight countries we have visited, Mexico
has been our favorite.
Bradford’s from the Yucatan: swimming in a 120 meter sink hole (left) and atop a Calakmul pyramid, overlooking the second pyramid (right)
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 17
Daughters of Neptune History
T
June 2015
Frank Nau was parade chairman and Harold Oakes
chaired the sailing races that followed the parade.
he Daughters of Neptune organization cele1955 was the only year the Daughters participated in
brated its 60th Anniversary in 2014. In its first
the Rose Festival Grand Floral Parade on a float built in
year, 1954 — PYC Vice-Commodore Julius
the likeness of the fabled raft the Kon-Tiki.
Finke was also the CRYA President ­­— four Daughters
of Neptune, including the PYC Daughter, Harriett Ran- During the last six decades many young women have
dall, and Father Neptune first greeted the Opening Day proudly represented the Portland Yacht Club. Their role
has evolved from serving as nautical-princesses to a role
parade fleet from aboard the US Coast Guard cutter
in educating boaters about water safety. In the last few
Bluebell. The first Father of Neptune was 85 year old
years the
Captain
Daughters
Jacob
of NepNielsen,
tune have
retired
become
skipper
ambassaof the
dors of safe
Columbia
boating,
River
with focus
Lightship.
on the
He played
use of life
the role
jackets.
well, cosNote:
tumed in a
The
Bluebell,
sea-green
launched
in
robe, wig,
1945, was
beard,
recently
crown and
honored with
trident. Two
a ceremony
on the 70th
other PYC
anniversary of
members
service at her
were instruberth at the
mental
USCG staduring that 2014 Daughters of Neptune aboard last year’s float for the Starlight Parade. Pictured l to r: Katie Green, HIYC; tion on Swan
first year.
Emma Bloomfield, GBYC; Elsa Douglas, RCYC; Rachael Washburn, NOTS Photo by Donna Kay Molenaar Island.
2015 Father Neptune, Jim Sinclair
2015 Daughters of Neptune, from left: Danielle Savala, RYC; Nicole
Philpott, TYC; Lauren Ellensohn, MCYC; Kali Drango, CRYC; Abbi
Photo by Donna Kay Molenaar Wong, PYC
Photo by Donna Kay Molenaar
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 18
June 2015
2015 FIRST ANNUAL CRYA GOLF TOURNAMENT
September 12, 2015
Come Join Us At WILDWOOD GOLF COURSE
Open to all CRYA members and guests
18 Hole Tournament
$340
Per Team
Entry includes:
Green Fees, Kart and
lunch at MCYC
Prizes for Men and Women in longest
drive & closest to the pin!
www.portlandyc.com
The Portlight page 19
JUNE
3,10,17,24 Wed.
Golf
3,10,17,24 Wed.
Mauni Elliott Race Series
4
Thur.
International Order of Blue Gavel
4, 18, 25
Thur.
Lunch & Happy Hour
5, 6, 7
Fri.-Sun. Martin Slough Cruise
5, 19
Fri.
Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner
6, 20, 27
Sat.
Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner
11
Thur.
Watercrafters
11-15
Thur.-Sun. No Bar or Galley Service
16
Tues.
CRYA All Club Meeting
18
Thur.
Bridge
18
Thur.
Board Meeting
19-21
Fri.-Sun. Oregon City Dock Mini-Cruise
24
Wed.
Spaghetti Dinner
25
Thur.
Watercrafters
26
Fri.
Pig Roast Cookout
June 2015
JULY
1,8,15,22,29 Wed. Golf
2,9,16,23,30 Thur. Lunch & Happy Hour
3, 10, 24
Fri.
Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner
11, 25
Sat.
Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner
3-5
Fri.-Sun. 4th of July Cruise/Outstation
4
Sat.
July 4th Cookout - (no lunch)
9 & 23
Thur. Watercrafters
11, 25
Sat.
Lunch, Happy Hour & Dinner
15
Wed. Board Meeting
17, 31
Fri.
Lunch, Happy Hour & Cookout
17-19
Fri.-Sun. Bald Eagle Days Cruise
18
Sat.
Lunch - (close @2, private event)
Marine Board Changes
“Slow No-Wake” Rule
T
he Oregon State Marine Board, with input from
its advisory board, law enforcement and citizen
comment, has changed Oregon Administrative
Rule (OAR) 250-010-0025 Basic Rule for Slow-No
Wake.
Effective May 1, 2015, the definition of “Slow-No
Wake” is the operating of a boat at the slowest speed
necessary to maintain steerage and that reduces or
­eliminates waves as white water behind the boat.
Please note the reference to a speed limit of 5 mph
has been removed.
250-010-0025 Basic Rule for “Slow-No Wake” (1) No person shall operate a boat on the waters of this
state in excess of a “slow-no wake” within 200 feet of
a boat launch ramp, marina with a capacity for six or
more moored vessels, floating home/boathouse moorage
with six or more contiguous structures, and locations
where persons are working at water level on floats, logs
or waterway construction.
PYC Clubhouse — June 13, 1933 flood
(2) Section (1) of this rule does not apply to commercial
vessels or vessels engaged in navigation on rivers where
a speed in excess of “slow-no wake” is needed to ensure
safe passage.
What the Oregon Sheriff’s Marine Patrol deputies will
be looking for is white water on the waves left by your
vessel in any “Slow-No Wake” zone. In the near future
all the “Slow-No Wake” navigation aids that have been
or will be placed by the Oregon State Marine Board
will be changed to reflect the removal of the 5 mph
­designation.
Sales • Installation • Service since 1970
Please consider us for your next boat equipment or electronics project
Visit our website for details on services • www.rodgersmarine.com
3445 N.E. Marine Drive, Portland, OR 97211
Phone 503-287-1101 • Fax 503-288-3745 • [email protected]
www.portlandyc.com
Portland Yacht Club
1241 NE Marine Drive
Portland, Oregon 97211 Advertise in the Portlight
Contact Gayle Timmerman at [email protected]
INTEGRITY & EXPERIENCE
Rocky Pointe
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503-543-2785
All Services – Boats 20' - 60'
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360-798-7062
Our Watercrafters learn from Cornie Stevens how to make paper boxes & envelopes Photo by Shari Sinclair