Catalina Fleet 21 - Chicago
Region
FleetSheet Newsletter
July 2001
TIE ONE
ON
The traditional and crucial art of knot tying is the
subject of the July General Meeting on Tuesday, July 17. Do you have a
particular knot you would like to learn? Can you tie a bowline with your
eyes closed? Do you know what knot is best for fastening a line around a
post? Sailor Olaf Schneider will teach you all you need to know about knots and
entertain you with his sea tales at the same time. If you know the basic knots,
you can move up to Knots 202 and learn a more complicated one. A
native of Bremen, Germany, Olaf has been a resident of the Chicagoland area for
35 years. He has raced on several boats including the America's Cup twelve
meter yacht Heritage. He holds a Ship's Machinist license and has crossed
the Atlantic over 25 times! Bring a 10' length of rope so you can
practice this important skill. In addition, Olaf will show you how to
protect the ends of your lines with whipping. If you have lines that are
fraying at the ends, bring them along for an instant fix. After the knot
tying, we'll try some land-based sailboat racing just for fun!
The meeting will be held at the Burnham Park Yacht Club located at 1500 S.
Linn White Drive. Follow the signs to Meigs Field. All are welcome
to arrive early and enjoy dinner at the club beginning at 6:30 p.m. If you
plan to have dinner, please call the Yacht Club at 312-427-4664 for
reservations. Tell them you are part of the Catalina group. The
program and business meeting will begin promptly at 8:00
p.m.
Parking in the gated lot next to the Yacht Club may be
available. Someone from the Fleet will be on hand to direct you to possible
parking spots. Alternatives to the gated lot are Meigs Field and the pay
lot.
A MESSAGE FROM THE
COMMODORE
As I settle down to write this message, it's July
2nd, the temperature is barely reaching 70° and the outlook for the rest of this
week is more of the same. However, the cool weather will not deter Fleet
members from attending the upcoming Michigan City outing, either by boat or by
land yacht, and then continuing north along the Michigan shore to Macatawa Bay
for LMCA's fun-filled weekend.
For those of you who have not ventured very far from your home ports, the trip to MacBay with other Fleet members is a good introduction to cruising. Entering an unfamiliar harbor knowing that there are Fleet members to direct you to your assigned slip and catch those lines is indeed comforting. New to the Fleet in 1995, Phil & I experienced our first night crossing from Chicago to South Haven in the company of a half dozen other boats. Knowing that there were friends all around, seeing the running and steaming lights twinkling and hearing the hourly radio check-ins made us feel comfortable. We have since made daytime solo crossings and appreciate the feeling that traveling together brings. Even when cruising solo, we look forward to catching up with Fleet members in harbors around the lake. I encourage you to look into "buddy-boating" to outings which will take place in the Chicago area this summer. Call your harbor captain if you need help finding a cruising partner. With those miles under your belt, you may consider joining longer cruises in the future.
Our July 17th General Meeting features a presentation on knot tying followed (or maybe preceded) by a "sailboat race." Since I don't know the details of the "race," we'll all be equal at the start. Look for details in this newsletter. Hope to see you there.
Commodore
Jan Byrd
MEMBERSHIP
The new
directories have been distributed. Please check your entry to make certain
the information is correct. If changes are needed, please contact Pat
Shereyk or Karen Walsh.
* Dan Harrington's email has changed to
SailDan@localline.com
MEET THE MEMBERS:
Northern
Crown/ Deborah and Brian Ruxton
We have been members of Fleet 21 since 1999,
the same year we got married. We joined Fleet 21 after Ted Kuenzli slipped a
membership brochure in our first boat, Vamanos, a Catalina 250. Brian was
partners with Dennis and Nancy Martin. Deborah's luck in the market and
the desire to keep 13 year old Ashley and 10 year old Whitley interested and
involved in sailing led to the purchase of a 1992 Catalina 30 named
Gunkholer. We were quite uncertain as to what a Gunkholer would look like,
but made the decision to venture to Cedar Springs to take a look. The boat
was beautiful and very well taken care of. It was everything the girls
would love. There was only one stipulation in the purchase of the
boat. The previous owners would not sell us the boat unless we changed the
name! This was not a sticking point in the negotiation!
The negotiations only started in the naming of the boat. Brian was in the mind frame of calling it something to do with work and thought Branch Office would be appropriate for doing his legal work dockside. That being the case, Deborah thought it only fair to call it after her job and thought Sea Enema would give her patients in the Trauma unit something to smile about. When all was said and done we decided on a strong name Corona Borealis or more simply put Northern Crown. A guiding light, Northern Crown has guided the way of many wayward sailors, for it's the brightest star in its constellation in the northern hemisphere.
Brian still owns Vamanos but has no regrets in his wife's decision to move up. The girls love sailing and all the sleepovers and pizza parties with their friends. Last year was a learning curve with a diesel engine, yet we learned well in the process. With college on the horizon, Northern Crown will be seen sailing the Chicago waterfront for many years to come-unless the stock market happens to double!
Send the story of your boat name to the Newsletter Editor, 306 Linden, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 or email to deare@megsinet.net . I'll publish this feature as space allows.
OUTINGS
It's not too late
to hook up with the Michigan Shores Cruise. Come on over! You're
sure to find some Fleet members in those beautiful Michigan harbors. Look
for a flyer in this newsletter for the Hammond Dine Around Boats Tour on August
11.
OUTINGS RECAP
Hammond
Chili Outing/June 9
By Branson Stone
The Chili Outing was attended
by 60 people (55 adults/5 children). We cooked over 9 gallons of chili and
sold 105 margaritas (that chili was pretty spicy!) A special thanks to Ted
for whisking up all those drinks.
Ice Cream Social/June 30
By Jack Bretall
Burnham
Harbor June 30, 2001 1500 hours
Winds: W to SW 10 to 15
knots
Seas: 1 to 2 feet
Temp: Hot! Hot! Hot!
Perfect recipe for an ice
cream social.
Wind Dancer, Sea Horse, Karizmaddie, and Finesse all rafted up next to the ice cream stand. With them came a boatload of members: Ultimate 19th Hole, Bleed'n Green, Happenstance. Also there were boats from Burnham Harbor represented: Cashflow, Team Effort, Ventura, Zarasota, Shibumi-Maru, Carpe Diem, and Lupi. Sail-La-Vie drove over from Michigan City. Moore Fun arrived too late for the ice cream due to their long trip down the river. A special thanks to the crew from Audrey Too and Sailutations for their super scooping help. Also thanks to Liz for being our cashier.
P.S. We spent many hours taking out all the calories before the ice cream social!
Michigan City Overnight/July 7-8
Lupi and Railin arrived in Michigan City
on Friday afternoon and were welcomed by host Pat McDermott of Sail La Vie and
Doreen Collins of R Joy. A great sail on R Joy was followed by
appetizers with Sweet Talk and C'Scape and then dinner. Saturday morning
we decided to enter a boat in the Cardboard Boat Regatta scheduled for 3 p.m.
that afternoon. Dave DeAre, Ernie Miller, and Pat McDermott drew up the
plans and started building. Doreen Collins, Carolyn DeAre, and Barbara
Miller scouted for supplies, made a "sail" and painted. And it floated!
Our entry (made in 2 hours) survived two runs down the course paddled by
Stephanie McDermott and her friend Peter. Several more Fleet members
arrived one way or another before, during, or after the race for a great rib
dinner that evening: Team Effort, Happenstance with crew from Sea Horse,
Stand By, Wind Dancer, Ultimate 19th Hole, and Dalliance. We're
already making plans for next year's entry in the Cardboard Boat
Regatta!
Plan to join us for a great time.
RIGGING &
EQUIPMENT
Hello again from Dr. Nautical
I have had the
privilege to test a new docking system. It's called Pro Dock. This
system makes it possible to single hand the boat in and out of the dock.
There isn't a need for jumping off the boat and trying to stop it from crashing
into the dock. There is not a need for someone to hold the boat and then
jump on as you pull out.
The engine is started, the lines are untied, and the boat just sits
there. The unit I have will handle up to a 30 foot boat. Wholesale
price installed is $1800. If you would be interested in a demo, call me at
708-974-4932 or cell phone 708-205-4169. Or call Neil Ryan at
1-800-266-7023 or
www.prodock.com
.
Know Your Boat's
Equipment
*Figurehead: Decorative dummy found on
sailboats.
Till next time,
Jack Bretall
Dr.
Nautical
I make boat calls
P.S. If I don't know the answer, I will
make one up.
BUY/TRADE/SELL
FOR SALE: 2 Lewmar 58 winches. Brand new in
1999. Used one season. $900 each.
2 Lewmar 40 winches. Also
like new. $400 each. Call Don Arenberg at 847-564-1304 or cell phone
847-226-7111.
FOR SALE: Great dinghy! "Undeflateable" is brand name for this solid, stable 10' dinghy. Has depth finder, compass, lights. 3 years old. $3600 new. Asking $1200. Call Don Arenberg at 847-564-1304 or cell phone 847-226-7111.
FOR SALE:The world's most versatile sailboat-a 1974 Catalina 22! 3 sails: main, 110 jib, 150 genoa; VHF marine radio; Air Guide model 70 compass; newer cockpit cushions; knotmeter. Adventure dinghy; trailer; 1997 15 hp Mercury easy-electric start motor. Ready to sail. Forget the wait at the crane--launches easily from a boat ramp! Star dock mooring at Montrose harbor and economical winter storage also available. Asking $6800. Call Dave Nordin at (630) 871-4195 (home) or (630) 420-2900 (work).
Fleet members may list items they want to sell, trade, or buy in this
column without any charge.
Items listed run for three months, unless
you
notify me that you want the ad to continue.
Send listings to Fleet
Sheet Editor, 306 Linden Street, Glen Ellyn, Il 60137
Fax
630-668-8950
email : deare @megsinet. net.
Phone:
630-469-6117
Listings must be received by the 1st of the month.
August General Meeting August 21
Will feature a lecture and
video on the
B-15 Iceberg that broke off of Antarctica.
A change of pace
from the usual program.
Mark your calendar.
IN THE GALLEY
Orzo Pasta
Salad (served at a Fleet Board Meeting)
Servings: 20 - 24
Prep time: about
30 minutes, plus chilling time
Cooking time: about 10 minutes
4 lbs orzo pasta
1 cup olive oil
1 cup minced oil-packed sun-dried
tomatoes
2 large red onions, minced
4 large garlic cloves, minced
4
pints yellow cherry tomatoes
or 8 tomatoes, diced
4 small cucumbers,
peeled and chopped
11/3 cups coarsely chopped fresh dill or dried dill to
taste
½ cup white wine vinegar
2 lbs crumbled feta cheese
salt to
taste
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Cook pasta as package directs until al dente. Drain and transfer to large bowl. Add oil, sun-dried tomatoes, onion and garlic, and stir well. When pasta is cool, add cherry tomatoes, cucumber, dill and vinegar. Add feta, salt and pepper and stir gently. Serve chilled.
Send recipes for this column to the newsletter editor.