Catalina Rendezvous at Roche Harbor

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LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
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Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533
Catalina Rendezvous at Roche Harbor

The wife and I had a great time at the Rendezvous this past weekend.  There were about 30 boats, fairly even split between USA and Canada, ranging from 22 at the small end to a 470 at the larger end -- lots of 34's and 42's.   I had the honors for the oldest Catalina there (1983) there were two 36's there - and early Mk1 (me) and a early MK2.

Great presentations on Border Crossing and Safety Inspections.

The trip up from Everett was a bit stressful and eventful - I traveled up with a friend who owns a Cal 35 - It was dense fog, with occasional bright spots.  We were going ~5.5 to 6 knt in 50yd fog when four light appear in the fog ahead - within seconds (I estimate 30+kts) a fishing boat is headed directly for the Cal 35 mast, A hard turn to Port (I'm off his port quarter) he looks like he'll clear - then the guy wakes up and turns into the 35 for a second before he alters course to port - and collides with the last 5 feet of his stbd quarter.  Everyone stops - exchange info and assess damage - damage to deck to hull joint, broken rub rail, torn away stern molding, bent pushpit.   He was relatively un hurt, bruised arm and sore back.   My wife said she has never seen me look so scared. -  I'm surprised I didn't need new pants.  After 45-60 minutes he elects to continue on -- This puts us behind on the current so thing are slower - finally broke out of fog an hour or two later (~6hrs in fog).  When off of Smith Island - his engine dies - Racor is plugged, I offer to tow but he gets it changed in 10 minutes and we are off again.  Less than 2 minutes later he is again dead.  Looks at it for a bit and decides to take a tow - but request my Wife steer his boat so he can work on the engine.  Transfer Trish to his boat then pass him a 100' tow line.   We make ~4.5-5.0 knts under tow --- I get a bit of gray smoke from the added drag.  About an hour later he resolves his fuel situation,   Trish wants to come back to my boat - but I tell her no - due to safety reasons.   We make Roche just as the rain starts to fall -- I miss when throwing spring/stern line and end up crossways in slip - back out and do it again....  We dock - but need to verify we are in correct spot (we are not)  - we relocate and this time I nail the docking - and of course I have tons of hands to gather in the lines.   ~14 hrs up and 10 hrs on the return trip (solo).

I finally go my new A2 hoisted and out of the sock - (at the dock) - I can't wait to fly it for real. very colorful.

Les

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

LCBrandt's picture
LCBrandt
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Posts: 1282

Let me know when there's another rendezvous and maybe I can be a guest speaker. I teach radar...and clearly in the conditions you describe it is very much needed. But what else is needed is to *know how to use it.*

95% of recreational radar-equipped boats are operated by people who are unable to properly use their radar. 

Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
 

LeslieTroyer's picture
LeslieTroyer
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Joined: 3/13/16
Posts: 533

I will pass along your offer.  

He had a poor cross section (no flat sides in our direction).  I knew there was a boat out there as it finally resolved a few seconds before coming out of the fog. Lots of clutter prior. But additional schooling never hurts.  I was taught to keep eyes scanning and not to spend too much time in the hood. 

Les

Les & Trish Troyer
Mahalo 
Everett, WA
1983 C-36 Hull #0094
C-36 MK 1 Technical Editor. 

Commodore

 

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