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Activities

While COVID continues to temper how we enjoy activities associated with the Club, we do have a variety of activities for everyone to enjoy. For all Club activities, until further notice, we suggest following the CDC, state, and county guidelines: stay six feet apart, no sharing of food, wear a mask, respect each other’s space on the docks, in the Clubhouse, and in the parking lot. As Multnomah County changes risk categories, current specific restrictions will be posted in the Clubhouse.


Cruising

2023 Destinations

If you are planning to join us on Lazy day, it is best to let our Cruising Chairs know your plans in order to secure a spot on the docks together with our group during our time in Cathlamet.
Survey for Lazy Days Plans

In general it’s best to please keep dogs on a leash while cruising with groups.

  • March 17-26—Bartlett Landing (Govt. Island East Dock) 
  • April 14-16—LAND Yacht Cruise to Memaloose
  • April 21-23—Schwitter Landing (Govt. Island)
  • May 26-29—Memorial Weekend Cruise (Coon Island)
  • June 16-18—Bartlett Landing
  • June 22—Coon Island
  • June 23—Martin Slough
  • June 24—JJ Collins/Coon Island
  • July 22—Martin Slough
  • July 23—Walker Island
  • July 24—Westport, Oregon
  • July 25-26—Astoria West Basin
  • July 27—Cathlamet
  • July 28—Walker Island
  • July 29—Martin Slough
  • August 11-13—Pirates’ Cruise—(Schwitter-Govt. Island)
  • September 1-3—Labor Day Weekend Cruise to Beacon Rock
  • September 15-16—Fall Cruise to Schwitter Landing (Govt. Island)
  • October 6-8—Foliage Cruise to Bartlett Landing (Govt. Island East Dock)

Racing

RCYC kicks off the racing season with this traditional one-day regatta held in March. Races are held on the river in front of the club, and generally consist of 4-5 short races around marks set by the club race committee, followed by a BBQ social event at the clubhouse. This regatta is often challenging due to the early spring conditions, which means strong current and unsettled winds, and the presence of many fishing boats.

This challenging race starts right at the RCYC breakwater, and heads upriver against the still-strong May current, past several islands, under the I-205 bridge, to round a special mark near Lady Island at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge, then back to the finish line at the breakwater, for a total distance of approximately 15 miles. Often the winner is the boat that most ably uses current relief found behind several wing dams and islands. In many years, the conditions make it difficult for some or all competitors to finish before time expires, but win, lose, or finish, everyone seems to have a grand time, and to enjoy the post-race BBQ at the club house.

This challenging race starts right at the RCYC breakwater, and heads upriver against the still-strong May current, past several islands, under the I-205 bridge, to round a special mark near Lady Island at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge, then back to the finish line at the breakwater, for a total distance of approximately 15 miles. Often the winner is the boat that most ably uses current relief found behind several wing dams and islands. In many years, the conditions make it difficult for some or all competitors to finish before time expires, but win, lose, or finish, everyone seems to have a grand time, and to enjoy the post-race BBQ at the club house.

This two-day race in early September is considered the ne plus ultra of long distance racing on the river. Starting just past the confluence of the Willamette River with the Columbia, the racers beat downriver against the prevailing northwesterlies approximately 15 miles to round the northern tip of Sand Island, near the City of St. Helens, to finish with a brief but usually thrilling spinnaker run at the Sand Island docks. Hundreds of sailors convene on the docks for a post-race party, and most spend the night either camping on the island or snug in their berths. The next morning the racers arise (some the worse for the night’s festivities, alas), and the next leg starts, racing downriver to round the northern tip of Sand Island, and the beginning of what is often a 15-mile spinnaker duel back upriver. A classic event, the Long Distance is a fitting culmination to the summer racing season.

The RCYC racing program is only one part of the larger Portland-area racing community, which offers year-round races and events. Here is a brief overview of the larger racing community.

A number of clubs organize races on the river. Their efforts are coordinated by an umbrella organization, the Oregon Corinthian Sailing Association (OCSA), which hosts the main website, sailpdx.org. OCSA also publishes the racebook and local racing rules, provides a protest resolution process, offers training events and lectures, and hosts the big year-end awards party, the Tropical Party, in November. All boats that race in the scored events listed in the OCSA Racebook must be members of OCSA. Membership is very cheap (currently $20). Individual clubs also charge fees, either to enter individual races or regattas, or for membership (which usually entails free entry into races).

RCYC is one of at least five clubs that run local races, each of which specializes in particular types of races or events.

  • The Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO) runs three race series from April to August, focusing on short-course buoy racing during the week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings. Membership in SYSCO is inexpensive (currently $120 per year) and gains members free entry into dozens of races. Best bang for the buck.
  • The Portland Yacht Club (PYC) offers several weekend regattas, including Opening Day and two fall regattas.
  • The Corinthian Yacht Club of Oregon (CYC) organizes the Oregon Offshore race, from Astoria to Victoria, BC, and specializes in offshore races. CYC also hosts the Sail on Sundays (SOS) series, which runs from October to March, and offers casual races on Sunday afternoons starting right outside the RCYC breakwater. SOS has no entry fees, and is a great way to keep away the winter blues or gain racing and boat handling skills without committing to a formal race.
  • The Willamette Sailing Club (WSC) offers dinghy racing on the Willamette River for youth and adult sailors, but also sometimes operates dinghy and keelboat races on the Columbia.
  • The clubs rotate hosting beer cans on some Saturdays and Sundays during most weekends of the summer. A great way to get some experience racing in a casual environment without all the stress and fuss. Free to all. Please check Event Notices – Sail Portland.

Events

Until further notice, all Board and General Meetings are being held via Zoom. Social activities noted on the calendar are placeholders, so people can tentatively make plans. However, County and State guidelines will dictate when we can safely hold such gatherings. Emails will provide further information as the year progresses.

Onsite

  • Board/General Meetings
  • Coffeehouse Jams
  • Holiday Gatherings
  • Knauti Knitters
  • May: Opening Day Parade
  • July 4th: Land Cruise
  • Ladies Dinner
  • Private events
  • Walk BBQs

Offsite

  • February: Commodore’s Ball
  • Ladies dinners at other clubs
  • Fundraising events
  • Christmas Ships

Work Parties

A minimum of 16 hours is required of each Active Membership annually, with 8 hours minimum required before June 10th. The calendar year for work hours ends on December 10th.

Active Memberships are those who are boat owners and who are eligible for moorage, whether their boat is in the moorage or not.

Work Parties will return to traditional format this year. Work Party invitations will be sent out before each scheduled Work Party. Please RSVP to help in planning. All Work Parties will be on Saturdays and will begin at 9:00 unless otherwise noted. Lunch will be provided.

Assignments will be given out by the Work Party Leader at the Club House the morning of the Work Party. Please observe all Covid restrictions in effect at the time of the Work Party.

There may be some opportunities outside of work parties, like special projects or emergencies but please do not depend on those.

We plan on 4 spring work parties – 3/4, 3/25, 4/15, 4/29 and 4 fall parties – 9/16, 9/30, 10/14 and 11/4. Sign up to assist, lead or organize lunches for a work party.

Learn about the maintenance tasks performed by members:
Annual Schedule of Tests, Inspections, and Maintenance (PDF)

Questions? Email RCYC work party Program Lead, John Osborne.


Dredging

Each year RCYC dredges the moorage. In the last year, however no dredging occurred in response to the COVID virus. Therefore, as many members have noticed, the moorage has silted in. The dredging effort generally commences the first week of November and continues until completion, which takes about 6 weeks depending the progress made. The moorage is surveyed and the depths to be dredged are determined. A final survey is undertaken the second week of October.

Click here to read more about dredging at RCYC

Rose City puts together a team of dedicated and hardy individuals for about six weeks each year to keep our club from silting in and becoming a beach club.