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PROMOTING PERSONAL FREEDOM THROUGH POSITIVE SELF EMPOWERMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING EASY AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO THE WORLD OF SAILING
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Clipper Chip "Racer" — Charles Parsons, 1854
Current location: The Met —In May 1856, two years after this print was published, as the clipper ship "Racer" was sailing from Liverpool, England, bound for New York, it sank off the east coast of Ireland; fortunately, all five hundred passengers and crew members were rescued.
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If the oceans of this big blue marble don't make you humble, sailing may not be for you...
Humility is not often the first trait that people associate with sailing. From the outside, sailing can carry a reputation of prestige, independence or even arrogance. It can appear to be an activity that places individuals above others, emphasizing personal skill and accomplishment over surrendering and teamwork. However, true sailing fosters adaptability, comradery and so much more. It teaches sailors to relinquish complete control, placing trust in their crew, the wind and the ever-changing conditions of the water.
On the water, a sailor is never truly alone. Even in the rare instance that a sailor finds themselves without a crew, they are still working together with the wind to navigate through the water. Sailing requires a relationship with forces beyond oneself, demanding patience, respect and trust. The wind cannot be controlled, but rather understood and used as a tool, guiding sailors forward.
Stepping aboard a sailboat provides an opportunity to step away from the routines of a 9-to-5, landlocked life and surrendering a part of yourself to both the nature and people around you. On the water, progress is made through learning how to work alongside a crew and adapt to the elements. A sailor cannot be solely in charge of a boat, just as a skipper cannot exercise complete control over a crew. Effective sailing depends on balance, communication and the mutual trust that each member of the crew plays a vital role in moving the boat forward. Through this shared experience, sailing becomes a practice in humility; teaching sailors to become more other-centered, recognize their dependence on others and appreciate the strength that comes from working together.
One cannot navigate through life alone. Humility allows us to recognize our need for others and our place within something greater than ourselves. In many ways, the lessons learned on a boat mirror the lessons needed on land: trust, cooperation and an understanding that strength is found in community over independence.
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Now that June has rolled around and the summer sailing season is approaching, Island Sailing events are starting to pick up and sail towards new horizons!
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Below are some events that are happening at ISC this June: - Mondays in June - ISC club races for community members and prospective sailors who want to get practice on the boats. Evenings from 5:00 p.m. until sunset. First race is at 6:00 p.m.
- Thursdays in June - SYSCO series competitive racing for sailors who have more experience. Evenings from 5:00 p.m. until sunset. First race is at 6: 00 p.m.
- June 3rd, Wednesday - Community Sail. From 5:30 p.m. until 8:40 p.m.
- June 5th, Friday to June 7th, Sunday - 40th Annual Columbia River Ladies Cruise. Boats depart Friday afternoon.
- June 9th, Tuesday to June 19th, Friday - Flotilla through the San Juan Islands and Canada’s Gulf Islands.
- June 20th, Saturday - ISC is hosting the Sears Cup Qualifiers for the U.S. Sailing Youth Triplehanded Championships.
- June 27th, Saturday - Day Sail to Vancouver Landing. From 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Click here to sign up!
- July 4th, Saturday - While the ISC isn't hosting any specific 4th of July celebrations, be cautious of an increase in river traffic due to holiday festivities.
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Check out the full list of upcoming races on Team Cowboy. You can also learn more about racing at ISC below:
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Some June Upgrades for the Fleet! |
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This month, the crew at ISC is continuing to maintain our fleet of fabulous vessels, assuring that they're at peak racing and adventuring conditions for the summer season. Last month, the ISC was fortunate and secured a Newport 30. Since her arrival, the Newport has been going through renovations and getting a much needed cleaning. We are hopeful to get her up and sailing with the rest of our fleet in the next couple months.
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As the summer season rounds the corner, we're going to see a change in some environmental patterns that we're used to, including changes in the wind, river currents and water levels.
Pay attention to changing wind directions, as well as strong gusts. These changes could make it more dificult to dock, so prepare to adjust for wind. Similarly, because of stronger water currents, it might cause sailors to lose ground more easily when anchoring, so member to keep your speed and hold your ground.
Lastly, with the shifting water levels of the Columbia, it's important to keep an eye out for shallow areas in the river, where shoals and sand bars could cause you to run aground. Keep in mind about sand bars in our marina, specifically, and remember to stay at least a boat length away from the shore. Pro tip: polarized glasses can make it easier to see shallow areas in the water!
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How a women's team formed organically at ISC |
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When Lauren Varney took her ASA 101 class at ISC in 2022, she had never sailed before. After completing the course, she joined the club and began racing in the community races held on Monday and Thursday nights.
Over the next year, Varney gained experience on the water as club members began forming dedicated racing teams. Around that time, she and ISC Sailing Commodore Jonathan Stehn came up with a great idea.
There should be a dedicated women's racing team.
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For Lauren and Jonathan, the idea was about creating a comfortable environment for women who were new to sailing and wanted to work on their skills with less pressure.
"There's always a boat for women to come down to if they're new," Lauren said. "They can just join a women's boat and not have to deal with men."
The team also offered an opportunity for female sailors to get to know one another and build a stronger sense of community within the club.
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When the team was first formed, five women regularly participated in the community races, but none had ever skippered. Lauren took on the challenge of learning to skipper, working closely with Jonathan as she developed the skills needed to steer the boat. Jonathan often coached the team from the pit, helping crew members learn their roles and prepare for races.
"We feel like our team is kind of like the women plus John," Lauren said.
The team began racing together last fall during the first Thursday night series of the season. Much of that time was spent learning how to work together as a crew and becoming more comfortable with changing wind conditions. As the season progressed, the team's results began to improve. They crept up spots in races and started placing among some of the top J/24 teams in local mixed races.
The women continued practicing through the winter and, in early spring, even won the Frostbite Regatta. While racing is a major part of the team focus, the group has also become an important social community. From Bachelorette flotilla trips to dinner parties and post-race gatherings, the team has provided opportunities for female sailors to connect both on and off the water.
What started as an effort to create more opportunities for women in racing has developed into a competitive team and a growing community within ISC.
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![<div class=]() Oops! Error found. We're sorry, but this looks like an error from our side. Please refresh your browser and try again in sometime. If the problem still persists, contact us at support@zohocampaigns.com. Do mention the error code as 1013 in your email. It will help us to solve this problem faster. |
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In downtown Portland, on Southwest Main Street between Southwest 3rd and 4th Avenues, stands a bronze elk facing east toward Mt. Hood. Known as the Thompson Elk Fountain, the six-foot statue was designed by architect H. G. Wright in 1900 and donated to the city by former Portland mayor David P. Thompson in honor of the Oregon Humane Society. In a post on his Portland Architecture blog, local writer Brian Libby suggests that the symbolism of the statue anchors Portland with humility and appreciation, “our humility, before the natural world. The bronze elk statue in the middle of Oregon's biggest city is a kind of reminder, just like seeing Mt. Hood, that living here we are closer to the forests and beaches than most urban denizens. For a lot of us, it's a big part of why we live here.”
The fountain represents more than just Oregon’s proximity to wilderness. For over 120 years, the Thompson Elk has also stood at the center of Portland’s civic life. Its location has served as a gathering place for more than thirty protests, rallies, demonstrations and public speeches, making it one of the city’s most enduring landmarks for civic expression.
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In 1916, a supporter of feminist and birth-control advocate Margaret Sanger was arrested near the fountain for distributing pro-birth control pamphlets. In 193, over 2,500 communists gathered there to protest recent deportations. African American community members rallied at the site in 1975 following the Portland Police Bureau’s shooting of a 17-year-old Black youth, and county workers demonstrated there in 1980 in support of better wages. More recently, Portlanders gathered around the fountain in 2020 to protest the murder of George Floyd. During those demonstrations, the fountain was damaged by fire, prompting the elk’s temporary removal for restoration before its eventual return to the city.
The elk’s legacy reflects many of the values associated with Mayor David P. Thompson himself. Thompson served in the Union Army during the Civil War and was a committed abolitionist. He opposed Chinese exclusion policies and supported expanding civil rights. He also co-founded the Portland Public Library, served as the founding president of the Oregon Humane Society, and contributed substantially to the construction of Woman’s Memorial Hall (now Gerlinger Hall) at the University of Oregon.
For sailors, the Thompson Elk Fountain offers a reminder that our relationship with a place extends beyond the water. Like a mariner taking bearings from landmarks along a shoreline, Portlanders have long used this elk as a point of orientation. It stands at the intersection of nature, history, and public life, reminding us that the landscapes we travel through and depend upon are larger than ourselves. |
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This same ethic can be seen in the work of the Columbia Riverkeepers and other advocates who seek to protect the waterways that define the Pacific Northwest. Their efforts are rooted in respect for the water and an acknowledgment that the Columbia is both a working waterway and a living ecosystem deserving of care. Sailors understand this perspective well. Wind, current, weather, and tide constantly remind us that nature cannot be controlled and only understood and respected. Whether navigating a river, crossing a bay, or gathering in a city square, there is value in approaching our surroundings with gratitude and humility, recognizing that we are temporary stewards of places shaped by countless generations before us.
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The Most Popular Boat this Month! This month we're having some lovely sailing conditions! The summer pattern is beginning to settle in and the warm weather was taking hold for a while. This last month, these were the top 6 reserved boats in the fleet - excluding class boats! 1. 41 2. 44 3. 18 4. Burgundy 5. Lacothea 6. Newport 28 We had a total of 189 reservations this past month - pretty amazing!
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Looking for fellow members to go out sailing? Our forum is a great way to find them! Check it out to join the online community!
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As the horizon draws near... |
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As we reflect on the lessons sailing offers, one theme stands out: the water has a way of teaching us what truly matters. Whether we are learning humility through our dependence on the wind and one another, or discovering new strengths through challenge and adventure, sailing reminds us that growth doesn't in isolation. Every voyage is shaped though of preparation, teamwork, adaptability and respect for forces greater than ourselves.
As another season unfolds, may we carry these lessons beyond our little marina at the foot of the mighty Columbia. May we approach each day with curiosity, gratitude, and a willingness to learn from those around us. And may the friendships, experiences, and perspectives gained on the water continue to guide us long after the sails are lowered.
Fair winds and following seas until we meet again. — Stephen
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Explore More - Learn More - Sail More And See Our Weather Links and - Check Out Our Youtube Channel! (Links on the bottom of our website) |
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