October 2026 Newsletter

October 2026  Newsletter  PROMOTING PERSONAL FREEDOM THROUGH POSITIVE SELF EMPOWERMENT FOR OUR COMMUNITY  BY PROVIDING EASY AFFORDABLE ACCESS  TO THE WORLD OF SAILING  Opening Remarks "Flying Dutchman" —Albert Pinkham Ryder, 1887 Current location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly. Oil on canvas mounted on fiberboard. You may have heard of the Flying Dutchman from the Pirates of the Caribean movie or other various movie or book storylines, but it's actually a real story, alledgedly. Known as a legendary ghost ship, the Flying Dutchman is doomed to sail the seas forever, never to dock or port. Here's how the story goes: The legend of the Flying Dutchman begins in the seventeenth century, during the height of Dutch maritime power. A fearless captain, known for his skill and pride, sailed his ship toward a dangerous cape when a violent storm suddenly appeared. Black clouds covered the sky, waves towered over the ship, and the wind tore at the sails. The terrified crew begged the captain to turn back, but he refused. Determined to complete his voyage, he swore that neither the storm nor God Himself could stop him. Some versions say he even vowed to sail until Judgment Day. His defiance brought a terrible curse. The captain and his crew were condemned to sail the seas forever, never reaching land or finding peace. From that moment, the ship became the ghostly Flying Dutchman. For centuries, sailors claimed to see the phantom ship emerging from mist and storms. Its sails glowed strangely, and its pale crew wandered silently across the deck. Seeing the ship was believed to be a terrible omen, often followed by storms, wrecks, illness, or death. Howevr, present day scientists say that sightings are caused by an optical illusion, a mirage of light bending, reflecting the boat across the water in a distance. The last widely cited major sighting of the Flying Dutchman was reported in 1939 by a group of over 60 people at Glen Cairn Beach in South Africa, where the phantom ship appeared silently before fading away. Other notable sightings include King George V of England in 1881 and the first document if the Dutchman in 1790, which was documented in the travel monologue of sailor John Macdonald. Important Information We've added 3 new boats to our fleet! Say hello to our Newport 30 This Newport arrived to us in the late spring from an old member. She wasn't in the best condition when she arrived, but by replacing the stuffing box and thru-holes, getting a brand new transmission, and with a whole lot of TLC and detailed cleaning, she's looking and running as good as new. Boat Specifications: Year Built: 1981 Name: Joanne II Hull Type: Fin w/spade rudder Steering: Diesel inboard  Interior: The Newport's interior is in a perfect and clean condition, with comfortable cushions and a lot of natural sunlight. Inside includes a spacious V-birth and seating area, a sink, head, and even a built in heater.  Welcome to our Catalina 25 Inspired by The Rolling Stones' 15th album, which was released in the 1980's, Emotional Rescue came to us from an old friend of the club. The previous owners said that when they bought the boat, there was a blown-up picture of lead singer Mick Jagger's face on side. If only it was still there! Boat Specifics: Year Built: 1981 Name: Emotional Rescue Hull Type: Fin w/transom hung rudder Steering: Outboard Interior: This interior is in great condition and has been upkept extremely well over the years. It includes a spacious V-birth, sink, stove, seating, and a small head. The boat itself has received several upgrades, making it in mint condition! Upcoming Classes with links for Availability  We have a few more spots for a 103 class in mid October, but besides that, sailing school is closed for the winter. Stay tuned for the spring season when our classes start back up again. Register Here Our Community Events   Cruising Group  Join the Community Cruising Group Overnight Sail - St. Helens (HalloweenTown) - October 10th-11th Sign Up  October 10th, Saturday. Arrive at docks at 7:00 a.m.   - Estimated return by 5:00 p.m. on the 11th. Day Sail - Vancouver Landing - October 17th Sign Up  October 17th, Saturday. Arrive at docks at 9:00 a.m.   - Estimated return by 5:00 p.m. Team Cowboy Performance Races   PYC- Winter sailing on Sundays Every Sunday - starting at 2:00 p.m. On the Columbia River - between the Bridges - If you're interested in hearing more about our racing program, feel free to check out our website or call the club! The Most Popular Boat this Month! It's officially fall! This month these were the top 5 reserved boats in the fleet - excluding class boats! Newport 28 (Volier) 41 Rhythm Aurora Stampy We had a total of 253 reservations this past month  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! Join the Online Member Forum! As the horizon draws near... The mornings are getting foggier, the boats are covered in dew, the air has a crispness to it, and the leaves are beginning to turn shades of red and yellow. It’s officially fall.  Luckily, the sailing season doesn’t have to end with summer. Our boats are here year-round, giving you the chance to experience the Columbia with each changins season. So grab a few extra layers, fill up a thermos with hot cocoa or apple cider, and head out on the water. After all, fall is all about pumpkin spice and everything nice, and we can’t think of a better place to enjoy it than on the water. Here’s to crisp mornings, colorful sails, and plenty of fall sailing ahead! — Stephen Explore More - Learn More - Sail More And See Our Weather Links and - Check Out Our Youtube Channel! (Links on the bottom of our website) Explore Follow Us On Facebook Instagram Youtube You are receiving this email as you signed up for our newsletters. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can Unsubscribe or Update your preferences