The Catnip Cup is a no-host overnighter to Vallejo for cruising and racing multihulls. It will be held on Saturday, June 8, 2002 and is designed as an informal cruise from the start in San Francisco Bay off Yellow Bluff to the Vallejo City Marina.  There will be a potluck dinner on the guest docks and a return sail back on Sunday, June 9, 2002.  The objective is to have some fun sailing with similar boats, meet others with multihulls, talk about boats, see a bunch of multihulls up close, but most important ? have a good time.  Anyone with a multihull is invited to come along.  If you are interested in multihulls, you're welcome.  There will be a list of participants that we will distribute so you can figure out who/what that other boat is, the one that passed you or the one you passed, or the one that is "looking good" or:  We will also have some nametags in Vallejo so you can equate names with boats and meet people easier.  Be sure to officially sign up for the Catnip Cup if you plan to attend.  Send an email with the sign up information (see Sign Up Section) to me, Glenn Fagerlin, at gfagerlin@qlcapital.com and I will "register" you and put you on the list of participants.  This will give us an idea of how many boats we can expect and help with planning.

With the Catnip Cup, you sail any course you want. You can also motor as much or as little as you want. To accommodate a wide variety of interests there will be the normal and informal ìletís just sail up to Vallejo, overnight and returnî to a loosely organized, and also informal, "Rally".   You can do whatever you want.  We will use VHF channel 71 to communicate with each other, handle any questions or make last minute changes if necessary.

The Rally was added since some participants wanted something that was closer to a race.  The Rally is also a no-host event.  Since some boats from The Bay Area Multihull Association (BAMA) will be participating in the Catnip Cup, BAMA has graciously volunteered to organize the rally, collect and tabulate times and handle ratings.  Check out the Rally Section below for the details.  Remember that BAMA is not hosting the Rally, just volunteering to keep score if you so choose.  BAMA is an organization that has a long and rich history of multihulls in the bay area.  BAMA is interested in getting more large catamarans and tris in their organization.  They want to expand the cruising side of BAMA.  Bob Naber, BAMA Commodore, on "DEVORAS", a Kantola 38 ft trimaran will be part of the fleet.  BAMA's Website is www.sfbama.org.

The Start:  The fleet will gather in the vicinity of the Golden Gate Bridge and Yellow Bluff (on the Marin side) at about 10:30 AM.  The actual start is set for 11:00 AM, about an hour earlier than last year to make sure we have a flood to take us out of the central bay.  The Rally will start between 11:00 and 11:15 AM using a virtual, North/South line through the Yellow Bluff buoy (YRA  #15 - a yellow sphere with a Y on it east of Yellow Bluff).  Rally boats will be on the north side of the Yellow Bluff buoy, cruisers to the south.  Everyone starts when they choose and records their time, if they want.

The Course:  The course is simple: head to Vallejo any way you choose. It is around 20 miles, over all.  We expect that most cruisers will take a direct route through Raccoon Straights, up to the Richmond Bridge and on through San Pablo Bay to the Carquinez Straights.  The Rally will take a longer course around Angel Island, through the lighter air behind Angel and then on to Vallejo.  This should bring the cruise and rally fleets together somewhere in the North Bay.  The fleets will then separate again, but the arrival times should be closer in Vallejo.  Everyone should pass by, or get passed by, everyone else.  Great photo opportunities.

Current, Winds and Tides:  There should be a flood until about 1:00 PM that will get everyone around Angel Island or through Raccoon Straights and well on the way to the Richmond Bridge before the tide turns.  By this time the wind should have filled in to make it a pleasant sail to Vallejo.  Below are the currents from NOAA's website.

Golden Gate
#      Slack  Max Curr  Slack  Max Curr  Slack  Max Curr  Slack  Max Curr Slack
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6/8 Sa         0306 4.2E  0707  1008 3.3F  1318  1534 2.2E  1851  2140 2.6F
6/9 Su   0029  0344 4.6E  0743  1045 3.5F  1404  1615 2.2E  1926  2215 2.6F

Carquinez Straight
#      Slack  Max Curr  Slack  Max Curr  Slack  Max Curr  Slack  Max Curr Slack
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6/8 Sa  0149  0547 2.9E  0939  1235 1.7F  1529  1750 1.0E  2005  2305 2.3F
6/9 Su  0211  0604 3.0E  1020  1324 1.7F  1629  1834 0.8E  2036  2339 2.3F

Finish Line:  The finish is at the entrance to Mare Island Straights: between markers "1" and "2" on your chart. The entrance to the guest docks is the North entrance, and the second entrance, as you proceed North in the Mare Island Straights channel.  It is North of the Vallejo Yacht Club and almost to the Mare Island Bridge.  Just look for a bunch of mulithulls on your right.

Vallejo City Marina:  The city marina is the one farthest down the Napa River and closest to the Mare Island Bridge.  Use the last entrance, not the first one you come to.  The Catnip Cup has reserved the guest dock for the evening of Saturday 6/8/2002.  The cost of an overnight berth is $15 at the harbormasterís office ? 707-648-4330.  The guest dock is quite long and suitable for side ties.  Rafting worked last year and two boats can generally fit on each side.  Folks are encouraged to allow raft ups. Those wanting to raft up in the marina should so indicate.  Like last year, we expect a lot of people available to help guide you in and get positioned correctly.  It may get somewhat cramped and if you are not into rafting, the river outside the marina is good for anchoring out.  I am sure there will be boats anchored out and using their dinghies to come in.  If someone needs a "ride" to shore, I am sure it can be arranged.  Just ask.

The guest dock has been dredged since last year so there should be plenty of depth, except very close to the shore.  The marina advises a shallow spot (2 feet at MLW) coming into the guest dock.  It should not be a problem on arrival since the low occurs at about 6:30 PM and there will be 4 feet of water, minimum.  For departure, there should be plenty of water after 9:00 AM on Sunday, according to the marina.

Napa River Tides
Day        High      Tide  Height   Sunrise    Moon  Time      % Moon
           /Low      Time    Feet    Sunset                    Visible

Sa   8      Low   7:05 AM    -0.1   5:46 AM    Rise  4:20 AM      9
     8     High   1:33 PM     4.2   8:30 PM     Set  6:29 PM
     8      Low   6:28 PM     2.0

Su   9     High  12:19 AM     6.0   5:46 AM    Rise  4:52 AM      4
     9      Low   7:39 AM    -0.4   8:31 PM     Set  7:32 PM
     9     High   2:22 PM     4.3
     9      Low   7:06 PM     2.2
 

Potluck Dinner:  The boats should arrive around 3:00 PM and everyone will have a chance to walk the docks, get acquainted and check out others boats.  The potluck dinner is planned for 5:00 PM.  Most bring some munchies, sides or deserts to share.  Some folks bring their BBQ and set it up on the dock.  Others use their boats: the BBQ or stoves.  There are no BBQ facilities at the marina but plenty of grass and space near the guest dock.  If you need galley facilities the larger boats will probably share their galleys ? see Glenn on Perception, Kronos 45 Catamaran.  If you are interested in restaurants there are two at the marina: the new Water Barge close to the guest dock and the Sardine Can (a short walk) according to the harbormasterís office.
 

Returning: The start home the next day will commence sometime between 9:00 AM and noon - whenever you feel like it.  Check the tides and your draft for earlier departures.

Rally Section:

BAMA has volunteered to help organize a Rally for those interested.  As with the Catnip Cup, this is not a hosted event and therefore is an informal opportunity to record times and compare your results to others.  You are responsible for keeping your own start and finish times.  BAMA will collect and tabulate the results.  They will calculate corrected times if you are rated by the PHRF.   If you want to get a rating contact BAMA: they will rate your boat for $20 or you can join BAMA and get a free rating for the same amount.  Contact BAMAís Chairman, Bob Naber at K38BOB@aol.com.  Obviously, motoring is not part of the Rally.

Start Line:  There will be a virtual start line.  The line will stretch north to south thru the Yellow Bluff buoy (YRA  #15 - a yellow sphere with a Y on it east of Yellow Bluff). The start will occur between 11:00 and 11:15 with the cruisers staying to the south of the buoy and the rally folks to the north.  Record your time when you cross the line.  Use your GPS clock or watch.

Course:  After the start, leave ANGEL ISLAND to port and proceed to Vallejo any way you choose.  I am advised that there is a restricted area in San Pablo Bay: THE PINOLE SHOAL CHANNEL, bounded by markers #8, #10, #12 and #14 on the South and markers #7, #9, #11, #13 and #15 on the North (see USGC Chart #18654).   Enter the Carquinez Straights and head for the finish line.

Finish Line:  The finish will be the entrance to Mare Island Straights. This is after marker "17" and the entrance is marked by channel markers "1" (west, Green) and "2" (east, Red, which is a daymark at the end of the breakwater).  The virtual finish line is a line between the two.  I used the chart on page 198 of Bay Cruising Guide.   Record your finish time when you cross the line.  Then relax, put away your gear and get ready for the docking, rafting, anchoring show.

Trophies:  The trophy committee is undecided at this time regarding awards.
 
 
 

Sign Up.

If you got this far you know all about the Catnip Cup cruise and rally.  To sign up fill out the information below and email it to me, Glenn Fagerlin, using gfagerlin at qlcapital.com.  I have filled in my information below as an example.  You can fill in your own information and simply copy it to an email (cut & paste).  Please put "Catnip" in the subject of your email so you do not turn into Spam.  If you do not have email, fax your information to me at 800 707-3141 Attn:  Glenn Fagerlin.  No email and no fax? ? Call me at 800 707-3140 ext. 100.

Sign me up for the Catnip Cup on June 8th and 9th.

Boat Name:   PERCEPTION
Type, length and color: Kronos 45 Catamaran ? white w. blue stripes.
Skipper: Glenn Fagerlin
Email and/or phone or Fax: gfagerlin at qlcapital.com      800 707-3140 x100  Fax: 800 707-3141
Other Information:  Crew, items of interest, cruise or rally, etc.
 

 CATNIP CUP   -  Participants