The Lower Columbia River has a new yacht club based in Cathlamet, Washington, and we're off to a good start. We have grown rapidly from three founding members in late December 2008 to 36 member families with our membership about 1/3 Portland/Vancouver, 1/3 Astoria/Warrenton and 1/3 local.
Chuck Norton and his wife, Linda and two other families - Dan and Genie Cary and Mike and Marsha LaFarge - came up with the idea for the club. It had been talked about for years and they just decided to get it done. They contacted the Elochoman Slough Marina managers and got their support and then started talking about the new organization, and when that news came out, other people asked to join.
CYC's purpose is to promote good fellowship and safety among recreational boaters from Astoria and up stream. While most of our members live in the Cathlamet area, some live as far away as Colorado.
At this time CYC will center around the public marina in Cathlamet and doesn’t have a plan to have a clubhouse or offer permanent moorage.
Our membership splits almost evenly between powerboats and sailboats, and it has a group of associate members who don't have boats or whose boat doesn't meet the club's qualifying standard that one can cook and sleep on it.
CYC has completed its incorporation as a private, non-profit organization and is in the process of establishing reciprocal arrangements with other yacht clubs principally from the Tri-Cities area up to Alaska. Reciprocal moorage is provided at the Elochoman Marina in Cathlamet for members of other participating clubs. CYC’s first cruise was to the Astoria Seafood Festival in late April 2009.
Chuck Norton, Commodore, presented an oversized version of our burgee to Cathlamet Port District #1 Commissioner Brett Deaton. Look for us when you visit Cathlamet.