Cathlamet Yacht Club
The Lower Columbia River
The lower Columbia River has a wonderful, extremely active yacht club based in Cathlamet, Washington. We have grown rapidly since starting with our three founding members in late December 2008.
By the end of our 2013 season we had grown to almost 50 member families – with about a third from Portland/Vancouver, a third from Astoria/Warrenton, and the rest from Wahkiakum County.
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.
The founding members contacted the Elochoman Slough Marina managers, who were very supportive. From there, they started talking about the new organization, and when that news came out, other people asked to join.
Who Are We?
Our membership splits almost evenly between powerboats and sailboats. Plus, it has a group of Associate Members who don’t have boats or whose boat doesn’t meet the club’s qualifying standards that one can cook & sleep on it.
CYC’s purpose is to promote good fellowship and safety among recreational boaters from Astoria and up stream. While many of our members live in the Cathlamet area, some live as far away as Colorado!
Elochoman Marina Ph: 360-795-3501
Where We Gather
At this time, CYC is centered around the public marina in Cathlamet and doesn’t have a plan to have a clubhouse or offer permanent moorage.
CYC has completed its incorporation as a private, non-profit organization and has established 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 at the time, presented an oversized version of our burgee to Cathlamet Port District #1 Commissioner Brett Deaton. Look for us when you visit Cathlamet!
Our mailing address is: Cathlamet Yacht Club, PO Box 665, Cathlamet, WA 98612