Discover a world of diverse activities at RCYC designed to cater to every member’s interests. From the excitement of cruising and competitive racing to engaging social events, our club offers an array of experiences to enrich your membership. However, the opportunities extend beyond recreation.
Embrace the chance to contribute to the community by lending a hand in various capacities, both on-site and administratively. Members fulfill their required work hours through a plethora of tasks, catering to individual preferences and work styles. Whether you thrive in solitary projects or prefer collaborative endeavors, there’s a role suited for you.
Explore a wide spectrum of opportunities, ranging from hands-on tasks like carpentry, electrical work, and landscaping to creative ventures such as graphic design and photography. Delve into the realm of administration with roles in database management, web development, and more.
Become an integral part of our vibrant community by participating in areas like the cruising program, dredging initiatives, or contributing to publications such as newsletters and yearbooks. Take the helm as an administrative officer or committee chair, or lend your skills to enhance our racing program and publicity efforts.
At RCYC, there’s a place for everyone to make a meaningful contribution while enjoying the camaraderie of fellow members. Join us in shaping unforgettable experiences and building lasting connections within our dynamic community.
Cruising
2024 Destinations
If you are planning to join us on Lazy day, it is best to let our Cruising Chairs know your plans in order to secure a spot on the docks together with our group during our time in Cathlamet.
In general it’s best to please keep dogs on a leash while cruising with groups.
- Spring Equinox Cruise
Friday March 22, to Sunday March 24—Bartlett Landing (Govt. Island East Dock) - April Showers Cruise
Friday April 26 to Sunday April 28—Bartlett Landing (Govt. Island East Dock) - Memorial Day Weekend Cruise
Friday May 24 to Monday May 27, Bartlett’s Landing
School’s Out Cruise
- Friday June 21, Coon Island – west side
- Saturday June 22, Kalama
- Sunday June 23 to Monday June 24, Martin Slough
- Tuesday June 25, Coon Island – east side
July 20-27 — Lazy Days Downriver Cruise
- Saturday July 20, Martin Slough (Rockin the Cove is there) or Kalama
- Sunday July 21, Walker Island
- Monday July 22, Westport
- Tuesday July 23 and Wednesday July 24, Astoria West Basin
- Thursday July 25, Cathlamet, Pot Luck dinner
- Friday July 26, Walker Island
- Saturday July 27, Martin Slough
- Pirates Family Fun Cruise
Friday August 9 to Sunday August 11, Schwitter’s Landing - Labor Day Weekend Cruise
Friday August 30 to Monday September 2, Beacon Rock - Autumnal Equinox Cruise
Friday September 20 to Sunday September 22, Schwitter’s Landing - Fall Foliage Cruise
Friday October 11 to Sunday October 13, Bartlett’s Landing
Racing
Overview
RCYC kicks off the racing season with this traditional one-day regatta held in March. Races are held on the river in front of the club, and generally consist of 4-5 short races around marks set by the club race committee, followed by a BBQ social event at the clubhouse. This regatta is often challenging due to the early spring conditions, which means strong current and unsettled winds, and the presence of many fishing boats.
2024 OCSA Race Calendar Spreadsheet:
RCYC Frostbite Regatta
This challenging race starts right at the RCYC breakwater, and heads upriver against the still-strong May current, past several islands, under the I-205 bridge, to round a special mark near Lady Island at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge, then back to the finish line at the breakwater, for a total distance of approximately 15 miles. Often the winner is the boat that most ably uses current relief found behind several wing dams and islands. In many years, the conditions make it difficult for some or all competitors to finish before time expires, but win, lose, or finish, everyone seems to have a grand time, and to enjoy the post-race BBQ at the club house.
RCYC Medium Distance Race
This challenging race starts right at the RCYC breakwater, and heads upriver against the still-strong May current, past several islands, under the I-205 bridge, to round a special mark near Lady Island at the entrance to the Columbia River Gorge, then back to the finish line at the breakwater, for a total distance of approximately 15 miles. Often the winner is the boat that most ably uses current relief found behind several wing dams and islands. In many years, the conditions make it difficult for some or all competitors to finish before time expires, but win, lose, or finish, everyone seems to have a grand time, and to enjoy the post-race BBQ at the club house.
Harry Brault Memorial Long Distance Race
This two-day race in early September is considered the ne plus ultra of long distance racing on the river. Starting just past the confluence of the Willamette River with the Columbia, the racers beat downriver against the prevailing northwesterlies approximately 15 miles to round the northern tip of Sand Island, near the City of St. Helens, to finish with a brief but usually thrilling spinnaker run at the Sand Island docks. Hundreds of sailors convene on the docks for a post-race party, and most spend the night either camping on the island or snug in their berths. The next morning the racers arise (some the worse for the night’s festivities, alas), and the next leg starts, racing downriver to round the northern tip of Sand Island, and the beginning of what is often a 15-mile spinnaker duel back upriver. A classic event, the Long Distance is a fitting culmination to the summer racing season.
Read More
The RCYC racing program is only one part of the larger Portland-area racing community, which offers year-round races and events. Here is a brief overview of the larger racing community.
A number of clubs organize races on the river. Their efforts are coordinated by an umbrella organization, the Oregon Corinthian Sailing Association (OCSA), which hosts the main website, sailpdx.org. OCSA also publishes the racebook and local racing rules, provides a protest resolution process, offers training events and lectures, and hosts the big year-end awards party, the Tropical Party, in November. All boats that race in the scored events listed in the OCSA Racebook must be members of OCSA. Membership is very cheap (currently $20). Individual clubs also charge fees, either to enter individual races or regattas, or for membership (which usually entails free entry into races).
RCYC is one of at least five clubs that run local races, each of which specializes in particular types of races or events.
- The Small Yacht Sailing Club of Oregon (SYSCO) runs three race series from April to August, focusing on short-course buoy racing during the week, on Tuesdays and Thursdays evenings. Membership in SYSCO is inexpensive (currently $120 per year) and gains members free entry into dozens of races. Best bang for the buck.
- The Portland Yacht Club (PYC) offers several weekend regattas, including Opening Day and two fall regattas.
- The Corinthian Yacht Club of Oregon (CYC) organizes the Oregon Offshore race, from Astoria to Victoria, BC, and specializes in offshore races. CYC also hosts the Sail on Sundays (SOS) series, which runs from October to March, and offers casual races on Sunday afternoons starting right outside the RCYC breakwater. SOS has no entry fees, and is a great way to keep away the winter blues or gain racing and boat handling skills without committing to a formal race.
- The Willamette Sailing Club (WSC) offers dinghy racing on the Willamette River for youth and adult sailors, but also sometimes operates dinghy and keelboat races on the Columbia.
- The clubs rotate hosting beer cans on some Saturdays and Sundays during most weekends of the summer. A great way to get some experience racing in a casual environment without all the stress and fuss. Free to all. Please check Event Notices – Sail Portland.
Events
Until further notice, all Board Meetings are being held via Zoom, and General Meetings are hybrid in-person at the Clubhouse and also on Zoom. Social activities noted on the calendar are placeholders, so people can tentatively make plans. However, County and State guidelines will dictate when we can safely hold such gatherings. Emails will provide further information as the year progresses.
Onsite
- Board/General Meetings
- Coffeehouse Jams
- Holiday Gatherings
- Knauti Knitters
- May: Opening Day Parade
- July 4th: Land Cruise
- Ladies Dinner
- Private events
- Walk BBQs
Offsite
- February: Commodore’s Ball
- Ladies dinners at other clubs
- Fundraising events
- Christmas Ships
Work Parties
A minimum of 16 hours is required of each Active Membership annually, with 8 hours minimum required before June 10th. The calendar year for work hours ends on December 10th.
Active Memberships are those who are boat owners and who are eligible for moorage, whether their boat is in the moorage or not.
Work Parties will return to traditional format this year. Work Party invitations will be sent out before each scheduled Work Party. Please RSVP to help in planning. All Work Parties will be on Saturdays and will begin at 9:00 unless otherwise noted. Lunch will be provided.
Assignments will be given out by the Work Party Leader at the Club House the morning of the Work Party. Please observe all Covid restrictions in effect at the time of the Work Party.
There may be some opportunities outside of work parties, like special projects or emergencies but please do not depend on those.
We plan on 4 spring work parties – 3/2, 3/23, 4/6, 4/27 and 4 fall parties – 9/14, 9/28, 10/19 and 11/2. Sign up to assist, lead or organize lunches for a work party.
Learn about the maintenance tasks performed by members:
Annual Schedule of Tests, Inspections, and Maintenance (PDF)
Questions? Email RCYC work party Program Lead, Greg Douglass.
Dredging
Each year RCYC dredges the moorage. In the last year, however no dredging occurred in response to the COVID virus. Therefore, as many members have noticed, the moorage has silted in. The dredging effort generally commences the first week of November and continues until completion, which takes about 6 weeks depending the progress made. The moorage is surveyed and the depths to be dredged are determined. A final survey is undertaken the second week of October.