4A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2018
Photos by Colin Murphey/The Daily Astorian
From left: Tom Brownson, Thor Sorenson, Sarah Lu Heath and Curt Yoder take a brief moment to relax during the race.
CATCHING THE WIND
By COLIN MURPHEY
The Daily Astorian
W
hat do Astoria Yacht Club sailors do in the summer when the wind is good, the skies are clear and boats are ready? They race of course. If you are
new to sailing and want to see what all the fuss is about, contact the yacht club — you might get lucky and land a spot on board a boat for a plea-
sure sail. Just remember to bring some wet weather gear, comfortable shoes and the Dramamine. And don’t forget to duck if the captain informs you
the boat is about to “jibe,” because a really heavy boom is about to swing centimeters above your head at a high rate of speed. You don’t want to be in the way.
Curt Yoder is reflected in the glass
dome encasing the boat’s compass
as he takes the helm.
Sarah Lu Heath bundles a rope on
board the boat.
Crew members on board the S/V Contata compete in the first race of the sea-
son with the Astoria Yacht Club.
Tom Brownson, captain of the Conta-
ta, checks the condition of the main
sail during the race.
Curt Yoder pilots the Contata back
into the marina after sailing on the
Columbia River.
The S/V Contata sails under the Astoria Bridge during a race.
ABOVE: Curt Yoder takes the helm of the boat.
LEFT: The crew of the Contata leave other boats behind as
they race on the Columbia River.