The Levy's set sail on extended cruise aboard "StarGazer"

 

Photo from Left to right Emily, Katie, Harper, David

Many years ago while commissioning a boat for a double-handed Trans Pac race berthed on via Lido Isle Soud a college kid was teaching sailing at the Lido Isle Yacht Club and would stop by each day aboard his coaching boat, say hello, and ask how are things going. There was some kind of trust between us and who could not trust a person wearing a Ryen Sponner shirt every day? Time goes on and we always take an extra moment when crossing tacks with each other to ask how are you doing. The other day an Instagram post popped up on my Facebook page with Katie and David Levy with their two girls Emily, 12 years old, and Harper, 9 years old, pushing off the dock in this year’s Baja Ha-Ha cruiser rally down the coast of Baja Mexico. I immediately became envious of the Levy family that they are doing this, and wondered how far they would be going. Just then I received a text from David “ Morning Len, we started our cruise and Katie has been posting on Instagram. I thought I would share our adventures with you! I replied how envious I was and what a perfect time of life to take such an adventure. I then asked how long are you planning on staying in Mexico or is this an extended cruise? His reply was “ Hey Len, The current plan is to take off for a couple of years.” I thought to myself what a great story and David agreed to an interview.

The Levy’s own a 44’ CSY cruising sailboat by the name of “StarGazer”, and have owned her over the last 15 years. Back in 2011 Katie and David participated in the Baja-Ha-Ha and cruised parts of the Sea of Cortez at that time they thought how wonderful it would be to return with some kids. On their return home they got to work and had Emily in 2012 and Harper in 2015 with that part of the task completed they focused on getting the boat ready. Over the last six years, they completed a major refit to the boat “ I touched every inch or millimeter of the boat during the refit. We replaced the chain plates from internal to external chain plates and oversized them, they are extremely beefy, we replaced the teak cap rail on the bow glassed over the deck to hull joint, and an aluminum toe rail was added. Replaced all the stainless steel on the boat, all the handrails our new with solid handrails all away around the boat, a hard dodger which is fully enclosed. I completely re-wired the boat to ABYC standards, an added 120V AC system, inverter, 720 Watts solar panels. I re-plumbed the boat, replaced countertops and fixtures. I installed an Electromaax water maker that can produce 7-8 gallons of water per hour very efficiently with the least amount of draw from the batteries.” David said. During his spare time David became an ABYC certified adviser electrician, he then took the job as the Western Regional OEM Sales Manager for the NAVCO group and represented about 20 brands.” David said.

The Levy’s also added a fully enclosed dodger around the cockpit along with a complete set of electronics from and added 120V AC system, inverter, 720 Watts solar panels.

Starlink satellite communications, AIS system, Garmin “inreach” which will allow you to obtain texts, and weather. B&G sailing instruments from chart plotter to autopilot. When David was going over all the electronics most of it was flying way over my head. He did post an Instagram going over most of what he told me and Yes I would want everything he has done with the boat. Not only did he touch every base he did it right with the best equipment available at this time. We also talked about communications and the Starlink satellite system which is all new to me and I have only been retired from offshore racing since 2021. “Starlink is differently a game changer, Katie is still able to work remotely, and the kids are able to complete part of their homeschooling through Zoom and Teams calls. Within 12 miles from shore we have unlimited data which is less than your monthly cell service. “We would not have been able to do what we wanted done without Starlink right now,” David said.

I asked David what are their planned designations and if he is looking forward to one spot. “It felt great to get off the dock and sail past the Coronado Islands, after committing to this lifestyle change, renting our house, selling our cars, leaving work, “sailing into Mexican water was a pretty big milestone for us. For now, the tentative plan is to cruise the Sea of Cortez for the next few weeks, then head to the mainland over to Mazatlan, LaCruz, Banderas Bay, and PV or as far south as Barra de Navidad with the plans of heading North up the Sea of Cortez in the spring and maybe heading to Panama in the summer. From where we are headed next we will have to wait and see. We just want to go out and explore, for us it’s really about spending more time with the family and getting these experiences for our kids. David said

You can follow the Levey family on Instagram under “Stargazer”. I picked up on a great quote from David. When explaining the electronics and how data is transmitted and received he said 

“It’s a boat they go in waves”.

Sea ya

The Harbor Report: Continuing our spin around the harbor Published on Nov 12 2014

Should she stay or should she go now?

By Len Bose

November 7, 2014 | 2:39 p.m.

Join me now as we continue around the harbor in preparation for the Harbor Commission's special meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

In my last column, I began a list of the questions I plan to ask at different stops along the commission's harbor tour. We stopped with RGP 54, regarding dredging and eelgrass mitigation permits, which will be discussed just as we approach the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

As the ferry continues up the Balboa Peninsula, the next waypoint is the Cheyenne (ex PlayStation). This vessel is intended to be support for a deep-sea submarine. The owner will not like what I have to say but it’s time to revoke her special mooring permit. She has taken up a large foot print of our harbor for long enough and its time to throw in the towel on this one.

Our next topic will be jet packs, and this is all but decided with the Harbor Commission recommendation to prohibit them in the bay. The City Council will discuss the water-propelled vessels Jan. 13 or 27. And you will have a chance to meet our newest harbor commissioner, Bill "Skip" Kenny, who, I feel, will turn out to be very productive.

Next up is Marina Park, and I assume Harbor Resource Manager Chris Miller will lead this discussion. My question will be: Is there room for a marine recycling center at this location? I will also try to understand if dry storage will be available for mooring permit holders and other harbor users.

19th Street Pier

As we work our way toward the Rhine Channel, the next two waypoints will be the 19th Street Pier and the Newport Bay Marina. The 19th Street Pier has a new public restroom, and I just wonder how often the local residents might complain about late-night guests at the public docks. I will need to check in with a couple of my friends who live on their boats in the surrounding moorings for their input.

The Newport Bay Marina has been working hard to complete this project, and we will just need to wait and see if all of the requirements that the city made are being followed.

As we do a 180-degree turn, it might be a good time to ask Harbor Patrol Officer Sean Scoles about noise complaints in this area of the harbor, make note that there are two public docks in the Rhine and ask if we have enough commercial working space at the end of the Rhine for the future.

Our cruise will now head under the Lido Bridge, and the next two topics will be alternative anchorages and Lido Marina Village. I have good friends on both sides of the debate about whether to make the North West Lido Channel into an alternative anchorage area.

This is the exact spot where I asked my wife to marry me some 24 years ago, and I have to say I really like the idea of installing day moorings in Big Corona as an alternative anchorage. Commissioner Brad Avery will lead this discussion.

As for the Lido Marina Village, two thoughts come to mind: That is a lot of big-boat slips that could support more large charter boats than we already have, and the developer has promised that's not the intention. Make sure you note the proposed public pier alongside the sea wall just northwest of the Elks Lodge. It's a perfect spot for a new public pier.

Next, we will travel east down Mariners Mile, and our waypoint is to discuss Vessel Overhang. This will be a difficult topic to cover while on the ferry.

As we proceed past the Orange Coast College Sailing Base, it might be a good time to ask if there is another public dock that very few harbor users are aware of nearby.

Next, we will round Bayshores and head toward the PCH bridge. The next big waypoint is the Lower Castaways. Commissioner David Girling is chairing this for the commission and doing an outstanding job.

I have to wonder how this area's plan might change now with the new City Council. I have always felt this area is best served as a marine industry launching point, but very few people have agreed with me. It's a huge topic, so pay close attention to Girling on this one.

As we head back east down Balboa Island, note all the shore moorings' derelict boats on the beach. Good time to ask about the state's VTIP program.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for you the harbor user. I hope you can make it.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.

The Harbor Report: Preparing questions for harbor meeting and cruise Published on Nov 1 2014

Balboa Ferry Special Harbor Commission meeting November 15, 2014

By Len Bose

October 31, 2014 | 2:41 p.m.

I have written about the Harbor Commission special meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

It will convene in a conference room in the Harbor Patrol facility at 1901 Bayside Drive and then be moved to one of the Balboa ferries waiting at the Harbor Patrol visitor's dock for a tour of the harbor.

Copies of the route with waypoints to be called out on the tour can be found on my blog site, lenboseyachts.blogspot.com. Commissioners will address the waypoints on which they are most well versed. The ferry has a capacity limit, and guests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

In an effort to familiarize you with the waypoints, I thought I would take the time to share my observations, concerns and the questions I will be asking at the different waypoints during the harbor tour.

We will start at the Harbor Patrol Office. Let's hope Deputy Sean Scoles attends this meeting because he is easy to approach, loves the harbor and does an outstanding job.

I would ask Scoles: 1. What is his definition of a derelict boat? 2. How does the mooring waiting list work? 3. Can people pass on a permit if they do not like the location, and how many times can they play the pass card? 4. Can two mooring permit holders trade permits to obtain a more usable location for themselves? 5. How did the VTIP program work this year for our harbor? 6. How many boats can a mooring permit holder keep tied to a mooring at one time?

Most of these questions relate to city codes or policies, but this will be a good chance to hear how these two departments define them.

Assuming we head over to the M Street public pier first, I would have to ask an attending council member if the city has received and filed the recommendations made by the Harbor Commission last year regarding public piers. For example, have the park rangers enforced the rules, optimized the available space and considered the Adopt-a-Dock program? To be fair, the Harbor Resource Department has made improvements to the public docks this year by replacing benches and walkways.

It would be interesting if we then could go out of the harbor entrance and over to Big Corona to discuss that area as an alternative place for day moorings and, at the same time, do a quick overview of a tidal gate.

I should just stay on track and, as the ferry moves down the Balboa Peninsula toward the Fun Zone, point out what I see as a derelict vessel and see if it fits Scoles' definition of a derelict boat.

Next up will be the Balboa Ferry Landing, and I assume we will talk about sea-level rise. This will be a good time to ask Harbor Resource Manager Chris Miller where our harbor's data points are so we can observe them ourselves during the upcoming king tides this winter.

We will then go past Bay Island to view the new bulkheads/seawalls. At this time, the water is ebbing and the harbor is almost at low tide. What you should notice is how the steel wall was finished, and there should be little residue from the retreating tide line. The bulkhead cap will be noticed along with the expense of changing the docks to meet the new height of the seawall.

Continuing up the Balboa Peninsula and just about at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, we will come to the waypoint RGP 54. Miller and Commissioner Doug West will lead this topic, which regards dredging and eelgrass mitigation permits.

From my point of view, these guys are staying on task and are the best people for the job — although I will ask if the Coastal Commission considers the upper bay's eelgrass as part of the lower bay's eelgrass percentage for the whole harbor.

Interesting stuff, huh? We are barely halfway around the harbor. Please place Nov. 15 on your calendar and attend this meeting. Next week, I will review the rest of the harbor with you.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.

So far so good with my good friend Nat Fuqua

When you round the last mark and are heading downwind towards the finish line of life it feels good to reflect back before that last gybe into the finish. One is reminded of just how long the racecourse has been while being determined to cross in good order, and fortunate not to have had to withdraw early from the race because of a breakdown. 

   So far so good with my good friend Nat Fuqua competing in this race of life. I estimate we met in 1970 when he moved into the neighborhood. The group of kids at the end of the cul-de-sac on Regatta Street in Huntington Beach were all very good athletes. We played every sport until the street lights came on each day. Baseball, football, street hockey we were all very competitive. Fuqua and I have memorable stories for each sport, at the end of the 8th grade, Nat moved out of the area and returned to graduate from Edison High in the last semester of our senior year. We attended our senior prom together and partied until the street lights were turned off. We attend Aerosmith, Cal Jam 2, Kiss, and Rolling Stones concerts, and have a great story about driving home in a big ass Cadillac from the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. 

Just out of High School Fuqua decided he wanted to be an airline pilot and started flying lessons. One weekend we decided we would fly to Palm Springs with a couple of dates for dinner. We got lost over the Salton Sea on our return home that night and spent the night in some small town on the Mexican border. Our dates thought we had this all planned as we only could afford a room with one double bed in it.

Fuqua soared into his flying career while I started to sail almost every day. We always thought how cool it would be if he flew over one of the boats I was on during a big race. He was my best man at my wedding while I was his best man. We stayed in touch over the years sometimes going years before hanging out again. 

As we start this last downwind run towards the finish line of life the attached photos add thousand of words to our race reflecting on just how good it has been flying and sailing through life. We both toast each time we meet that neither of us has had to work day in our lives.

We are getting together this weekend for a type of bucket list Sunday. Fuqua purchased killer seats for the Cardinals/49’ers game followed up with front row center for ZZ Top that night. I bought us “Sharp dressed man” ZZ-Top Cowboy hats, some new cheap shades, and a little something for the football game. I’m so excited I think I pooped a little!

Sea ya

Bose 6th Grade

Fuqua 6th Grade

Bose 7th Grade

Fuqua 7th Grade

Bose 8th Grade

Fuqua 8th Grade

Hot for Teacher 8th Grade

Senior Prom

Fuqua Best Man at my Wedding

Today

ZZ Top May, 2022

On the Harbor: Good Samaritans who are helping keep our bay clean

By LEN BOSE

In my recent travels around the harbor, I noticed a new boat in the harbor named Good Samaritan. The word “samaritan” has multiple meanings, yet this one fits the boat’s name: A person who helps others; A person who is compassionate and helps someone in need, especially when they are not obligated to do so. For example, you might describe someone as a Good Samaritan if they purchased a boat and the crew to help clean up the harbor of trash and debris. (I edited that definition a little at the end.)

Well, that is what REALTOR® Tim Smith has done by commissioning Elastic Work Boats from Carmi, Ill. to build a 25’ custom Omini Catamaran that is powered by a 50hp Suzuki outboard that features a large skimmer that can collect more than 1,000 pounds of debris into a cage, which can be crane-lifted out to dispose of the different materials hauled from the harbor. Other features included handrails, bow rollers, VHF radio, hard top, and commercial rub rails. This is the proper vessel for this job with no expense spared. I have not had a chance to talk to Smith on the phone yet, but without a doubt, he did his due diligence and has purchased a vessel that will last for many years. It’s my understanding that a non-profit group will be formed to cover expenses from storage, maintenance, and the skipper. I am not sure how Smith found long-time charter boat Captain Robert Sloan to operate the vessel, but after talking to Sloan over the phone and then just by chance running into him on the harbor the following day, Smith has hit it out of the park again. There is no one better for this job, and after meeting Sloan he is my new best friend.

“I have been a charter boat captain most of my life and have always stopped to pick up trash, now I get paid to stop (and do this), so it’s the perfect job for me,” Sloan said. He works three days a week and eight hours each day on this project. He also runs a couple of boats at the Sea Scout Base for a couple of other non-profit groups.

His clean-up route takes him from Upper Newport Bay and then counterclockwise around the harbor with stops along the open beaches, public dock, marinas, yacht clubs, and under the different bridges. “I have learned where the trash accumulates over the last month and a half that we have been on the harbor,” Sloan said. What surprised me is that he is walking that extra mile by walking all of the harbor’s beaches and patrolling the waterways. Sloan does have one crew member who joins him every day and that is his dog, Xena. I have never seen a happier dog and I am very envious of Sloan being at work on the harbor with his dog. The two of them have found some interesting items – not just tennis balls floating down the harbor but refrigerator doors, ice coolers, and huge deadhead logs, and the season doesn’t really start until winter when the rains flush out the uplands. “It’s as clean as it gets right now, although when it rains it’s all going to be a mess again,” Salon said

 Most of the time Sloan uses a type of pool pole and net to pull the debris from the water and has come up with some of his own ideas by placing a type of barbed zip tie on the end of the pole to grab items and then pull them out of rocks or tight spaces. After each day’s work, Sloan heads to Marina Park to use the crane there and weigh in, then disposes his catch.

According to Harbormaster Paul Blank, “We had a goal (of collecting debris) for the first fiscal year which began July 1 of 1,200 pounds of debris. With the two teams working together and starting to weigh in, our catches as of August 3 were at 2,281.3 lbs.,” said Blank. That’s mind-blowing to me, because the season has not even started yet and we have “The Beast” in the bullpen with the Trash Interceptor going into service very soon in Upper Newport Bay.

I hope to catch Tim Smith on the phone soon and ask him how he came up with such a great idea, what are the future plans for the clean-up boat, and how we can all donate to this project. One of the vessel banners reads: Who you work with matters.

That takes on a whole new meaning to me, while making me feel good about our harbor.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.

On the Harbor: Pacific Airshow this weekend and a recap of recent events

(L-R) Joshua Legg and Greg Helias, 2024 H20 Fleet Championship winners

By LEN BOSE

It’s that time of year when I am waving to the fighter jet pilots from my office window, and believe it or not I have had the pilots return my wave with a salute in previous years practicing for the Huntington Beach Airshow. Speaking of war jets, I completely missed the fact that the War Heroes on the Water were in the house that second to last weekend of September. That same weekend was the Harbor 20 Championships, and my predictions were very accurate this year. We also have most if not all of our harbor channel markers now eliminated.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the War Heroes on Water “WHOW” commanded the harbor filling the anchorage and the harbor with some of the best-looking vessels located on our coast. If I’m not mistaken, this is the seventh year running the parade and fishing tournament, with each year bringing in more yachts and people. It’s all about saving the lives of our veterans through public awareness and fundraising, and providing a platform for veterans to strengthen their spirit and move forward towards purpose and healing. I refer to the event as WOW, because of all the yachts and people involved. My understanding is that the fishing tournament brings so many people to Avalon that it’s the busiest day of the year for the shore boats.

This leads into the Huntington Beach Airshow, taking place October 4-6, with the weather forecast showing flat sea conditions and mid-70s air temp. Saturday looks like the best day; the chance of fog diminishing from Friday. Sunday looks like it will be baking out on the water, with the air temperature forecasted at 85. Either way, it’s a great day on the water featuring the Thunderbirds, Canadian Snowbirds, F-22 Raptor Team, 122d F-15 Fighter Squadron and much more. This event always seems to make summer go out with a boom!

In my last column, I talked about the Harbor 20 fleet championships that sailed on September 21 and 22. My C Fleet predictions were a little off with Erika Foy and Paul Noring sailing away from most of the fleet, other than Team Kelly, who only finished five points behind to take second place. I was a little closer with my picks in B Fleet with Tucker Cheadle and Steve Schupak leading John Bubb after the first day, and for whatever reason he could not make it to the race course on Sunday, allowing Bubb to take B Fleet. Welcome to A Fleet John, you sailed fast this last season, and I am sure you will hold your own next season in A Fleet.

I hit my predictions perfectly in A Fleet with Team Legg and Helias winning the Class Championships. They had a slow start placing 11th in the first two races of the series, but Helias told me after the event that he mentioned the curse of me picking them to win after the second race. That must have lifted the bad jujum because they won six out of the last 10 races. Team Wiese finished in second place with Thompson and Conzelman taking third place, and Team Campbell in fourth. Chuck Simmons and I finished a hard-fought battle in seventh place. We’ve had many 4th or 6th place finishes, with our best finish being a 2nd. We felt good about our effort, but made too many mistakes mixed in with some bad luck.

In the middle of September, Harbormaster Paul Blank sent out a notice that most if not all the racing, anchorage and aids to navigation in the lower bay have now been illuminated. This is one of those small upgrades to the harbor that is more difficult to accomplish than you can imagine. Now we can hope that the next item is the county or Orange Sheriff’s Department seeing the light, and providing lights on the upper bay channel markers sometime in the near future.

If we are really lucky, maybe the Coast Guard might even see the light and change out the three remaining “old-fashioned” channel markers and replace them with smaller buoys when they start dreading next year. I know I’m reaching for the stars on that one, yet we can only wish.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.

On the Harbor: Dredging, Harbor 20 Fleet Championships and the upcoming Pacific Airshow…there’s a lot going on

By LEN BOSE

This summer has sailed past us at the speed of an America’s Cup boat on its foils, yet we still have a couple of marks to round before fall arrives and the harbor cools down. This week, I had a chance to catch up with a couple of my harbor sources regarding dredging, the Harbor 20 fleet preparing for the fleet championships this weekend, and let’s not forget, the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach.

While attending the Yachtsman’s Luncheon at the Newport Yacht Club on September 4, it was brought up that the city has found a new way to dispose of the unsuitable materials that are in the lower harbor. The original plan has been the Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) Project, which is the hole in the harbor, that can be dug and placed in the anchorage off of Lido Isle and later capped off after the unsuitable materials have been placed inside the hole.

We’ve all read that many residents did not like that concept and found a way to hold up the dredging through the courts. The city recently learned that another option has resurfaced taking place in the Port of Long Beach Pier G fill next year. This is very similar to the process that we used to dispose of unsuitable materials during the harbor’s last dredging. These materials are placed on a scow and towed up to Long Beach for disposal. Problem solved. Let’s get to dredging the lower harbor back to its original depths and now everyone is happy. Well, guess what, the devil is always in the details and there are a whole lot of hurdles to get past before this idea can be implemented. My take is that this is an option that has worked in the past, and an all-out effort must be undertaken to achieve the same goal. By no means is this a done deal, and it is my understanding that the CAD project is not off the table, should the other plan not work out. For some strange reason, this is analogous to taking my dog to the park and picking up after him. Let’s just hope we brought enough waste bags, and there is a trash can nearby. 

Moving on to my favorite subject – sailing – this weekend is the 27th Harbor 20 fleet championships with 25 competitors entered at the time of this writing. There are seven boats entered in C class that are only racing on Sunday, which I feel is a great idea after racing both days last weekend in the warm-up events. My money will be on Team Kovacevic – Carolyn and Dominic – who had a strong showing in last week’s NHYC Fall Regatta. At the same time, Team Kelly with Devon on the helm while Greg is crewing is a very fast team; this will be very close, as anyone in the fleet placing the dots together can win. In B fleet, there are six boats entered; this is going to be a very close race between Tucker Cheadle and Steve Schupak sailing Summer Dream and John Bubb sailing Tiger. Bubb has been on fire this summer finishing in second in the Flight and showing great boat speed all year. With team Cheadle/Schupak having the consistency to win this division, I’m betting on them to take the pickle dish. In A Fleet with 12 boats entered, don’t look at last weekend’s results in the Fall Cup because somehow I won that race. Like I said, sometimes anyone can connect the dots, and Chuck Simmons and I were going fast. The real race is going to come down to four teams: Team Wiese, Team Legg and Helias, Team Campbell, and Team Thompson and Conzelman.

My guesses over the years are kind of like my chances of being on the cover of Sports Illustrated – I rarely have been proven right. So with great thought, I am going with Team Legg and Helias, who both sailed together at USC. Legg has returned home to Cape Cod for the summers and has been on top of the very competitive Herreshoff 12 fleet for a long time, teaming up with past fleet champion Greg Helias, who is without a doubt one of our harbor’s best. This team showed speed to burn last week and would have easily won last weekend if it was a two-day regatta. They will have to show up with their game faces on because Team Thompson and Conzelman are the most consistent team on the harbor. Teams Campbell or Wiese (if sailing at their best which they normally do) could sail away with the regatta on the first day. It reads as if I spread enough bad juju over my competitors and can only hope for the best. I know it will be fun because it always is when sailing with Simmons. Both A and B fleet are sailing in the normal two-day regatta.

Keep in mind the Huntington Beach Pacific Airshow is October 4-6, and it’s one of the busiest times on the harbor. It reminds me of the Ensenada Race back in the day with hundreds of boats leaving the harbor all at once. The show is best experienced from the water, so you need to call up your long-lost friends with a boat and ask them what they are doing that weekend. Make sure you bring some good rosé with you.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.