The Harbor Report: Oh, what a beautiful mooring

Deputy Sean Scoles of the Newport Beach Harbor Patrol 

By Len Bose

May 30, 2013 | 4:41 p.m.

This week, I sat down with Deputy Sean Scoles of the Newport Beach Harbor Patrol with the intent of introducing myself and learning more about moorings in our harbor.

The first thing I learned was that Sean is very approachable, and he quickly made me feel comfortable talking to him.

From the start of our conversation, I felt like I was talking to someone I had known for years and would call my friend. Sean has been assigned to the harbor department for the last eight years and worked closely with his predecessor, Deputy Carlos Contreras, as the mooring deputy and boat accident investigator.

Sean duties included monitoring the mooring fields, keeping the moorings' maintenance schedule, contacting derelict boat owners, maintaining a mooring waiting list and anything mooring-related.

I learned that a derelict boat is a vessel that is losing its hull integrity and has a high possibility of sinking. "When a vessel sinks, at a mooring, a number of different agencies have to be notified, and a hazmat team is very often called," Sean explained. "An independent salvage crew is also needed to remove the boat from the bottom of the bay. These costs are all on the owner of the boat and are very expensive."

I was informed that mooring permit holders no longer have to keep a boat on their moorings. This can be part of the reason we see so many open moorings in the harbor at this time. If you do happen to own a boat that is in danger of becoming a derelict, your best option is to bite the bullet and pay a salvage company to dispose of your vessel. You also need to keep an eye open and hope that the city receives a grant from the state referred to as the Vessel Turn In Program (VTIP). These grants will be awarded by July 1. Should Newport Beach be so lucky in obtaining this grant, this will be your best option. Stay tuned for more details on this very important topic.

The mooring waiting list was a joke in the past, but that has quickly changed. The time will come when you can no longer transfer your mooring permit, and should you ever decide that the cost of maintaining the mooring no longer fits into your budget, your only option will be to surrender the mooring back to the city and collect the value of your mooring equipment. I wondered how the waiting list will work?

At this time, there are 250 people on the waiting list. Every two years, the people on the list have to respond to a letter that they still have interest in obtaining a mooring. If they do not respond, they are off the list. When a mooring is returned to the city, the next person on the list will receive the permit and have to pay for the mooring tackle. At this time, it is unclear if the person at the top of the list can pass because they do not like the location of the mooring. It is also unclear if you can trade your permit with another permit holder to obtain that better location.

So I would advise, if you ever considered purchasing a mooring permit and you want a certain location in our harbor, the time is now to act. Another thing I would advise is not to hesitate in contacting Sean with your mooring questions. Like in any office, the person at the front desk is the key holder, and in our case, that's Sally Cooper. Sally has been one of my favorite people around the harbor and always goes out of her way to answer my silly questions. Sean and Sally make a great team, and we are very lucky to have them. In fact, if any county supervisor reads my column, make sure you give Sally a pay raise; she is worth every penny.

Big race this weekend at the Lido Isle Yacht Club. It's the Senior Sabot Nationals, and all of the best of the best in Southern California will be out racing. I plan on going out to watch and will provide a recap of the race in my next week's column.

Sea ya.

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

Around Catalina Aboard LINSTAR

Hello Everyone,

Fun race this last weekend “Around Catalina”. We sailed a very consistent race making very few mistakes earning a 2nd in class, 1 min. out of first, and 10th overall. In fact, I don’t recall making any mistakes? OK, maybe two mistakes, one by not bringing the propane tank and feeding everyone a hot meal and the other by not having a camera to take a photo at the end of the gig.   http://www.dpyc.org/race/results/2013/CatIsl13.pdf   

             

                                      

     

Pre-race things could not have gone any better by adding two more people to “The Bands” roster and Milton returning from his solo tour. Greg Wall and Patrick Kincaid have agreed to sit in for awhile and continue to work with us as we proceed in our quest in becoming local rock stars. We all understand it takes 10 members to keep us in tune with at least 6 members attending each gig. Yes, we missed “The Big Kahuna” John as he continues his world tour. Ada is still recovering from her stage accident and Gary had to take care of his peoples.

MVP this week goes to Milton and Patrick. The work you two did in the AM hours was just outstanding, out of the park, killer, impressive, distinguished or just fucking lucky. I don’t know what you two did but thats when the race was won. “Well Done” Milton and Patrick.

Quotes from the gig: “ The Beer and a Muffin Show” with Big Rob and L.Bose. Len “I think we are a minute early for the start” Milton “No Lenny we got it, keep going”. Rob “Fuck Propane”. Milton “ I ate so much, I am going to fart green”.

What quotes do you remember?

Well done everyone next race is June 8th  Ocean Racing Series # 7  BCYC. Please RSVP. ASAP!

Remember to join this weeks MVP “Milton, mumbles, Santos” and his pick up band every Thursday night this summer!

Party on!

The Harbor Report: Trophy brings back memories of a friend

Doug Campbell, left, a member of the Balboa Yacht Club, poses for a photo with Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club commodore Tom Madden after accepting the 2013 Edward F. Kennedy memorial trophy during opening day for the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club on May 11. (KEVIN CHANG, Daily Pilot / May 11, 2013)

By Len Bose

May 23, 2013 | 4:26 p.m.

Every so often, I find a favorable wind shift and pull a rabbit out of my hat. This last weekend, it was my turn to get lucky and win the 2013 Lorin Weiss Series sailed in Harbor 20s out of the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. Lorin Weiss was a very good friend of mine who sold me advertising in Santana Magazine; I sold his Cal 2-46 "IdleWeiss" for him, and he made you smile every time you noticed him around town. Lorin passed away about 10 years ago, and ever since BCYC named this regatta after him, I would look across the harbor during this event and want my name on that trophy. Something tells me I had a little help from an old friend last weekend. Thanks, Lorin.

Lorin Weiss "he made you smile every time you noticed
him around town"

Now, this is a strange way to go into an interview, but it just feels right for me to go from one of our harbor's best to another. Most of you might have noticed Doug Campbell receiving the prestigious 2013 Edward F. Kennedy Memorial Trophy during BCYC opening day a couple of weeks ago. This award is given out to our harbor's yachtsmen of the year. I first met Doug 15 years ago at a Balboa Yacht Club race council meeting, and as soon as he started talking, I knew this guy knows his stuff, he does not want to waste time and he truly wants to improve yachting in Newport Harbor.

The next time I met Doug, we were doing mark set for a BYC regatta and we were both in a 23-foot Skipjack by the name of "Gringo." The sea conditions were difficult and I was having problems keeping one of the marks in the boat, and Doug, from the helm of the boat, reached back over the helm chair and grabbed hold of the mark. Just then, we came off a rather large swell and landed hard, and Doug broke a couple of his ribs. I continued to ask him if we should retire from the race and head in, but he wanted to complete our task and waited for the race to finish.

These are just some of the reasons Doug's name is now on the Edward F. Kennedy Memorial Trophy. Other past winners of this award are Swede Johnson, Almon Lockabey, Burt Zillgitt, Gil Knudson, David Grant, Brad Avery, Carter Ford, Nick Scandone, Jerry Moulton, Rod Woods and Mike Pinckney, just to name a few.

Doug was born in Toronto and started sailing Albacores in the lakes north of his hometown. After graduating from the University of Toronto, Doug went to work for the Coleman Company, then, after a few years started his own company. In 1975, Doug was recruited to become president and CEO of the Hobie Cat Company.

From 1975 to 1989, Doug ran the Hobie Cat Company and, as you can guess, spent most of his sailing time on Hobie 14s, 16s, 18s, and 33s. "That was a fun job; that was a great job," Doug explained and inflected his pride in running one of the most successful fiberglass boat manufacturing companies to date. Just ask anyone who is sailing now on our harbor, "What was the first boat you owned?" I bet eight out of 10 people you asked would say, "Hobie Cats." During the time Doug ran Hobie, I bought and sold three 16s myself, and it's the first boat I owned. Other boats Doug sailed and owned were a Santa Cruz 27, a Lido 14 and Twitchell 12s. Unfortunately, Doug hurt his back playing hockey as a kid, and it's kept him out of sailboat racing the last few years.

Doug Campbell with Hobie Jr testing the Hobie 18

Doug's back injury did not keep him off the water; after he retired from Hobie Cat, he became the U.S. and international sailing judge. For 15 years, he was chief judge for the Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race. He worked at the 1996 Savannah Olympics as a rules judge for the Solings and Tornados, then later in a couple of Pan Am Games.

While I was interviewing Doug, the question came to mind if he had any comments on the state of the harbor and sailing in Newport Beach? "I find it a little distressing what's happening in boating," he explained with concern in his voice. "I think that the city is hurting boating, I really do. There might be a Laffer curve on fees, assessments, and taxes on boats in Newport Harbor. I have never seen so many open slips and moorings. People are moving to Long Beach and Dana Point, and there comes a point when you get diminishing returns. I feel boating is very important to our harbor." Hearing this type of comment from someone of Doug's stature makes me go hmmm?

Summer is here, and I am skippering the J 109 Linstar in a race around Catalina Island this weekend. Wish me luck.

Sea ya.

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

For Sale: 2001 Tiara 3500 berthed in Newport Beach

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The Harbor Report: As season approaches, get to-do list ready

By Len Bose

May 9, 2013 | 2:13 p.m.

As most of you already know, last weekend and this weekend open the season for our harbor's yacht clubs. This is the time of year boat owners should have completed their "to-do lists" and are ready for the 2013 boating season.

What, you have not completed your list? Don't feel bad; I still have 20 items on the J 109 Linstar list and five on my Harbor 20 to complete. Over the years, I have entered boats in my club's yacht inspection and worked my way down the general criteria list. This list includes checking my safety gear by making sure it's up-to date — with flares, fire extinguishers, EPIRB (emergency position indicating radio beacons), life rafts and ditch bags.

The typical opening-day inspection process starts early in the morning with yacht club inspectors walking though your boat asking you questions and working their way through the general criteria list. Owners are aboard to answer questions and, for the most part, sell their efforts of preparing their boat for the upcoming season.

I have always felt that something was missing in the inspection criteria, and that is the boat's first mate being present during inspection. I have watched a number of skippers' faces turn sour — yes, that's green after it turns red — when I have, as an inspector, turned to the first mate and asked them questions about the boat. Questions like: Can you show me the latitude and longitude (L&L) of the boat; can you show me the L&L of our harbor entrance; what VHF channel can you call for assistance on; what is the location of the medical kit, EPRIB and life raft? If you are the first mate, can you answer these types of questions and return your vessel home safely should something unfortunate happen to your skipper? If you can answer these questions, your vessel should receive extra points during inspection.

If you can't answer some of these questions, it's time you learn. On your next outing, ask if you can start the boat at the dock; you do not have to pull the boat out of the slip, but you should be able to steer a course from a compass. Make sure, as a first mate, you take part in your ship's routine. As a skipper, I can't tell how many times I have had to hand the helm over to my first mate, Jennifer. I am lucky in many ways, but Jennifer never has been intimidated to take the helm of our boats, and it's taken many years for her to understand how to use the safety and navigation items. Now I just need to make her comfortable with my anchoring in Catalina rather than always picking up a mooring, but that's another story.

Another opening day bug-a-boo I have is flag etiquette. There is no real pattern to dressing your signal flags during opening day or on the 4th of July and other special occasions. Most yacht clubs will follow the standard sequence, but what gets me the most bothered is timing. While driving by the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club this Friday through Sunday, you will notice how many boats will be dressed for well over a week.

If I was a club inspector, I would not give out awards until after sunset on opening day because that's when your colors should be taken down. Personally, (don't ask me why), flag etiquette is very important to me. Ships' flags and ensign should be raised at 8 a.m. and drawn at sunset. I would be elated if everyone followed these standards — and how smart would that yacht club look if its members did this in unison? Can you imagine what it would be like to be at your club and watch everyone raise their flags at 8 a.m. and drop them at sunset when the cannon is shot? In my book, you would be the best-dressed club in town.

Keep in mind, opening day is all about using your boats safely and having fun while doing it. I will be at BCYC on Saturday for opening ceremonies and then over to BYC, where Linstar will be open for you to stop by and say hello. If you would like to make a difference in our harbor, the city is accepting applications for the open Harbor Commission seat up until the 15th of this month. If you are the type of sailor who yells protest when you have been fouled on the race course and flies your protest, then does not file your protest, it's time you do! If you feel you have been fouled a lot lately, it's time you take it to the room and get involved with our harbor by applying for harbor commissioner.

Sea ya.

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

The Harbor Report: Riding the sun with Riding Currents

By Len Bose

May 2, 2013 | 4:19 p.m.

This last week, I was able to catch up with Billy Dutton of Riding Currents, a group dedicated to promoting renewable energy, raising awareness about plastics in the ocean and recognizing the advancement of renewable energy and its application to watercraft.

To achieve this goal, Billy and Mark Ward founded the group Riding Currents, then selected the Duffy 22 electric boat as their vessel. SunPower provided the power with solar panels and Trojan batteries (T-145s) were used to store that energy. The three companies worked together to properly install their equipment for maximum efficiency.

To gain the attention of the public, Billy and Mark thought it would be fun to take a type of surfing safari from Santa Barbara to Ensenada, Mexico in their custom Duffy 22, only using the power generated by the solar panels. During their 300-mile trip down the California coast, the crew would take water samples, collect floating plastics and look for some tasty waves to surf.

Last October, when the team started its journey, fall was in the air and sea conditions in the Channel Islands were at small craft warnings. During Billy and Mark's run from Santa Barbara to Ventura, the wind and waves were behind them; it was reported that while entering Ventura Harbor, the Duffy 22, with its small sail area of enclosure windows, propelled down a wave at 14 knots of boat speed. Can you imagine the look on Billy and Mark's faces as they dropped into that wave? You have to give it to Duffy boats for building a solid boat and steering system to meet these sea conditions. The Riding Currents team completed its cruise in two weeks' time and achieved its goals, arriving in Ensenada safely.

With summer quickly approaching, the Riding Currents team took advantage of our harbor's busy April boating schedule and decided to take the boat around Catalina — this time nonstop, again promoting renewable energy and its application to watercraft.

On April 19, the team was again greeted with challenging sea conditions, but nothing it had not seen six months earlier. This time, Billy's crew was Brady Hollingsworth, and the team was escorted by Duffy electric boat owner Marshall Duffield aboard his pristine Bertram 55 "Following Sea." Again, this week, I am reminded of the "Gilligan's Island" theme playing over in my head. As the team approached Catalina, the weather started getting rough as the winds approached 25 knots. Billy explained, "Duffy took the Following Sea around the back side of Catalina to give us a weather report as we ducked into Avalon. About 50 minutes [later], the report came back that everything was still a go, but it was not going to be as easy as they wanted."

As the team rounded the east end of Catalina, the sun had set, and in the darkness, the winds grew in strength with gusts reaching 35 knots at times. With the escort boat only about 25 yards abeam, the team made it up the back side of the island and to the west end by sunrise, where it was greeted by a fog bank. Just as the team started to get concerned about the extra power that was needed to make it through the rough sea conditions, the fog lifted and the sun poked out through the marine layer. By 6:30 p.m. Saturday, the team was tying the boat back up at Newport Harbor.

Again, this journey brought more awareness to boat builders and the public of renewable and clean energy applications to watercraft. The SunPower'd Duffy circumnavigated Catalina with only the sun to recharge its batteries.

For photos of this trip and my review of the Ensenada race, go to my blog site at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com.

Sea ya.

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