The Harbor Report: Sleeping Beauty's owner a true prince

Judy and Mike Inmon's boat "Sleeping Beauty." (Joysailing / July 25, 2013)

By Len Bose

July 25, 2013 | 4:51 p.m.

When you're on the harbor sailing every week, one of the first things you notice is, people who sail more than you. One such sailor is Mike Inmon, in his light blue Venture 23, Sleeping Beauty.

I am sure you have noticed Sleeping Beauty over the last four years. It's hard to miss with its huge square top main and bowsprit. Mike first purchased a similar boat back in 1979 when he was a boat dealer for MacGregor in New Orleans. He only owned the boat for six months before he sold it and purchased a larger MacGregor. The years passed, and Mike and his wife Judy moved to Marina del Rey to run the MacGregor dealership. One day, Judy was looking for a Venture 23 and found one that had been kept in a shed in Arizona and had not seen daylight in 30 years. "It had original upholstery and looked like it was brand new, other than the trailer and outboard," Mike told me.

He purchased new sails, cleaned up the bottom and rigging, then went sailing. Mike sails Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights throughout the summer and our harbor winter series, about 100 races a year. When I asked him if he had any secrets when sailing the harbor, he said, "I try to get on the race course an hour early and look at the wind and tide. I go to certain parts of the bay and check out the racing marks and come up with a plan on how I will round that mark." During the summer, he has the bottom of the boat cleaned once a week and races with a different number of crew, depending on which night he is racing.

I asked Mike if he had a favorite night. "I enjoy them all for different reasons," he said. "Monday nights, American Legion Sundowner Series, are fun because most of the time, we have an upwind leg and we are racing similar boats our size. BCYC Taco Tuesdays are well-run races with a good turnout. I enjoy South Shore Yacht Club's Wednesday nights, because that's the club we belong to and most all the boats are the same size as my boat — plus, the food is good after the racing. Thursday nights are fun because we get to race with the big boats in the harbor."

For the past 34 years, Mike has been selling new boats, and has always sold MacGregor Yachts. Today, he is involved with selling the new MacGregor 70s and plans on racing the new boat next April in the Ensenada race. Over the years, Mike has sold an average of about 40 MacGregor sailboats each year; that's 1,360 boats in his career. As the last remaining salesman at MacGregor, he also took part in most of the factory dealers' sales. That number is off the charts when you consider how many boats MacGregor has sold over the years. In my mind, this places Mike as one of our sport's unsung heroes for introducing sailing to more people than anyone else.

Next time you notice Sleeping Beauty sailing in the harbor or at the yacht club after racing, make sure you say hello to Mike and his crew, then give him a big thank you. Because if you think about it, this is the type of sailor who continues to promote sailing and has done more for our sport than anyone else before him.

Thanks, Mike, and we will sea ya on the harbor soon.

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


ALL PHOTOTS ARE FROM JOYSAILING , Go to her link and find your boat!  ----------------->

The Harbor Report: Fishing lines ready for Offshore Tournament

Participants in the 2013 Balboa Angling Club Junior Program. (Courtesy Balboa Angling Club / July 18, 2013)

By Len Bose

July 18, 2013 | 3:25 p.m.

My first stop this week was with Amy Elliott at the Balboa Angling Club. She was enthusiastic to report, "The first dorado of the season was weighed in at the Balboa Angling Club on Friday, July 12. Clarke Smith is a longtime member of the BAC and, as such, the first dorado of the season earns him the First Dorado Flag. And, it's just in time for our Helen Smith Offshore Tournament scheduled for Aug. 2 and 3.

Clarke Smith 1st Dorado

"The Helen Smith Offshore Tournament was named for the longtime Balboa Angling Club secretary, Helen Smith, who served the club from 1963 to 1999. Helen had a love for fishing and the club, and when she passed away in 2000, the Offshore Tournament was named in her honor. Dorado, tuna, yellowtail and albacore are the species to catch for this tournament, using up to 30# Line Class Maximum. The line will be tested at the Balboa Angling Club; you may test your line before the tournament or after. Anglers will be fishing from 12:01 a.m. Aug. 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 3, with weigh slips due at the club by closing (5 p.m.) Aug. 4.

"First-place trophies will be awarded in each of the categories — Tuna (includes Yellow Fin, Blue Fin and Big Eye), Albacore, Dorado and Yellowtail. The awards party will be held at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 22 at the BAC.

"We're starting all the fun with a kick-off party to be held at 5:30 p.m. July 31 at the Balboa Angling Club. It's a potluck and everyone is welcome. Bring a friend and join the fun.

"Our Junior Tournament runs from June 15 to Aug. 11, with our Awards BBQ at noon Aug. 25."

Speaking of juniors, I took the time to walk through our different yacht clubs, scouts and city junior sailing programs this week. The first thing I thought to myself is how quickly our kids grow up and how much I enjoyed this time with my son. The faces all change, although the last names stay constant. It's fun to observe the kids as they de-rig their sabots. One little girl was just bubbling over with excitement as she told her best friend she would be moving up from C-2s to C-1s. Each sailor can move up in class by doing well in the different races throughout the summer. The little girl's friend's reply was, "You can't go without me," and she replied, "I'm sorry."

Last week, the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club sponsored the Leukemia Cup Regatta, which is part of the Newport High Point Series. The J 133 Tango, last year's winner, was a no-show and allowed Amante to take a commanding lead in the series. The winner of the day was BCYC member Rhonda Tolar aboard her Farr 40 Wild Thing, followed closely by my team aboard the J 109 Linstar. Amante will still need to attend the 14-Mile Bank Race on Oct. 5, which is the last race of the series. Tango or Cirrus still have a chance to catch her, and we cannot leave out Exigent, who can sail this type of random leg course as good as anyone. For the complete series scoreboard, go to lenboseyachts.blogspot.com.

Santa Cruz 50 Horizon 1st in Div 6

This last week, three Newport Beach boats have been participating in the Transpac sailboat race to Hawaii. David Team's Santa Cruz 70 Retro, Ross Pearlman's Jeanneau 52 Between the Sheets and Chris Hemans' Rogers 46 Varuna are approaching Hawaii as you read this. This race has not been a record-beater, but at the same time, it has not been a drifter. Many of the boats have reported near-misses with floating debris, due to the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami. As the sailors approach the islands, they will have to be on their A game because the Molokai Channel lies between them and the finish line. Most have been pacified from the light trade winds of the mid-Pacific and have been baked by the sun. Pending on their arrival time, they could easily find themselves 100 miles out and watch the wind speed jump from 15 to 35 knots. But hey, that's how the best Transpac stories are made!

Sea ya.

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

The Harbor Report: After productive term, sun sets on West

By Len Bose

July 11, 2013 | 4:50 p.m.

I attended this month's Harbor Commission meeting last Wednesday night and thought it might be a good time to update everyone on what's going on in the harbor.

My good friend Doug West's term as chairman ended Wednesday night, and before he gave up the gavel, he reviewed his term and the tasks that the commission has engaged in this year. Doug then went through the list of tasks under the commission's objectives of "Ensuring the longterm welfare of Newport Harbor and promoting Newport Harbor as a preferred and welcoming destination." The commission has made great strides in obtaining a usable RGP 54 dredging permit that is due to be issued April 1, 2014. Progress has been made in monitoring our guest docks and finding new locations for future ones. Huge strides have been made in developing recommendations for the highest and best public use of the Lower Castaways.

One particular city watchdog, who attends every public meeting, gave praise to Doug's effort and stated that this commission is the most organized committee of all the ones he attends. He then gave praise to Doug for all of his hard work.

What I have observed is how Doug has reopened the line of communication between the different city, county and state agencies. In the past, I would observe the commission work through its agenda and make its recommendations, and no one was listening. Now the City Council is receiving detailed presentations of the commission's recommendations and using this information to make decisions. The county's Harbor Patrol has been kept in the loop and has a better understanding of what codes have the attention of the commission. In turn, the commission has a better understanding of the Harbor Patrol and the type of responses it is making. There has been some great improvement along lines of communication. I hope that the past commissioners do not object to my comments. I just feel that over time, the system has gotten better and all of their hard work has not been forgotten.

Our new chairman is Duncan McIntosh, vice chairman is Brad Avery, and secretary is Paul Blank. Doug, Karen Rhyne, David Girling and Joseph Stapleton round out the rest of the Harbor Commission. For the abbreviated task assignments of the harbor commissioners, please go to my blog site at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com.

Under Long Term Welfare of the Harbor:

1. Maintenance dredging of private docks and harbor. (West, McIntosh, Avery)
2. Recommendations for best use of the Lower Castaways ( Avery, Girling, Rhyne)
3. Boat Overhang issues. ( Rhyne, TBD)
4. Harbor Codes, Speed limits, Derelict vessels. ( West, Avery)
5. Boating Education. ( Blank, TBD)
6. Maintain water-related Business on the harbor. ( Blank, TBD)
7. Public outreach. (Girling, Avery)
8. Alternative Moorings solutions ( Avery, TBD)

Promoting Newport Harbor:

1. Collaborate with Visit Newport Beach. (Blank, Girling, West)
2. Public anchorage alternatives. (West, Avery)
3. Public Piers. (Girling, Blank)

The reason I report all this boring information to you is to remind you that you can make a difference. At this last week's meeting, my old idea of a marine recycling center was placed back on the table and could just happen in the Lower Castaways. I am promoting the need for a commercial launch ramp at the Lower Castaways and informed Girling of the state's grant application for new launch ramps.

So if you don't want that second public anchorage in the turning basin, more huge charter boats in the bay, sailboat racing sound signals and angry charter fishing captains racing through the sabot classes, you are going to have to contact your commissioners, attend the harbor meetings, talk to the Harbor Patrol and keep contacting me with your observations. Bring your ideas for improving the harbor and, every so often, thank your Harbor Commission, Harbor Patrol and Harbor Resources Division for a job well done.

Sea ya.

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

The Harbor Report: Get in line to dispose of your boat

Derelict boat

By Len Bose

July 3, 2013 | 4:25 p.m.

I have only a few harbor items to update you on this week.

Orange County received a grant from the Division of Boating and Waterways for the Vessel Turn In Program (VTIP). We have two newly appointed harbor commissioners. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is still considering implementing a Lands Pass to access parts of the Back Bay trail. The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club will be hosting the Leukemia Cup Regatta on July 13 as part of the Newport High Point Series.

Deputy Sean Scoles

When checking in with Deputy Sean Scoles of the Newport Beach Harbor Patrol this week, I was informed that the county received a grant from the Division of Boating and Waterways' VTIP program. This means if you have a derelict boat in the harbor, you can access this grant to dispose of your vessel.

You had better hurry up because the county received only $5,000, and I know of more than one boat out on our moorings that can take advantage of this grant. Personally, I am very disappointed in the amount we received, although Scoles assured me that this was a start and, in time, the program could grow. Let's hope that owners of these derelict boats are informed of this program and start a waiting list.

This last week, the City Council appointed two new harbor commissioners, David Girling and Joseph Stapleton. Girling, the incumbent, has held the seat for little over a year. When he was first selected by the City Council, I thought, how is a non-boater going to have any clue about what's going on in the harbor?

Joseph Stapleton

I was completely wrong in my assumption. He has turned out to be one of the hardest-working commissioners I have witnessed in my five years of attending Harbor Commission meetings, and he is very approachable.

Our newest harbor commissioner is Stapleton. He is 29 years old and has lived on the Balboa Peninsula for the past seven years. Over the past five years, he has been active in the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Commodores Club.

After I talked with him on the phone this week, it became obvious that he had done his due diligence in preparation for taking his seat on the commission. Stapleton has plans to run for City Council and has expressed a concern for the marine industry and its access to the harbor.

David Girling

Mayor Keith Curry sent a letter to the director of the CDFW, Carlton Bonham, this last week expressing our City Council's concerns over the agency imposing a Lands Pass in the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. The CDFW had posted signs, recently removed, notifying people of the need for a pass costing $4.32 per person per day or $22.68 per year.

The state owns most of the Back Bay, and how it intends to implement a type of permit/fishing license for all bay users is beyond me. Curry's letter offered a list of concerns and asked the CDFW to consider rescinding the Land Pass demand.

Like I said, I can't imagine how this can be enforced, but I have been wrong before. I never thought the city could keep us from transferring our mooring permits.

The Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club is hosting the Leukemia Cup Regatta on July 13. This is the second-to-last event in the Newport High Point Series. Roy Jones' J/133 Tango holds a one-point lead over the Richley family's Amante. The Newport High Point Series consists of five races spread out over the year.

It's still anyone's race, and we will be pressing hard to make up the 14-point lead Tango has over us aboard Linstar.

Sea ya.

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

FOR SALE 1992 Sea Ray 370 Sedan Flybridge ASKING $ 88,000

The Sea Ray 370 Sedan Bridge is so well designed it has the feel of a boat twice its size. Sea Ray has managed to squeeze quite a bit of luxury into this 37-foot sport yacht. For starters, the beautiful, split-level interior has an airy salon with a convertible couch, an upholstered lounge chair and a breakfast bar. Adjacent to that is a full-course galley and a private, stand-up head with a shower. The forward stateroom has a queen-sized bed and there's even a lower port stateroom with a double berth for extra guests. The 370 Sedan Bridge has a seven-foot cockpit and a bridge with two captain's chairs, a wrap-around lounge and a spectacular view.

I've seen a lot of boats in my 25 years of being a yacht broker. It's not that often I find them this CLEAN! This boat will sell it's self, you just need to be the first one to inspect her.