The Harbor Report: Opening day honors

Pam and John Duley's boat, Wasabi. (John Duley / May 21, 2014)

By Len Bose

May 30, 2014 | 9:54 a.m.

As I headed out around the harbor this week, I realized I have not written about this year's opening days inspection winners. The time put in by these owners in preparing their vessels is overwhelming and should be recognized each season.

I have always been an advocate of preparing my boat for inspection on opening day but not with the intention of winning an award. I do it for the peace of mind that my boat will be ready for the upcoming season. One of my biggest fears is that the boat will have a major breakdown while at sea with my family and guests aboard.

The other benefit for me is the inspection marks a completion date for my spring maintenance.

This year at the Balboa Yacht Club, Pam and John Duley won the best overall boat with their Bertram 48-foot Wasabi. The Duleys have a long history of maintaining and keeping their boats in Bristol condition. Their previous boat Marlineer was a standout vessel in opening day inspections and made jaws drop when seen in Catalina.

After the Duleys sold her, they spent the next two years looking for the proper vessel that would meet their taste and desired use. They found a clean Bertram 46 and proceeded to do their magic aboard their new boat.

"The boat was very clean to start with," John Duley said. "We came in and changed the interior decor, replaced the forward hatch, painted out the bilges and updated the head system. We also updated our electronics and went through the boat's steering system and charted out the location of all of our thru hulls."

I have to give it to the Duleys for maintaining their boat themselves. They are true yachtsmen. John's last comment was almost identical to mine in regard to why he enjoys participating in opening day inspections: "It places a time frame on when everything must be completed."

Other winners at BYC were Michelle and Randall Waier with their Little Harbor, Grateful Hearts. Chandelle Humphries' Grand Banks 46, Hokule'a, Deidre and Steve Bird aboard their Buddy Davis 39, Proud Bird, and Mary and Craig Fritzsche's Catalina 36, Just Kidding.

Farwell and Hill Family's Colnett

Over at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, the Hill family won the sought-after Shirley Meserve award aboard the yacht Colnett. It's my understanding that this award is given to the yacht that is best prepared to go to sea. Everything on the vessel from ship systems to safety gear is organized and understood by the crew.

The following description was given to me by part-owner and highly sought after marine surveyor Bunker Hill. Colnett is a 42-foot motor cruiser built in 1924 and commissioned in early 1925. She was built for her original owner, Mr. Vaughn, by Seacraft Shipyard in Wilmington. She was constructed to Edson B. Schock Design No. 307.

The hull is carvel planked with cedar on bent oak frames. Her cabins are built of select teak with tongue and groove decks. The original power was an Eastern Standard gasoline engine. Changes from the original drawings include a modified window layout, an aft mast stepped to the top of the upper deck and fitted with a crow's nest viewing platform.

Other winners at NHYC were Karen and Tom Linden's 46-foot Marlineer Rascal which took home the Commodores Trophy. Susie and Brian Burke's Offshore 62-foot Hau Tree, the Beneteau 47.7-foot Impasse and Bob McClair's J/32, Esprit.

Refreshing this year was that the overall winners for both BYC and NHYC were maintained by the owners. Watching and seeing the owners of these two fine vessels take home the inspection awards was encouraging.

Next time you see Hill or John Duley around town make sure you give them a proper "Well done." Who knows, you might be able to strike up a conversion with them and learn a couple of yacht maintenance secrets.

Send in your photos of your catch!

And I have said before: Ask your yacht club and its members to form a competition based on removing Mylar balloons out of the water.

Last week while sailing around Catalina aboard Linstar in the Cabrillo to Dana Point race, we picked up four bundles of balloons. We sailed past four bundles before we started picking them up. Take a photo of your catch and then properly dispose of the balloons. Send your photos to me and I will post them on my blog site.

Maybe I can find a sponsor to give us an award and we can recognize the club or person who has brought in the most helium balloons this year.

Sea ya.

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

Taco Tuesday # 3 Pre Game Write up

PZZ655-271700-

 INNER WATERS FROM POINT MUGU TO SAN MATEO PT. CA INCLUDING SANTA CATALINA AND ANACAPA ISLANDS-341 AM PDT TUE MAY 27 2014

TODAY...SE WINDS 10 TO 15 KT...BECOMING W 10 KT IN THE

 AFTERNOON.

Sailflow has the wind between 7-10 for tonight.

Its summer, its warm and I want to go sailing! Last week, in A fleet, it was Nic that was on fire the week before that was Phil Thompson. Who will it be this week? My money is with David Levy braking free and showing his stuff. You never know if one of the Kids from NHYC might show our if Argyle will attend. 

In B fleet: John Whitney has been leading the fleet around the course over the last two weeks with the Dragon Lady close behind. My money is on Team Killian this week, they had some great boat speed last week and the boat has taken the bit and is starting to come to full speed. B fleet will also see Rolly make it to the top of the fleet, he is due.

In C Fleet: Its been a great battle between Sellinger and Volk. Something tells me that Lighting could strike this warm summer night. Team Volk has had some tremendous boat speed and it should be their night tonight. C fleet will also notice Jesse Rivera work his way to the top of the fleet. But the team that will pushing the top performers tonight will be Team Everson. They had great form last week and just could not put a race together, watch out for them tonight.

As always practice starts will be on the top of tonights agenda followed by as many as four races.

I can feel it already, it’s going to be great.

 If anyone would like to coach tonight we need a volunteer, call me, (714) 916-0200, if you would like to help out? If you would just like to come out and watch the races and take photos that would also be a big help. I will provide the camera and boat.

Sea ya

The Harbor Report: Bahia's junior sailing program is a value

BCYC Jr. Sailing Team

By Len Bose

May 23, 2014 | 1:11 p.m.

Over the last couple of weeks I have been active at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club Taco Tuesdays race nights with the Harbor 20 fleet.

I have been coaching the fleet and setting up three-boat-length markers at the leeward mark. I've also been helping out the race committee from an active Harbor 20 sailor's perspective. I am probably more a pain in their side than anything else, but the racing has gone smoothly for the amount of breeze we have been having. Should you like to read my race reports, visit my blog lenboseyachts.blogspot.com.

While preparing for the night races, I have been impressed with the organization of the clubs' racing equipment and the maintenance of its coach boats. While checking out one of the coach boats, I had the opportunity to reacquaint myself with the clubs' junior director, Pete Dodosh.

Peter Dodosh

He has been an instructor at BCYC for 10 years and has worked his way up from the docks into the junior director's office, where he has taken the helm of the program for the last two years.

This year's junior sailing program runs June 23 through Aug. 1. The BCYC program is open to kids 5 to 17. Dodosh said the 5- to 7-year-olds are entered into the club's Starfish class that runs from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The other yacht clubs are Monday through Thursday and only half-day sessions.

The Starfish classes include time with professional teachers, swimming instruction from certified lifeguards and of course lessons from some of the best sailors this harbor has to offer.

Last year's Sabot Nationals champion Derek Pickell has signed up for this year's coaching staff and will be instructing C3 sailors to A-fleet sabot sailors. The BCYC coaching staff is stacked with local and international sailing talent including Cameron Maclaren, Charlie Welsh, Jack Donnell, Wills Johnson, Alex Ivory, Ainsley Henderson and Shelby Gualter.

Dodosh said the coach boats have been serviced by Tradewinds Marine and all of the club's flying juniors boats, for the kids who have outgrown sabots, have had all of their standing rigging replaced and are ready for the upcoming summer.

Every year I walk through almost all of the junior programs facilities from San Diego to San Francisco while I am showing boats at the different yacht clubs in our state. Over the last 10 years the BCYC junior program has continued to improve and in my opinion is one of best values offered to introduce children to our harbor.

You can sign up at bcyc.org and then clicking on the juniors link. The program can only handle 90 participants and after Memorial Day, spots fill up quickly.

BCYC has made me the chairman of its yachting strategic planning committee to look five to 10 years into the future and come to a consensus on the direction the club should consider taking. If you notice me around town and would like to talk about ways of improving yachting in our harbor please stop me. I am always willing to listen.

Marshall "Duffy" Duffield

Speaking of improving our harbor, I cannot begin to explain how pleased I am to read that Marshall "Duffy" Duffield has agreed to run for Newport Beach City Council. Over the last eight years of attending Harbor Commission meetings I've observed that Duffield does his homework and gets things done. Like what we used to say as kids when things changed for the better, "Balboa." This is good news for the harbor.

Sea ya.

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

BCYC Taco Tuesdays # 2

Nik is in boat 109

If you did not make it to BCYC Taco Tuesdays # 2 you plum missed out on an epic night! The breeze was out of the west at about 11-15 knots with a few intimidating dark clouds lingering in the sky. The A’s and B’s started together and had nine boats on the line. While in C fleet five boats showed up at the starting line.

The first thing I noticed on the race course was “I like my boat.” Zack Maxam and his girl   friend Christine volunteered to sail my boat while I hopped back into the coaching boat. I knew that the breeze would be up and I set up my upper shrouds at 28 and my lowers at 18. During the last beat of the night I powered through the fleet and got in front of the two lead boats #109 & 108. By looking at this photo from this angle it appears that boat 108 headstay is not following off as much as 109. Also notice that boat 108 had its traveler down all the way, look how the top of the main is opened up. From my perceptive I still going to keep my traveler centered in the bigger breeze and should the breeze reach 17+ knots I will throw in a reef between races.

What else did I observe? There are many people sitting to far back in the boat while sailing to weather.  Scroll through the photos and take a look and what I am talking about. While attending Peter Haynes boat handling course, keep in mind the next course is June 21, I learned that the helmsmen should be sitting to weather in front of the tiller, with the crew sitting shoulder to shoulder with the helmsmen in heavy breeze.  

I also noticed people, with tiller extensions, move the helm more than people with two fingers on the tiller.

While attending Haynes seminar on June 21 at BCYC pay close attention on how to flatten out your sails. Again scroll through the photos and look for your boat. Then tell me if you have enough downhaul on your jib or backstay and outhaul on your main?

I would encourage everyone to come aboard the coach boat, at least once this summer,

and watch the races from a different perspective. Peter Haynes has told me he is willing to coach the month of July. I would like to keep the coach boat out every week and get other opinions on how to achieve optimal performance from our boats and take photos.

I am going to start racing next week and need some volunteers coaches? We are just looking for one night, showing up at BCYC by 5:15 and the boat will be ready for you.

Quotes of the night:

Shana Conzelman was quick to inform me that I had added Marks points incorrectly and he still needed to win one more B fleet race before he goes up into A Fleet. When I asked Shana and Mark if they would place a web cam from their house onto the race course for this summers Tuesdays and Thursdays races they said they would look into it. The Conzelman’s have a perfect view of the course from their dock and if anyone can pull this off they can. This would be a perfect tool to sell the fleet and increase attendance.

Nik Froehlich “ I like what you are doing out there Len.”

David Levy “ I can’t figure out why my main is inverting so much down wind?”

Emile Pilafidis came up to me twice “ Did you get photos tonight, it’s a spectacular evening.”

For up to date photos and comments go to my facebook page at Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Newport Beach or my blog site at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com

That was one of the better nights we have had in a long time!

Sea ya

BCYC Taco Tuesdays H20 style.

TUE NIGHT...WESTERN PORTION...W WINDS 20 TO 25 KT BECOMING NW 15 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. ELSEWHERE...W WINDS 15 TO 20 KT BECOMING VARIABLE 10 KT OR LESS AFTER MIDNIGHT. COMBINED SEAS 6 TO 8 FT DOMINANT PERIOD 8 SECONDS.

Sailflow is showing 15 Knots

Week two of BCYC Taco Tuesdays. Its summer time and the sun’s up, will you have your sailing skills sharpened for this Tuesday night? If the forecast is correct it will be breeze on and it might be enough to consider reefing your mainsail? It’s a fair guess it will be better to sail with crew!

I will be out coaching again and setting the 3 boat length marks at the leeward mark. I’ll also be taking lots of photos. Tip of the week “Sheet out when you go to duck someone.”

Teams showing up: In A fleet, Weightman/Thompson won last week and will be back at it this week. Yates/Kincaide, Froehlich/Haynes. I thought it would be interesting to watch my boat from a different perspective and have invited  Zack Maxam to sail my boat.  We are all looking forward Argyle Campbell making his first appearance into the fleet. We will also be greeting Team Conzelman into A fleet. 

B Fleet: Will be well attended again with Whitney, Sangster/Johnson, Graveline, and the Pilafidis. I have to assume Rolly will make it this week. 

C Fleet: Team Sellinger, Volk/Reader, Rivera and Kohl will be attending. Lets hope that Bacon, Barnes, Everson Houghton and Lamb will be joining in on the fun.

Sea ya

The Harbor Report: This week's tour of the harbor

Sail making lessons at North sails in Costa Mesa

By Len Bose

May 16, 2014 | 4:51 p.m.

I made three rather interesting stops while making my way around the harbor this week.

My first stop was at the new North Sails loft, located within the MacGregor Yachts facility on Placentia Avenue in Costa Mesa. I went there to meet with my friend Zack Maxam and fix one of our spinnakers we blew up on this year's Ensenada race. I was introduced to Dolph Gabeler, one of North's master sail makers.

Gabeler told me about his work for the Ocean Institute and the tall ship Pilgrim. Gabeler and has been offering free lessons on Pilgrim sail repair at the North loft in Costa Mesa. "If there is anyone out there that would like to learn how to repair these square sails and learn the art of traditional sail making, please give me a call," Gabeler said. This program sounds very interesting and might even give you a chance to go sailing aboard this fine vessel. You can reach Gabeler at (949) 645-4660.

My next stop was the Newport Harbor Shipyard, where I met the manager, Jesse Salem. I was bringing in my listing on a gorgeous 45-foot Jeanneau Sun Odyssey sailboat. After I reviewed the work that was needed with Salem, he said, "Hey, Len, you need to come check the yard's new water recycling system." It quickly became obvious that the shipyard had spent a lot of money on a new water treatment system. "When the city dredged the Rhine Channel, they got everything clean, so that sent a sign to us to do everything we possible can to keep it clean," Salem said.

NHSY OilTrap water recycling system

One of the largest expenses for any shipyard is filtering and recycling the water it uses. Newport Harbor Shipyard has just purchased and installed the OilTrap ElectroPulse water treatment system. This system uses electrocoagulation technology to remove heavy metals, solids, oil and grease and other contaminants from the yard's water. I cannot even begin to explain how this system works, although I did pick up on a few things.

The shipyard has four deselecting sumps that collect the water from the shipyard and the dry storage. This water is sent through the water recycling system and then reused within the shipyard. This type of recycling is referred to as a closed system, where the shipyard continues recycling the same water.

You have to give credit to the folks at Newport Harbor Shipyard for going the extra mile for us, because maintaining this system will not be inexpensive. Removal of one cubic yard of the hazardous waste that comes out of this filtering system costs the shipyard $2,300 to haul away. The yard estimates that it will produce 15 cubic yards of hazardous waste per year. Then you will have to add in the cost of the electromagnetic cells that will need to be replaced almost every month along with all the chemicals to balance out the water. As a harbor user, I would ask the city to give the owners of the yard a tax break on their permits for installing such a recycling system.

My last stop was this month's Harbor Commission meeting. Reports were given by the chairs of the floating docks and water taxi ad hoc committees. It was my understanding that the pilot program for the floating docks would cost about $150,000 to $200,000 for six floating docks. These docks will be about 50 feet in length and six feet wide. There will be three systems of floating docks, with two docks per system. The program will last for one year and over two summers. Should we do this? In my opinion, yes.

The idea of making a better mooring system and reducing the footprint of the mooring fields is smart money.

The water taxi report came in a little differently, with four boats needed at a estimated cost of $150,000 each. Throw in $200,000 for employee salaries over two years, updating stopping points to meet city code, maintenance on four boats over two years and other marketing expenses, and my simple math estimates that $1 million would be needed for a two-year pilot program.

Should we do this? In my opinion, no. This just does not seem like money well spent. It was reported that Mayor Rush Hill has instructed the Harbor Commission to look into the concept of the city owning its own dredging equipment. I like this concept; I'm just not sure if this type of equipment should be outsourced. More to come on this topic.

Sea ya.

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

First Yellowtail Weighed in at the Balboa Angling Club

The first Yellowtail of the season was weighed in at the Balboa Angling Club May 14^th by longtime member Paul Hoofe earning him the First Yellowtail Flag.  His catch weighed in at 44.72 lbs. and was caught using 20# line.  Hoofe and other members of the BAC are getting ready for the YSH Tournament, scheduled for June 5^th through 8^th. 

Yellowtail, Seabass and Halibut are the species to catch in this tournament using up to 30# line class maximum for only $40 per angler.  Non-members are always welcome.   Anglers will fish from 8:00 p.m. on Thursday to noon on Sunday, with weigh slips due at the club by 2:00 p.m. with an awards party to follow at 4:00 p.m.  A kick-off party with a potluck is planned for 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4^th at the Balboa Angling Club and everyone is welcome.  The clubhouse is located at 200 A Street (just a few doors down from the Balboa Pavilion) with plenty of parking at the Balboa Pier.  For more information, call (949) 673.6316 or visitbalboaanglingclub.org.

It’s open enrollment time at the Balboa Angling Club right now!  Memberships run from January through December at the yearly cost of  $175/single; $225/family; and $25/junior with no monthly dues.  To find out more about the club, come down to the clubhouse or go online to balboaanglingclub.org.

Boat Handling and Sail Trim.

This last Tuesday night started the 2014 Taco Tuesdays summers series. Fourteen boats made it to the starting line and were greeted with an un-seasonally warm weather and puffy conditions.

Prior to race time the wind had shifted from a prevailing Santa Ana, wind out of the northeast, to our normal westerly at about 8-12 knots with puffs getting close to 15 knots. For a H20 sailing in Newport Beach,  it was “breeze on!”

In an effort to support the fleet and the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club I thought it would be a good idea to be present on the race course from the advantage of a coach boat. With this in mind I used Walter Johnson’s idea of setting three marks sixty feet to weather of the leeward mark to indicate the three boat length zone. 

As the race committee went into the practice start sequence, I estimated that we had a least five practice starts, I went around to C and B sailors and asked them if they would like my assistance and observations before and after racing to increase their performance.

One of the first people on the starting line was Jesse Rivera aboard the syndicated boat # 14 “Harbor Sol”. Rivera has been sailing on the harbor for many years as part of the Peterson 34 Pussycat team. But when you throw a new person, with a new boat, into the H20 fleet on a windy Tuesday night it can be a bit overwhelming. When I approached Rivera and asked if he would like any coaching,he quickly accepted. The first thing I told him was that he needed to flatten his main by raising the halyard all the way up to the black ban, maxing out his outhaul, backstay and then vang. He sailed rather consistently throughout the night and became much more comfortable in the boat. 

Next I approached Michael Volk aboard boat # 81 “Lighting”. After accepting my invitation to coaching we did the same thing as Rivera and flattened out his main. I also spent some time following Volk around the race course and made a number of suggestions after the race was completed.

I noticed that many people where having a difficult time pulling in on their main sheet while rounding the leeward marks and placing themselves in the right position within their own boats. Last winter I wrote a short blurb on how I practice my boat handling, so if a couple of skippers would like to meet me at BYC some weekend, I would be willing to run a ninety minute practice at M mark.

You have all noticed Peter Haynes seminars schedule? From what I observed last Tuesday night most all of us should attend Haynes next seminar “Boat Handling and Sail Trim” on June 21.  I have attended these seminars in the past and can attest that this is time well spent.

I will be coaching next Tuesday and will be following the same format. The best way for you to take advantage of this coaching, other than sailing Tuesday nights, is to attend the after race festivities at BCYC. Buy me a drink, and we can review what we learned on the water that night. This is also the perfect time to review the racing rules.

The after racing activities was fun this week with quotes from John Whitney: “ That’s what those little white marks where for.” Michael Volk” “ Thanks for helping me out Len, is there a time when we practice together?” Jesse Rivera: “ I got the boat Tuesday nights and will be here all summer long. I want to learn more!”

We need volunteers! I would like to make this program work throughout the summer and not give up all my racing time. Is anyone interested in joining me next week and then taking it upon yourself the following week? Call me if you can help!

sea ya

The Harbor Report: Hear the cannons? It's yacht season again

By Len Bose

May 9, 2014 | 3:31 p.m.

By now, I am sure you have all heard the squealing sounds of the buffing wheels, as people clean and wax their boats for their yacht clubs' opening day.

Opening day in the harbor started last weekend with the Lido Isle Yacht Club, American Legion Yacht Club and Newport Harbor Yacht Club. This weekend, the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club and Balboa Yacht Club will start the yachting season with a loud roar of their signal cannons.

The sounds of the different signal cannons echoing throughout the harbor means it's time for summer activities to start. This is my favorite time of year, when I can sail almost every night of the week.

Last week, the American Legion Yacht Club started the Sundowner Series, which runs to the end of August. This has turned out to be one of the best-attended series of the summer by starting first and keeping it fun. Last Monday night, 43 boats made it out to the starting line, with almost all of the race participants returning to the club for its Cinco de Mayo party.

Next week, the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club starts its Taco Tuesdays. This too has become a fantastic summer event, with team Wild Thing creating one of the best after-race parties the harbor has to offer. Team Wild Thing is led by Rhonda Tolar, who has found some of the best raffle giveaways, from dry shirts to my favorite: a box of Hot Tamales candy. In the Harbor 20 fleet, we have as many as four races, and if you show up a little early, we will have three or four practice starts.

The first couple of races this season, I will try to find an extra dinghy and bring out some marks to indicate the three-boat-length zone at our turning marks. Another idea will be to find a couple of sailors who have a solid understanding of the rules and can be on the water to help participants with their questions, boat speed and tactics. If you are not a Harbor 20 sailor and would like to catch up on rules and ride along with us, be sure to drop me a note or call. I have a lot of other silly ideas we might try this summer, so please keep in touch.

On June 12, the Twilight Series start on Thursday nights at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. This event always brings out the best in the Harbor 20 fleet, with over 40 boats entered last year. One of my favorite Thursday night features is that the fleet gets a lot of guests, which include a number of sailing All-Americans who have recently graduated from college. Add this to the normal blend of the Harbor 20 fleet sailors, and everyone shows up with their game faces on.

Another item I like to keep in front of everyone is the Newport Aquatic Center. If you want to learn to row or paddle, you have to check out the NAC. This is where it all started in our harbor, and, without a doubt, it offers some of the best coaching in the country. NAC offers a Kids Paddle Camp and Novice Rowing Camp. You can contact the NAC at (949) 646-7725.

If you want to spend more time fishing this summer, contact the Balboa Angling Club. For a junior to join, it's only $25, and it gets your kids out of the house and onto the harbor. The next event at the Balboa Angling Club is the open house on May 10 starting at 1 p.m. There will be a few guest speakers and food and refreshments for everyone.

The BCYC Lorin Weiss Series, sailed in Harbor 20s, will wrap up on the 18th. In A fleet, Penny and Rod Graham, sailing Lido's Heartbeat, and Debra and Peter Haynes, aboard Spirit, will fight it out to get their names on the first-place bell. In B fleet, Hollie and Lee Sutherland have a good lead but will still need to keep an eye on Mark Conzelman. In C fleet, Kathryn Reed and her brother Ted aboard Wood In It Be Nice have a very strong lead and appear to be adding their names to the new trophy this year.

Sea ya.

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

The Harbor Report: In search of the perfect fishing spot

This year's Lily Call Grand slam winner Greg Taite

By Len Bose

May 2, 2014 | 6:17 p.m.

While a few of us sailed down to Ensenada last weekend, most stayed in town and participated in the Balboa Angling Club's 51st Annual Lily Call Bay Tournament on April 26 and 27. This is an in-the-harbor tournament using 4-pound line and fishing for croaker, corbina, halibut and bass.

According to angler Greg Taite, last weekend delivered "some of the worst weather I have ever seen in the harbor." Taite, who has been the Balboa Angling Club's outstanding angler for the past two years, won this year's Grand Slam for placing in each category.

"Right when it was 'lines in,' the wind picked up to 35-plus knots and the rain came down in sheets," he said. "My good friend Tim Humphrey and I decided to fish from shore, and it was lucky we did." According to Taite, most of the anglers in boats had to pay attention to their vessels and confront the weather.

Taite informed me that he and Humphrey had started three weeks earlier by fishing almost every day before and after work to find where the fish were. A week before the tournament, they found their spot, which turned out to be just under the Pacific Coast Highway bridge on the Castaways side.

"We were catching one fish after another," Taite explained. "Every one or two minutes, we were catching fish."

The guys caught their corbina and croaker between midnight and 3:45 a.m., then went home to get their boat and launch it. Most of the daylight hours, Taite and Humphrey were still fighting the high winds, but fortunately the rains had diminished.

Late into Saturday night — or it could have been early Sunday — they pulled into the anchorage and took a three-hour power nap. Something tells me these guys still had a line in the water as they were sleeping. Taite told me he caught his halibut with only three hours remaining in the tournament.

It was interesting to learn about the strategy and tactics Taite used to win this tournament. He explained it as a five-step process, and he did spend quite a bit of time talking about the bait they were using.

"Fished the worm and pumped out our own ghost shrimp," he told me. If you cannot tell already, I am no angler. "The worm" is an innkeeper worm that, from the sound of it, is difficult to find. "It took three years to find the worms," Taite said.

One thing I do know is not to ask where they are.

The other bait these guys used is ghost shrimp. My guess is that both of these critters live in the mud somewhere in the harbor. Not only does finding the bait sound difficult, but keeping it alive throughout the tournament seems tough too.

Taite, 37, has been fishing our harbor since he was 12. When I asked him how he felt about the condition of our harbor after the dredging last year, he replied, "In some small channels, I can see the bottom. That's a first for me. The water seems like it's crystal clear. I was tempted to snorkel our area to get another view, and I have never considered swimming in our harbor before."

Balboa Angling Club manager Amy Elliott reported that the tournament had 72 participants, $20,000 worth of raffle prizes and some of the most fun ever. More than 40 people showed up for the party before the event started, and 60 people were present at the barbecue and awards.

The Balboa Angling Club remains one of the best values on the harbor, with yearly memberships at $225 for the family, $175 for a single and $25 for kids under 21. Upcoming events at the club are the fly-fishing seminar and YSH Tournament in June.

Remember, it's all about the worm!

Sea ya.

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