3,307 hits in July!

Yes things are looking up! 3,200 views this month, THANK YOU everyone. I had one of the best compliments I have ever received tonight while leaving BYC tonight. Jim Bailey came up to me an gave be a heart felt complement on my writing and how much he enjoys reading my columns. Jim is a class act and a true friend. Thanks Jim.

The Harbor Report: New commission gets its feet wet.

Our new ride

By Len Bose

July 25, 2014 | 6:47 p.m.

This week, I attended our Harbor Commission meeting, and for the first time in the years that I have attended these meetings, all the faces of the commission had changed.

The commission was created in 2002. Seven members serve a four-year term, and no commissioner can serve more than two consecutive full terms.

In my opinion, one of the most active and productive harbor commissioners is Paul Blank, who has been tasked with strengthening public outreach. Working alongside Blank are commissioners David Girling and Brad Avery, who have come up with the idea of a harbor cruise for the public.

The date has not been set, although it will be before this winter and, because of the generosity of Seymour Beek, will take place on a ferry boat. This cruise will be between 9 to 11 a.m. and will touch on almost every topic concerning our harbor. As soon as the dates have been confirmed, I will update you.

During the meeting, Avery, the newly elected commission chairman,

noted how much the harbor is changing, with eight major projects starting or due to start in the very near future: Marina Park, New Port Marina, Lido Village, Castaways, Back Bay Landing, Balboa Island sea wall replacement, Irvine Co. public dock and the Bay Island sea wall.

I have been attending the Harbor Commission meeting longer than any of the commissioners, and in seven years, I have never seen so many mooring permit holders fail to pay their annual fees and risk having their permits revoked. Five permit holders could lose their mooring permits, but they would be able to appeal their revocation to the City Council.

I have an interesting bit of news regarding the proposed pilot program for the multiple vessel mooring system. A survey will soon be sent to many of our harbor homeowners and mooring permit holders. Harbor users will also be able to take this survey online. This should provide very interesting information on how the different harbor stakeholders ascertain the need for smaller mooring fields.

On the water taxi front, a recommendation was made to the city manager that a consultant be hired to determine if any companies might offer an "expression of interest" in trying the pilot program next year. If I heard Commissioner Doug West correctly, there is an interested party.

Next on this month's agenda was the topic of updating our 10 public piers. The city will replace the decking and hand rails along with the benches on the piers. Nothing will be done on the gangways or floats at this time.

The last topic covered was the start of an ad hoc committee discussing water-propelled vessels. You have seen the water jet craft flying around the harbor, and there is still one company with a permit.

This ad hoc committee of Duncan McIntosh, Bill Kenny and Joe Stapleton will hold public meetings and come up with a recommendation for the City Council before the end of the year. My concern regarding this topic is acceptable noise levels over a period of time during the daylight hours.

For more information, go to the city's website at newportbeachca.gov/index.aspx?page=2390.

That's it for this week. I am off for the race from Santa Barbara to King Harbor aboard our sailing team's new ride on the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon. Wish for wind for us — it looks rather light.

Sea ya.

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

FOR SALE: 1988 Beneteau First 345 ASKING $ 39,000

The Beneteau First 345 is one of Jean Berret's most popular designs. As one of the world's leading line of racer/cruisers, the First series was designed for the most demanding racers, providing the perfect blend of performance sailing with comfortable accommodations below. Whether club racing or family cruising- either way you win. Come take a look! When viewing this boat please notice NEW Diesel, New Shaft, NEW Prop, NEW bottom paint, NEW Canvas,replaced standing rigging!

BAC report

Newport Beach residence and Junior’s at Mater Dei High School, Matt Brennan and Ben Teitscheid wanted to give back to their community.   Through research and their love for coastal living, chose to start an Ocean Club with the Boys and Girls Club of Westside Costa Mesa. "The kids at Westside Costa Mesa Boys and Girls club rarely have an opportunity to leave their local neighborhood" shared Brian Dolan, Director of Newport Mesa Boys and Girls Club.  With his suggestion, Matt and Ben reached out to these kids.   They wished to introduce participants to the wonders of our ocean, bay and environment.  The first 6 children to get signed permission slips from their parents were in!  And, it turns out they were all girls! 

The first trip was to the Harbor Patrol Station in Newport Beach.  The girls were able to explore the Sheriff’s station and climb aboard some of the boats.  This was the first time many of the girls had been aboard a boat or a dock!  There were many questions from the girls and you could see a twinkle in their eyes as their interests were peaked.

Since the boys were members of the Balboa Angling Club, the second trip was to the BAC where the girls were shown around the clubhouse and then played the Fish Identification Game created by Club Secretary Amy Elliott and run by BAC Member Teri Holland. “The game is easy if kids pay attention and these girls were awesome considering they had never been exposed to these fish” stated Elliott.

The next activity planned at the BAC was learning to fish with the help of Matthew and Ben, but first the “Kea Kai”, a 44’ Pacifica pulled into the dock to weigh in the first Dorado of the season!  Jock Albright brought his catch in just in time for the girls to check out their first game fish.  The weigh in was fun and as we presented Jock with the First Dorado Flag, the girls were on hand for the photographs.

Once the weigh in was complete (this is a really big thing for the kids), then it was time to fish!  The girls learned to operate the rods and reels and were instructed in proper casting techniques.  One of the girls caught her very first fish, a stingray!  Both Ben and Matt were excellent role models and the Balboa Angling Club is a terrific place to learn about fishing!

Giving back to the community has never been more satisfying.  Several more trips were planned including Newport Beach Lifeguard facilities, ExplorOcean, and the Balboa Ferry.   This program has worked so well, that next year Matt and Ben want to expand the program!

(For more information about the Balboa Angling Club, call 949.673.6316, stop by the clubhouse at 200 A Street in Balboa just a few doors down from the Balboa Pavilion or go to www.balboaanglingclub.org.)

FLASH BACK: The Harbor Report: The eelgrass is greener with state blessing

Photo by Chris Pickerell of Cornell Cooperative Extension's Marine Program

By Len Bose

January 24, 2013 | 4:25 p.m.

This week's column should be titled "Eelgrass for Dummies" — because the topic has been a sticking point around the harbor for years, and we all have to understand it better if we ever want to obtain dredging permits for our docks.

In my column dated Jan. 11, I discussed Regional General Permit 54, which helps residents acquire a dredging permit without going through all the sediment-testing and agency negotiations. I should also point out again how lucky we are to have Doug West as our Harbor Commission chairman and Chris Miller as our harbor resources manager leading us to the goal line.

To continue with the football analogy, I see the harbor in the red zone at first and goal. The goal is to receive a Newport Harbor amendment from the National Marine Fisheries Service's Southern California office, which will allow us a "Newport Specific Plan" that will supersede the Southern California eelgrass mitigation plan, then blend this plan into our RGP 54 permit for April 2014.

I lost you, didn't I? The problem now with our RGP is that most people cannot use it because of the cost of the mitigation of the eelgrass under their docks. What our harbor commissioners and resource team are proposing is the "Newport Specific Eelgrass Plan" that will manage eelgrass on a harbor-wide basis, manage thresholds for total eelgrass population and reduce the burden for individual mitigation.

This means if we can grow 19.6 acres of shallow-water eelgrass, from our bulkheads to the end of our docks, we can impact 1.5 acres a year. I do not recall the exact average amount of eelgrass under impacted slips, but I recall something like a couple of square yards per dock. The last harbor eelgrass survey showed that we have more than 15.45 acres of shallow-water eelgrass at this time.

Within the next couple of weeks, Miller and West will be meeting with the National Marine Fisheries Service and selling this plan to them. If they can make the sale, it is my understanding that most of the other agencies will fall in line and we could just end up with a usable RGP by March of next year. So the next time you see West or Miller, make sure they understand we are all behind them.

Reader Harry Crowell recently sent me a list of questions regarding eelgrass, and I passed those questions off to Mike Josselyn of WRA Environmental Consultants. Here are those questions, with Josselyn's answers.

Crowell: Can you explain exactly why this eelgrass is becoming so important?

Josselyn: Eelgrass is considered an important habitat for fish and invertebrates, and the EPA considers any area supporting eelgrass to be a "special aquatic site" and subject to special attention during permitting. The National Marine Fisheries Service also must evaluate impacts to eelgrass as Essential Fish Habitat.

Crowell: Exactly what is the value of eelgrass within Newport Bay?

Josselyn: Eelgrass provides habitat to a variety of fish in the bay, provides stability to the sediments and is a food source for some fish and invertebrate species. Eelgrass only grows in sheltered habitats along the California coast, and where it is found has generally been considered a productive marine habitat.

Crowell: How long has eelgrass been growing in the bay?

Josselyn: It is a native plant in California and has been found in aboriginal middens along the California coast. It is likely to have been in Newport Bay to various levels for thousands of years as sea level rose and flooded the river valley that is now Newport Bay.

Crowell: When was it first known that eelgrass was in the bay?

Josselyn: I have seen early photographs of the beaches within the bay, and it appears to be present. The population of eelgrass has been monitored since 1993 and most recently by the city since 2003.

Crowell: Has the eelgrass been in larger amounts in the past?

Josselyn: Detailed and consistent surveys in the bay have only been started by the city in 2003 and only in shallow-water areas. Those first surveys found about 30 acres in the shallow portions of the bay; however, surveys in deeper water indicate that large areas of eelgrass also occur in navigation channels.

Go to my blogsite at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com to learn how you can legally grow eelgrass in your own backyard.

Sea ya.

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


So you want to learn how to grow grass in your back yard legally? Keep reading, to tell truth the city is going to need more seeds very soon???

http://el.erdc.usace.army.mil/elpubs/pdf/sav06-2.pdf

Rummaging Around The Harbor

Brian Dougherty J 105 Legacy leads The Newport Beach High Point Series

By Len Bose

July 11, 2014 | 6:59 p.m.

I spent this week rummaging around the harbor looking for stories and contacting my best sources for the latest information.

I heard that William "Skip" Kenney is our newest harbor commissioner, while Duncan McIntosh and Doug West retained their seats on the commission. I've known Skip for more than 10 years, and he is not one to mince words. He will get his tasks completed ahead of time and ask the difficult questions.

The next Harbor Commission meeting is scheduled for July 21, and one of the items on the agenda for discussion is whether to develop a dredging capacity for our harbor. More discussion on this topic is always a good thing for the overall maintenance of our harbor.

Another topic that might make it to the agenda is my idea of day-use moorings just south of the harbor entrance in front of the Corona del Mar beach. At this time, this area is available for part-time anchorage.

As I mentioned last week, I noticed this idea while sailing in Long Beach and came to find out that Mike O'Toole was the visionary who placed moorings around the Belmont Veterans Memorial Pier. It took 10 years for his vision to take shape after obtaining a permit from the Coastal Commission, setting up a public dinghy dock on the pier and completing environmental impact reports.

One of my harbor sources commented, "I think it would be fun. Now, to put it into action may take longer than we have left on this Earth, but hey, it's still a good idea."

We all know that our local boaters prefer not to anchor, and this could be a way to get more people to use their boats. At first glance, I would propose that these moorings only be used during the day and that the city collect fees similar to what is charged in Catalina: $33 a day for boats under 30 feet to $80 for boats between 70 and 80 feet.

People and groups could reserve them, and the Harbor Department can keep an eye on everyone. If you like this idea, please make your voice heard at the next Harbor Commission meeting.

I've been writing about my "catch and dispose" of Mylar balloons and promised to give shout-outs to people who send in photos of their catches. The Bents family hauled in a record catch of 19 balloons last week, and I have posted photos of everyone who sent in their photos on my blog, lenboseyachts.blogspot.com. I will also ask our harbor commissioners to support the campaign.

Another issue still on the table is derelict boats and what to do about them. Ever since the requirement that mooring permit holders — whether offshore or shore mooring — are no longer required to keep a vessel on its mooring, many derelict boats have been removed from the harbor. I have observed many more derelict boats on shore moorings rather than at offshore moorings. This blight can only be solved by the residents attending the Harbor Commission meetings and expressing their concern.

Harbor code enforcement should also be brought back to the table, and I still feel the harbor should have a code enforcement officer. This officer could also manage the public docks and, who knows, maybe someday manage our day moorings in Corona del Mar.

Out on the racecourse, this summer's twilight series is past the halfway point. In Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club Taco Tuesdays' Harbor 20 fleet, Michael Volk aboard Lighting, Jan Houghton sailing Kismet and Steve Selling sailing Trident are all within four points of each other in C fleet.

Over in B fleet, Mark Conzelman at the helm of Shana's Secret is right on the heels of John Whitney's Fun D. In A fleet, I happen to have a small lead, sailing my boat Only Child over Bob Yates' Jubilee.

At Newport Harbor Yacht Club twilights on Thursday nights, Roy Delis sailing his boat Harborsol won C fleet in June. In B fleet, Daniel Geissmann aboard Red Devel won the month, and in A fleet, Chris Allen aboard Zephyr came from behind and beat Jim Kerrigan sailing A Salt and Battery and Ed Kimball aboard Dragon Lady.

This Saturday is the BCYC Ocean Series, which is race No. 3 of the Newport Beach High Point Series. Brian Dougherty's J/105 Legacy holds a four-point lead over Tango, Amantte and Adious.

Sea ya.

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

For Sale: Open 50 for $ 145,000

Have you ever had the dream to compete in the Open class with a short handed crew? Do you want to race in point to point races with only a crew of 5 or less? Would you like to compete within the 50’ Ultra light class? Yes, “Fast is Fun” and surfing is even better!

Originally named “Newcastle Australia” then purchased by Philippe Kahn who gave her an extensive refit with Carbon Mast, Boom Alan Andrews Rudder and Keel. She has more sail area than most Open 50’s, along with her narrow beam, single rudder she is perfect for West Coat Offshore events! Fixed keel with water ballast makes her one of the easiest Open boat’s to jump onto and see if you have what it takes?

For Sale: 1968 Cal 40 Hull # 131 Asking $ 44,500

The Cal 40 fleet is a proven class with classic lines. These yachts can race to Hawaii or take just take the family on a Sunday sail. When viewing this boat please note all the wiring has been replaced, fresh standing and running rigging, replaced rudder 2006, replaced spreaders, replaced port lights and mast step has been inspected and repaired.Bottom has been striped, faired and epoxy. Bottom painted this year.  EASY TO SHOW!

For Sale: Santa Cruz 50 OAXACA Hull # 7 Asking $ 145,000

This Santa Cruz 50 is lucky hull # 7 and has made it to the top of the fleet on many occasions in her lifetime. She has been kept to her original configuration with a MK II rudder. She is very attractively priced and can be prepared for offshore racing with little effort. I have sold ten of this 50’s in my career with six Trans Pac’s and over twenty Mexico races aboard Santa Cruz 50’s. There is still no better boat for sailors, over the age of forty-five, to go offshore on with the chance of winning in comfort. FAST IS FUN! SOLD,SOLD,SOLD,SOLD,SOLD,SOLD 09/2014

FOR SALE: Santa Cruz 50 HORIZON asking $280,000

Horizon had an accepted offer on her the moment I received the listing. This boat was the best kept Santa Cruz 50 I have ever stepped aboard and I have seen almost all 28 boats. This will be the 10th fifty that I have sold in my 23 years as a yacht broker.

Horizon has been the definitive SC-50 for quite some time. We have won 3 consecutive Transpacs in a class that combines both the SC 50 and SC 52 (2009, 2011, & 2013 and in the 2007 Transpac we were 2nd in class and 4th overall. In 2010 we won the Pacific Cup as a clean sweep being the 1st boat to finish, also winning both class and overall honors. This crossing was also the fastest ever Santa Cruz 50 crossing from California to Hawaii that we are aware off; 8 days, 11 hours, 46 minutes! Our Mexico race record has also been exceptional with podium finishes in all attempts along with a class win in the SDYC’s PV Race in 2010 and an overall win in the Cabo 2009 Race. Along with class wins in the Ensenada Race (x2), Islands Race (2011) and a 2nd in class, 3rd overall at MEXORC 2010 and wins in various other local races Horizon has been the SC 50 which all others are measured by. Horizon has also proven herself inshore with a 2nd place at MEXORC 2010 and won the inshore 2012 Dana Point Harbor Championships. In 2009 she underwent an extensive refit at Dennis Choate’s LB yard. With designer Tim Kernan’s input we opened up the transom, put on a scoop, removed the toerail by glassing over the hull/deck joint both inside and out, installed an up dated rudder, upgraded almost every system aboard from the original electrical panel to the lighting. The boat was made stronger where needed and even with all the miles she has done she looks better than new. The father and son team of Jon and Erik Shampain of Eastwind Offshore Sailing has been responsible for the program since 2007 and have overseen all the modifications and regular maintenance. In 2011 again the boat was returned to the Choate yard where we dried her out for 3 months and had a blister preventing epoxy bottom job done at the same time. The mast and boom were also replaced at this time with a new mast step that allows for jacking the rig to pressure. In 2009 the engine went through a complete rebuild and many improvements were made here also. This past January, again with Dennis Choate’s expertise and workmanship we replaced both top and bottom bearing in the rudder assembly with upgraded self-aligning Jeffa bearings and put a new bottom on the boat. She is now almost perfect in every way a waiting for a new home. Horizon is a special yacht.

FOR SALE: 2001 42' Grand Banks Europa

The Grand Banks Europa series is one of the most sought after models GB has ever produced. They were built in limited numbers and offer excellent interior/exterior deck arrangements for cruising. This pedigreed yacht lives up to her reputation with a long list of extras including Naiad Stabilizers, Daily Marine watermaker, inverters, bow thruster, full canvas package including covers for the varnish. Large aft deck with direct flow on the same level into the salon and helm station. The 42 is a very easy boat for a cruising couple to handle and her twin Cummins 330 HP engines combined with GB's adherence to their original design concepts creates a very Safe, Comfortable, Dependable Diesel Cruiser.

         Notable Features

Twin Cummins Diamond Series with 1,250 hours, replaced Turbos, replaced heat exchangers, motor mounts.

    Naiad Stabilizers

Onan 8kw generator

Magna 2800 watt inverter model # H1-06085

Link 200 digital inverter

Raymarine E-120

Simrad Ap 20 auto pilot hydraulic drive

Simrad AP 20 auto pilot linear drive

Bow thruster

(4) AGM batteries

Lofrance windlass & Rocna plow anchor w/300 ft chain 

Garhauer Dingy davit

Achilles inflatable Dinghy 8 HP Yamaha

Two staterooms & one head with stall shower

Owners stateroom with Island queen bed - Guest with double bed

This is a bristol GB that has been kept in cruise ready condition and will delight new prospective owners when they step aboard.

NEW ASKING PRICE $ 495,000

2005 48' Tim Kernan Performance Trawler ASKING $ 325,000

This vessel was the concept of one of the most knowledgeable yachtsmen I have ever meet. When developing this design he took into account the different features he learned to appreciate from all the different boats he has owned and crewed on. Based from George Griffith yacht “Sarissa” from a Mike Petters design the original owner sat down with leading yacht designer Tim Kernan to produce a similar style of vessel. The concept revolved around simplicity, economical and light weight. “ I wanted the vessel to be light and nimble so that my wife an I could handle the boat while docking and anchoring.” the first owner told me. “ I took great efforts, while designing the boat, to ensure she would ride well at anchorage.” Another good friend of mine worked at Dencho Marine, where the boat was built, stats that this vessel is one of the best boats he has ever taken part in building. As I approach this vessel, I first notice a type of Garden design/Fic Frank style trawler that has been so popular in the pacific northwest and in Newport Beach. Hints of the past jump out at me and thoughts of a stunningly beautiful commuter yacht trickle through my mind as a step aboard her open transom. This is an exceptionally light and stiff boat with state of the art construction methods. The boat’s foam cored hull, deck and bulkheads were epoxy coated, vacuum bagged, and backed in a “oven.” The hull is carbon reinforced at key loading points. This yacht is perfect for coastal cruising and will command the respect of every yachtsman around the world. It’s the type of vessel that will stay with a family over many generations.

Harbor Report: Read the fine print on boat registration

Nine year old Trent "trey" Smith Jr. earns himself his first Tuna Flag.

By Len Bose

July 4, 2014 | 2:18 p.m.

Summer is going by like we are on a close reach aboard a 52-foot racing sailboat.

As I have walked through the different marinas in Southern California, I have noticed that many vessels registered in the state — bearing the CF sticker for California — have also added a mussel fee sticker.

Salt-water boats, all of our Duffys and Harbor 20s, for example, are not tailored to fresh-water lakes and do not need to pay the mussel fee or apply that sticker to their boats.

So many did not read the fine print when it was time to update their boats' state registration. They missed the box to check off, and it cost the price of a decent bottle of wine, or $16.

The only thing to do about it is to check with the Department of Motor Vehicles and make sure the money was used for boating. Do we have any volunteers who would like to help me with that? Anyone?

I have to give a shout out to Susan at the Mary Conlin Co., which helps me with all my DMV work.

At the Balboa Angling Club, Amy Elliott sent me this report:

"The first tuna of the season was weighed in at the Balboa Angling Club June 30 by 9-year-old Trent 'Trey' Smith Jr., earning him the First Tuna Flag. His catch weighed in at 16.26 pounds and was caught using 20# Dacron. Trey's catch comes just in time for the Helen Smith Offshore Tournament Aug 1 and 2."

This 13th annual tournament is named for the Balboa Angling Club secretary who served from 1963 to 1999.

Tuna, dorado, yellowtail and albacore are the species to catch in this tournament using up to 30# line class maximum. The cost is $25 for members and $30 for non-members. Anglers will fish from 6 a.m. Aug. 1 to 4 p.m. Aug. 2, with weigh slips due at the club by 2 p.m. Aug. 3. An awards party will follow at 4 p.m.

A kickoff party with a potluck is planned for 5:30 p.m. July 31 at the Balboa Angling Club, and everyone is welcome. The clubhouse is located at 200 A St., 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 visit balboaanglingclub.org

Team Bents

As for my own fishing, or as I call it "catch and dispose," it has been going. Last weekend we brought in more than 15 Mylar balloons. Readers have started to join in the fun, with the Bents family and Bronny Joy sending in photos of their catches.

With all the warm water moving toward our coast, there has never been a better time to pull out your boat hook, circle back around and pick up those balloons. Take a photo of your catch and send it to me, and I will post it on my blog at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com

Another silly idea popped into my head the other day while sailing in Long Beach. As my crew and I were getting ready for the race, another boater was walking down the dock with a lot of pirate decorations.

When we commented that it was not Halloween, the boater told us about a type of raft-up party at the Belmont Pier. It came to my attention that a number of day moorings have been placed around the pier, and this group of friends were taking their boats out to them.

That's when I thought how great it would be to have day moorings in front of the Corona del Mar beach on the south side of the jetty entrance. What a great way to promote boating.

Tell me what you think. Would you pull up to a day mooring and party with your friends? I can see the Harbor 20 fleet all over this. Break out the canopy, a few water toys and tie the boats a little closer. Sounds like a lot of fun to me.

Sea ya

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