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| Think anyone has ever run into this ChannelMarker |
Newport Harbor and it is summer time, it does not get a hotter than that. So assuming you have opened all your windows to let the sea breeze in this what you might be hearing in the wind.
The Flight of Newport Beach was held on Sunday, July 15 and was greeted with a cool light southerly breeze. Twenty-nine Lasers showed up on the starting line with Alex Curtiss taking the first overall. Two stand out skippers in the Laser fleet were Seymour Beek who placed 16 and Dave Tingler who finished 25. I feel it is safe to assume that both of these skippers have done this race before going back to the original Snowbirds. For the second year, the Harbor 20’s joined in “The Flight of Newport Beach” which might be safe to say is the second longest tradition in the Harbor second only to the Christmas Boat Parade dating back to 1934. This year it was all about the two guys in a red boat with red hats on. Justin Law with the tiller in his hand while Bill Menninger passed out the cold beverages as crew. Without a doubt the two guys in red hats where the pre-race favorites then proved it after rounding the first mark and staying above the oncoming competitors while Argyle Campell and Phil Thompson decided to sail a little lower. The guys in the red hats crushed it around the course enjoying the warm breeze and cold beverages. I tanked it this time sailing my Harbor 20 and quickly getting rolled by the fleet that started on the high end of the line. For you racers out there the start was similar to a Sunkist start heading out the harbor towards channel marker # 6.
No excuses for me although I had just completed the South Shore Yacht Clubs 90 mile Two Around Catalina race that had started the day before and we had finished a little after 6:00 Am. South Shore Yacht Club had come up for a new idea for this year’s race by allowing competitors who’re age had added up to 120 to bring a third person. Buddy Richley and I took advantage of this new rule and brought our bowman from Horizon Andy Dippel. Most of you might know already Horizon is a Santa Cruz 50 and a bit of a handful for just two “Old Guys”. The day started all “Aces and eights” for use winning the start, taking the right-hand side of the course first, changing to our small jib just before the wind completely filled in. We were all smiles as the smaller boats disappeared behind us, the breeze headed us enough to go into the Long Beach gate and in the flat water, we gained substantially on the 70-foot boat that we were racing “Mr. Bill” has we popped back out the LA gate. One tack back towards Point Fermin before crossing the channel to get around Catalina everything going as planned. Short story the East end of Catalina would not let us go and the little boats sailed up to us where we restarted the race when the morning southerly wind filled in. Bad luck for us, the good luck is SSYC is doing everything to keep this event going.
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| Upper bay/ Backbay channel marker lights? |
Talking about not giving up and it might just make a comeback. What I am referring too is an anchorage in the turning basin. The Coast Guard earlier this month denied an application to have a temporary anchorage in the turning basin. The turning basin is located on the west end of Lido Isle. Like all government agencies to achieve this goal will take more time while a study on the impact to the navigational channel is completed. The consensus is that the Coast Guard is looking for a smaller anchorage that was originally proposed. This has to be frustrating for our Harbor Commissioners who have been working on this concept for over five years. I have to wonder just how long it will take to remove those three old fixed channel markers that have been targeted for removal before this summer started. So much for asking for lights on our upper bay channel markers although I have heard that the new marine recycling center has been completed at the Basin Marina. I will have to check on that and report back to you later. So stay with me here as my mind slips athwartship, did anyone else wonder how the 216 foot INVICTUS was able to obtain a guest mooring permit on the week of the 4th of July? If you are still with me can you picture one of the harbor departments minions looking up from their little harbor catamarans and telling the skipper of INVICTUS to move it along as the megayacht camped out in front of the owners home at the end of the peninsula for hours at a time? If I am not mistaken that’s right in the middle of the Federal Channel entering our harbor. Well, that comment should do it for me no chance I would ever get the listing on INVICTUS LOL. One last thing if any one of my readers has a bayfront home I could really use a new slip to rent. The Irvine Company has raised my slip rent to $1,000 a month for my Harbor 20 and with a tear in my eye I am considering changing the name of my boat from “Only Child” to “Ugly Step Child”. There that should do it!
BREAKING NEWS: Just posted on the Citys web site:
BREAKING NEWS: Just posted on the Citys web site:
The City of Newport Beach is seeking an innovative and solution-oriented individual to serve as its new
Harbor Master. With a permanent population of over 86,000 residents, Newport Beach is known for
its fine residential neighborhoods, strong business community, quality school system, vast recreational
opportunities, beautiful beaches, excellent dining, and world class shopping districts. This position requires
seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in harbor management or administration, including
experience related to commercial harbor leases, and at least three (3) years of responsible management
and supervisory experience. Education equivalent to complete of a Bachelor’s degree in a water-related
biological science, business or public administration or a closely related field and possession if a valid
California driver’s license is required. Possession of Basic First Aid, CPR, and PC 832 certifications
and a California boater’s license are required within six months of employment. The salary for the
Harbormaster is $98,016-$147,000 annually; placement within this range is dependent upon qualifications and experience.
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Sea ya
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