On the Harbor: The Transpac is coming in July

2017 Trans Pac Day Time Finish Aboard Horizon

By LEN BOSE

This July 10,12 and 13 will be the bi-annual Transpac race from San Pedro, Calif. to Honolulu, Hawaii. I understand the start is just under 50 days away, yet it keeps me awake at night, and as you can tell, it’s on the top of my list...hence the topic of my column this week.

The Transpac race is run on odd-numbered years with this year marking the 50th anniversary of the race, coincidentally the race has 100 entries this year. Of those entries, 13 will be sailing from Newport Beach...that’s not a good number. Anyway, I would like to introduce our local competitors and reveal some insight into the local programs.

Hailing from the Balboa Yacht Club is Dan Gribble aboard his Tripp 56 Brigadoon, starting on July 10 in Division 6. The team has been working hard in preparation for the race by participating in this year’s Islands, Cabo Race and upcoming California 300. The crew roster has not been listed yet, but I will assume most of the crew has been on the boat in the previous races. The team is strong with some youth and experienced local sailors. The largest hurdle for this team is the boat’s rating: Brigadoon is not optimized for racing and leans heavily toward cruising.

Speaking of youth, from too many yacht clubs to list, is the Red Star Sailing Team sailing aboard the Columbia 32 Weegie. Skipper Charlie Welsh is competing with six crew members, including himself, all under the age of 25. There are some well-known family names on the roster and they are still within one of the unsaid rules of ocean racing, “Never go out to sea on a boat that is less than your age.” The crew has been practicing regularly, but the largest hurdle is experience and boat preparation. The crew roster includes Chandler Hill, Julia Lines, Michael Sabourin, Kate Shaner and Sam Wright.

J 44 Patriot is owned by Paul Stemler and sailing out of NHYC. No crew is listed yet, although I have seen the team out practicing, and they have already completed their safety inspection. These are indications of a well-organized team on a boat that sails to her rating very easily. Patriot will be sailing in Division 7 and starting on July 10. Her biggest hurdle will be Chubasco or better known around town as “Chubby” the S&S 67. I feel Patriot can take the top spot, but they will have to bring their “A” game.

North Wind 47 Traveler skipper Michael Lawler is sailing in Division 9 and starting on July 10. The crew roster includes Barbara Lawler, Mark Dorius, Fraser McLellan and navigator Jim Palmer. Traveler will be sailing for the Corsair Yacht Club.

Cal 40 Nalu V skippered by Mark Ashmore, is sailing out of the South Shore Yacht Club. I have noticed the boat appearance improving over the last year on her mooring in front of Balboa Island. It appears to be a family endeavor in a very tough class of 7 Cal 40s.

Cal 40 Callisto will be sailed by the Eddy family with a long history of Transpac races. Callisto is berthed in front of the LAYC and jumps at you from over 100 yards away as one of the cleanest boats in the fleet. She is well prepared and has a solid crew. The biggest hurdle will be the Cal 40 Viva. This will be one of many fun divisions to watch on the race tracker.

John Raymont’s Andrews 40 Fast Exit sailing for the Balboa Yacht Club in Division 3 has shown some exceptional speed and consistent finishes this season. They will be competing in the upcoming California 300 and are expected to finish on the podium again. In the Transpac, their biggest hurdle will be the planning boats such as the four J 125’s, a foiling Beneteau 3, Rodgers 46 along with a very well-sailed Andrews 56. Odds are very strong that the overall winner could come from this division. The crew roster is comprised of Alan Andrews, Richard Johnstone, Stephen Mader, Zack Maxam, Taylor Mullin and Shane Vowels.

The Santa Cruz 50 Horizon skippered by John Shulze is sailing out of the Balboa Yacht Club in Division 4 with 10 other Santa Cruz 52/50’s. The team is a little off the pace by not staying active, only competing in this season’s Islands and Cabo race. The laundry list is long and still growing as I stay awake between 2-5 a.m. each night wondering how we are going to pull out another division win. We will be ready and not even close to letting anyone else on our spot on the podium. Horizon’s biggest hurdle is a strong one-design class along with the Santa Cruz 52’s Lucky Duck and Triumph. The crew roster is Len Bose, Ben Amen, Craig Chamberlain, Kat & Andy Dippel, Roland Fournier, Kelsey Tostenson and navigator, Evelyn Hull.

Steve Sellinger’s Santa Cruz 52 Triumph is sailing out of NHYC. The boat has shown exceptional boat speed this season and is ready for the race. They will be competing in the upcoming California 300 and that result will be a good indicator for Transpac. The crew is yet to be listed, although I know who is on the boat and they will be tough.

The TP 52 Destroyer is owned and skippered by Jim Bailey sailing out of the NHYC. I truly envy Bailey sailing with his two sons and a very strong crew. The boat has sailed in every event this season and is ready. The biggest hurdle is just that, the world’s biggest, fastest boat is in this division, and if they place, that would be something to be very proud of. Destroyer will be going up against the likes of the 100’ Comanche, the R/P 66 Alive and a long list of boats I have never seen the likes of.

Team Bolt is sailing the N/M 70 Bolt out of the Balboa Yacht Club. This is not the first Transpac for the Reynolds family, although the boat is new to them and they have entered a very strong class, such as the likes of Pyewacket, Grand Illusion and Taxi Dancer. Team Bolt does have a chance at the podium, but the nine other well sailed 70’s are not just going to round down for them.

The SC 70 Grand Illusion is owned by Dave Clark and crewed by some of NHYC’s best. The boat roster is John Aschiers, Brian Bissell, Mike Blunt, Brooks Clark, John Fuller, Nick Madigan, Buddy Richley and navigator, Patrick O’Brien. This team can very easily pull the big pickle dish above their heads at the awards presentation.

Sea ya and Alohaaaaa!

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for 

Stu News Newport.

Trans Pac 2007 aboard the N/M 55 BOLT ( Written in 2007)

N31/29 W121 Friday July 13. Wow, Friday the 13th and the Nuts on "BOLT" are sailing the boat well and working hard.Now as I write this the crew is placing a reef in the main with the jib top up in 17 knots of breeze and we are heading straight for our waypoint. 

Yesterday at the start of the race Carson had a very good start at the  committee boat. Clear skies, news helicopters, chase boats all around us. The crew of Bolt all had smile's as we felt the freedom of the race starting and we were out of the gate so well. We laid Catalina on starboard tack with 21knots of breeze and our # 3 up. Long night with good breeze everyone was getting their sea legs and gearing up for battle. One funny moment came when Dan Gribble was coming down the companion way and his life jacket inflated and he found himself stuck between the galley stairs. You had to hear his voice "OOOOOOOMAN, That not right!”

Things are well on the boat as we are half way of day two living sideways.

BOLT Crew

N 29/57 W 125/40 Saturday July 14 1&1 at roll call today to say the less things at GREAT on BYC 1, I am referring to the boat as BYC 1 because the owner Craig Reynolds is the commodore of the Balboa Yacht Club this year, today. BOLT is holding up very well and everyone game face is on because we all no very well that early positive results are not necessarily good for the end game. The key to this one will be to hang in there when the results change. Everyone is back at full speed and the sea sickness is a thing of the past. Today we have been battling light breeze 5-10 knots out of the north we have the 1A up with a staysail and full main. Next couple of days will tell the story for us.  

BOLT CREW

N28/37 W128/10 Sunday July 15  Long day with lots of sun, some rain clouds, and light breeze. We spent most of the day gybing back and forth to try and keep on or course of 222. Mike Pinckney has done a good job keeping us in faze and or hopes up. We know we are skirting the high way to close, like Len has said, " It's the ticket we bought" and we are working hard in the light breeze. We just crossed LUCKY DOG with us heading to the left and the dog gybing behind us as we go into the night of day four. Roll call will be hard on us tomorrow, although the crew is gelling together and I am confident of our performance.

Bolt Crew

N27/42 W129/22 Monday July 16 Tough day on BYC 1 today we have a light breeze 1-4 knots, with the occasional fish swimming carelessly along, lots of sun, rich blue waters with misty white clouds all around. Yes, we got to close to the Pacific High and we are down to a very short stack. If we were playing chess we moved our queen out to early and have got slapped in the head. The odds of winning the game from here is very slim, but amazingly the crew on BOLT are in high spirits and made our play with the poker face of a pro. Our strategy is now to salvage what we can and find some wind some how some way and get to the finish intact.ALL IN ALL the BOLT crew is GREAT, happy and safe.

BYC 1 Out! 

N27/08 W 132/24 Wednesday July 18. After most of the day in light breeze we now believe we have found more breeze and have made it through the high! When the breeze came in, the crew jumped and we now have the 2A and a staysail up and doing 8 kt at the barn. The crew is in great sprits and many a good yarn has been spun.

We look to an a approaching weather system in hopes of more wind and MAYBE a chance to catch up although slim we can hope.

Its fun to sail with Carson and to have watched him grow up at Balboa Yacht Club. He shows good leadership skills and looks for advice to achieve his goal. He has stayed focused and wants to finish the race with a strong effort and good times.

Lets hope with a little luck we can get a day back on the leaders.

BYC 1 OUT!

N 26/W139 Friday July 20. Good breeze and good times yesterday. Under clear skis and 17-23 Knots of breeze with the 2A up the competition began for the top boat speed. Pinckney took the early lead with a 16.8 knot ride, about 2 hours latter Gunner Torre took a Commanding lead with a 18.7. This contest is taken very series and holds all the clucking rights on the dock after the race. There has been many a time were I have wished for less wind for the rest of the race and have been VERY disappointed to be beaten. So when Pinckney came back at the end of the day with a 19.5 Gunner let out a load " shoooooot" when the number was read.Gunner was then out of his bunk for another trick at the wheel and looking for the next big wave.

Well, Pinckney has the top speed for now. Mike is one of the top sailor in the country and he has been a huge help to us on this trip. While in the high, Mike kept pushing looking for any wind shift, changing sails and keeping things on the light side. He always cleaning up and going the extra mile to get the best out of the boat. He has also been coaching our gov cup team so I have been taking notes on what makes those little boats go for next weekend club champs. We are very lucky to have such a person on BOLT this year.

BYC 1 OUT

N24/W147 Sunday. Hot! Hot! Hot! Slow going in light breeze was our weekend progress. 2A up most of the time with three to four gybes a day. While on board there is a lot of time spent in cleaning the boat, moving ballast from one side of the boat to the other, preparing meals and sailing.

Bud Elam is taking care of all food, ships operations, taking his watch and roll call. Bud starts his day at 6:00 PST with the position of the boat and spend the next two hours going through roll call and position reports and then updates the crew. After this task has been completed Bud moves on to feeding the crew breakfast and then making sure all the batteries are fully charged. Next Bud takes his turn on watch and its soon time for dinner and making water. We all have been feed very well and Bud is well organized and complete his task effortlessly. Bud is an interracial link to team Bolt and always in high sprits with an edge for competition.

Another part of the boat is keeping the engine running that allows up to keep the batteries charged, water maker running and the refrigeration cold. The man for this task is Dan Gribble. Dan the owner of Boatswains Locker and the key sponsor of the Governors Cup. Dan runs with German precision always on watch on time with coffee or water and keeps his mind on what makes the boat go fast.

We are now 560 miles to finish line and its looking like Wednesday sometime. Of course Dan and I have flights out that day and its not looking to good for us. NEXT is the Molokai Channel,normally always windy and one of the biggest challenge of the race.

BYC1 Out

N/23W/150 Monday July 23. Hard day on BOLT today. When you have made your move then, get crossed/passed, you still are looking for a chance to make a move. Now that people, from your class, are finishing the game is over and we still have two and a half days to get to the finish. Thats a hard day! Although the crew is working well together you would like to nock over the queen and play the next game. Not in sailing, we are playing it out, working every shift and making every sail change.

The person behind all these sail changes is our bow man Terry Young. Terry is by far the hardest worker on the boat and leads the charge on every sail change. He is up the mast, out on the spinnaker pole or hanging upside down from a spreader for fun. Thats Terry Young, BOLTS bowman and I would go to battle anytime with Terry on the Bow!

N21/W152 Tuesday July 24 Everything going well on BOLT Last night we had good breeze and a number of sail changes. With the thought of Mai Tais and our loved ones the crew of BOLT last night went through three spinnaker changes, six gybes and endless spinnaker and main pumping. We are now 250 miles from the finish line and down to the Cup Noodles and water with some apples and oranges, mixed nuts and we are working hard to get in.

Speaking of working hard Commodore Reynolds has been standing his watch, cooking, cleaning and talking his trick on the wheel. You can see our race results has not pleased him although with a deep breath, big smile and a reminder its time to change the spinnaker he is always in the game. Myself I can be so lucky to hear a crew member say "Hey DAD" maybe I will hear my son tell me I am sailing to low and to heat it up someday when I am the skipper of a boat in the Trans Pac. Its been a good time watching them banter in tense and in the lighter moments, the high fives and the private conversions. I can only hope I am so lucky.

This has been a good trip and good times. Last night at sunset, I could only see the outline of Craig " Hey Craig, THANKS" he replied with his deep laugh.

I will do a recap on the finish and lessons learned on my flight home.

BYC 1 OUT! 

American Airlines Flight 270 Hawaii to LAX Friday July 27. The movie is playing and there is a seen when the family in the story gathers around each other for a group huge. Well! Thats all it took for me before my eyes watered up and I came inches from the stuttered deep breath. I miss my son much it hurts deeply. I cant tell why the need to go to sea is within me and why I continue to allow this type of pain. Missing any moment during of the early father son is truly selfish on my part and unwise.

So why do inflect this type of pain to myself with the need to go to sea during these priceless years? For me it the ultimate battle with strategy, physical effort, team camaraderie, and tactical challenges. Strategy is the direction I find myself leaning towards be over the years my physical effort grows weaker each year.

Trans Pac The Yacht Race ( Written in 07)

THIS AIN’T NO “HOOLAULEA” IT’S TRANSPAC 2007


I am all in for my seventh Transpac race and ninth race to Hawaii. What have I learned, how do I get ready and will I ever do it again?
Have I done well in this race? No! 3rd in a class of eleven SC 50’s was OK, but that was a Pacific Cup. In 1991 we won the fabulous 50's fleet Ok but not in the history book. So, what have I leaned?


BOAT PREPARTION
I’ve always felt the race was made up in thirds with 1/3 boat preparation, 1/3-weather strategy, 1/3 sailing skills. In 2003 I had the weapon of choice a J 125 sailing double-handed. The mistake made was boat preparation. Even a boat less than four years old you need to take the rig down and have professional rigger inspect everything from the mast to the rudderpost. Our electric system was well managed and our sail inventory was complete. We lacked practice with the autopilot and shifting gears. We did however take proper precaution to keep the boat dry by resealing all port lights, hatches, stanchions, winches, sail tracks and pad eyes. The result was an incomplete race and a broken rudder bearing that made us return to the mainland after the first night of the race. In 1993 we did not monitor crew weight and at the end of the race we found one of the crew had brought his dive gear with him. That same year, we were throwing pounds of coffee overboard and a number of other provisions because we had horribly over provisioned the boat. Another mistake made is to over crew the boat; I think we had ten people on the boat that year. In latter years we were down to a lean crew of six and crew bag inspection. In 1995 at the end of the race we found a full water tank on the port side of the boat our results were improving although we where still not in the cheese. One of the largest parts of boat preparation is the proper attention to boat measurement for the rating system you are sailing in. Take the time and optimize your boat for measurement don’t assume your old rating has the proper weight of your boat this is a HUGE MISTAKE. Alcohol has NO place on a Transpac Yacht. Why do you think there are Mai Tais at the end of the race?


KEEP THIS IN MIND DURING THE RACE
Only the driver and the sail trimmers are in the cockpit anyone else better be in the middle of the boat or weather rail, pee in the head, sleep in the middle of the boat and on the high side. Sails should be stacked on the weather rail. Constant attention must be placed on the movable ballast this race is weight sensitive and without this attention to boat preparation you’re just on another cruise to Hawaii or aboard a ship of fools.


GETTING READY FOR THE RACE &; WHAT I BRING IN MY SEA BAG
How do I prepare, what to bring, and how to stay out of trouble. Once you have agreed and signed on as crew you are in the service of that captain. Make sure ASAP that you will get along with EVERYONE on the boat. You need to go the extra mile, make all the practices on the schedule, put in work party time and be ready. I go to the doctor and the dentist before a race. I bring a small shower bag for my new older age with Tums, sunscreen, Aleve, Deodorant and tooth brush. The boat should supply toothpaste, baby-wipes and soap. No later than the third day you need to start a hygiene routine. If your lucky your body will be on it’s normal routine and once you are you feel ALOT better. Oh yes, clean the toilet when your done with it, and most people really don’t care how hard you had to work in there. No later than day 5, and if your lucky its warm, you will have to man up and take the bucket for a salt water shower. The ship should have a bottle of Joy for bathing. KEEP YOUR STUFF IN YOUR SEA BAG!


WHAT TO WEAR
The first six days are normally cold and at night I wear padded shorts, t-shirt, long underwear, fleece bottom and top and a heavy jacket along with my foul weather gear plus life harness hat, gloves, wet suit socks with wet suit slippers, no boots. I have a watch that glows at night, a small personal flashlight. I also have a water tight VHF and keep it on your body. You should also keep a good knife on your body. For the day I wear my padded shorts, T-shirt, Jacket, and foul weather pants, and harness. So in my bag you will find five pairs of underwear, four t-shirts, fleece, long underwear, two pair of padded shorts, extra pair of sunglasses. I place my foul weather gear, heavy jacket and life harness on a hanger. This will keep your bag small on arrival and expectable to the skipper..


SLEEPING;
I have a hard time having someone wake me up so I get myself up twenty minutes before my watch. I then make some coffee or have some dark chocolate, get dressed and make it on watch ten minutes early. When I am off watch, I sleep until I am charged up again. Keep on schedule letting people sleep late is not good for you our the crew as a whole. Wake your off watch partner up ten minutes before his shift and get back on deck until your partner is on watch. If your watch partner is late for shift you might ask them to please be on time or ask your watch captain to kick them in the butt. Being repeatedly tardy for watch for any reason is completely unacceptable, unless you are the Navigator and if that’s your partner you just have to deal with it. If it’s your turn to cook, you do it off watch, clean off watch, shit off watch.


THE BOAT BITCH
Now the part on how to deal with the asshole. Every boat will have one and unless you are a watch Captain it not your problem. Keep your negative comments to yourself. Don’t get caught up in the conversation about who wins the pillow award or when is that guy going to take a shower, etc. If your watch is not responding to gear changes it is the watch captain reasonability and he is the one that must answer to the Captain. The golden rule is what happens on the boat stays on the boat. Keep your mouth shut and concentrate on your duties and back up your crewmates.



KEEP BUSY
Keep moving during your watch if you sit still it makes it that much harder to get up again. Walk to the mast, look for chaff, clean the sheets up, trim, and keep your eyes on course, the wind, and boat speed. Ask yourself what sail will we go to next if it gets windy or if the wind goes down, what sheets will I need, pole trim, main trim keep your mind on sailing fast and talking about boat speed and the big puff coming in from behind is always good.



STAY AWAY
The Navigator and the skipper are the ones making the calls stay away from the navigator’s table that’s his space. Don’t eat your meals at the navigator’s table just stay away from that spot. If they are a good navigator they will give the crew a report each day. Personally, All I need is what place we are in. Some navigators will go into much more detail.

HARD PART
One of the two hardest parts about Transpac is that you will have to sail the first three days setting up for the weather ridge and you might be low in the results, keep fighting it really is a good thing. The other hard part is the last three days knowing what place you will finish in. If you’re in the tank that’s hard because it’s getting hotter and the boat is getting smaller. Keep in mind at this point you still have the personal challenge of the Molokai Channel and how well will you drive or perform at this point of the race is a big achievement. As you approach the last hundred and fifty miles, stay out of the sun off watch, drink a lot of water, get your rest, get ready for the big battle with the channel. There has been many of race I did’nt drive as well, as I new I could, and this bothered me more than what placed we finished.

CLEAN UP.
Once the race is over and you can see straight again its time to clean the boat and hand it over to the delivery crew. You need to bust your butt and sweet it out and clean the boat up, get it done and party on.

WILL I DOTHIS RACE AGAIN?
Yes, I have always had a dream of doing the race with my son and I think I will keep race 10 for that reason. Of course if someone brings me an offer of a double handed on a very well prepared boat?... well, maybe?


SEA YA

The Holy Grail of yacht racing is underway (Written 07-19-11)

The Transpacific Yacht Race, simply known as the "Transpac," is the Holy Grail of yacht racing on the West Coast. The course starts in San Pedro and ends at Diamond Head, which is outside of Honolulu, on the Hawaiian island of Oahu —2,225 nautical miles away.

There is a tremendous amount of history to this event and much of this history centers around Newport Harbor. Monday, July 4, marked the start of the 46th biennial race to Hawaii. The first race was in 1906.

I went around town this week and asked questions about the race to a few of the Transpac veterans we have in our harbor. I first stopped by to see Dave Ullman. He was getting ready to make his 11th Transpac crossing aboard the Holua, a Santa Cruz 70.

"This is the best crew I have ever sailed this race with," Dave told me. "The race plays out within the first 36 hours. And if you hook up with group of boats on Day 3 and you are in the lead, it only gets better."

Dave sailed his first Transpac in 1963 aboard his father's boat, the Legend, which was recognized as one of the first "light displacement" boats to a first in class and 10th overall. The yacht had a long history at the Balboa Yacht Club and won the 1957 Transpac with Charles Ullman at the helm.

When I asked Dave what keeps bringing him back to the race, he replied: "It's the premier race on the West Coast and I have had some exciting finishes over my 11 races."

My next stop was with Tom Corkett.

Tom won the race overall in 1963 aboard the Islander. His Transpac victory that year is one of the classic stories. The way I understand it, Tom walked out of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club one afternoon, recruited five of his friends, and won the race. He was only 21.

afternoon, recruited five of his friends, and won the race. He was only 21.

Tom has raced in 14 Transpacs and has won his class many times over the years. He was aboard the Windward Passage in the famous 1977 race, and was dismasted in 1967 aboard the Salacia, his Cal 48.

"We were winning the race with 700 miles to go and we stuffed the spinnaker pole into the water," Tom said. "We jury-rigged the boat and still beat a couple of boats to the finish line."

When I asked him about what was his most memorable part of the race, he replied: "Your first land sight. There is nothing better."

My last stop was with Bob Dickson who has sailed in 16 Transpacs. He started in 1953. Bob's most memorable race was in 1965 aboard the Ticonderoga.

"We won the race, first to finish, with a 29-year-old," Bob told me.

The 1965 Transpac was one of the truly great Honolulu races with one of the closest finishes. Only five minutes separated Ticonderoga from the runner-up, the Stormvogel.

When I asked Bob what was the best part of the race, he replied: "Just finishing in Hawaii."

I will be back next time — my column now runs every other week — with an update of the race and the start of one of the classic battles in Transpac history. For more information on this year's race, go totranspacrace.com and look for the race tracker.

Sea ya!

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

Speak Up Newport: What is the future of Newport Beach?

MUST ATTEND!

Will the recent creation of a Harbor Department headed up by Kurt Borsting fulfill the vision of Councilman Duffy Duffield?

Come find out at Speak Up Newport’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, June 12, when it presents, “What is the future of Newport Harbor?”

After 4 1/2 years on the City Council, Marshal “Duffy” Duffield has yet to fulfill his vision of the Harbor. Join Speak Up Newport to hear Duffield present his vision, what he has accomplished to date, and the challenges he has faced in pursuing his mission. Hear from our new Harbormaster Kurt Borsting on how he will implement this vision and manage the new Harbor Department.

Click on photo for a larger image 

Submitted photos

Marshal “Duffy” Duffield, Newport Beach Councilman

Duffield has spent a lifetime on the water, both as an offshore sailboat racer, designer, and builder and operator of large power boats. He is the founder and owner of the largest electric boat company in the world – the internationally prominent Duffy Electric Boat Company, which dominates the leisure electric boat market on every continent. He is committed to steering a course for Newport Harbor which will assure it retains its long-admired peaceful, quiet, coastal nature.

Borsting became the Harbormaster for the City of Newport Beach in December 2018. He directs harbor-related programs and services, including moorings administration and management, Marina Park slip rentals, code enforcement, and harbor safety and maintenance activities. The Harbor Department team serves as the City’s ambassadors on the water, welcoming visitors to Newport Harbor and providing customer service to the boating community.

Click on photo for a larger image 

Kurt Borsting, Harbormaster for the City of Newport Beach 

Meeting Schedule:

–5:15-6 p.m.: Reception with a complimentary light supper provided by The Bungalow with wine available for purchase.

–6-7 p.m.: Program and Q&A

There is no cost to attend and the public is invited. Reservations are not necessary.

For more information, call 949.224.2266 or visit www.speakupnewport.com.

The Speak Up Newport meeting takes place at the Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room, 100 Civic Center Drive, Newport Beach

On the Harbor: From angling to clean up

By LEN BOSE

Plenty of activity in the harbor, this month of May 2019, so let’s dive head first into it. You had to have noticed last Saturday and Sunday, May 4 and 5, everyone fishing in the 56th annual Lilly Call Tournament. This event takes place in the harbor with the first 75 anglers signing up getting to participate. From my view of the harbor, while traveling over the Pacific Coast Highway bridge at 8:30 Saturday morning, all the participants were starting to show signs of an “all-nighter” with the tournament starting at 12:01 Saturday morning. I had all the intentions of heading out to interview the anglers but the odds for me completing that task are about the same as winning the lotto.

So here is the next best thing – the winners: Bass in 3rd place was Jeff McDonald at 1.81 (weight), 2nd place Ryan Lawler at 1.97 and in 1st place was Davy Schweickert, crushing the competition with a 3.35 Bass. Corbina in 3rd place was Tim Humphrey at 3.64, Tommy Tupman lifted up a 4.14 fish for 2nd place, while Alyssa Corum brought home the winning pickle dish at 4.77. Over in the Halibut species Casey McCann caught a 5.57 for 3rd place, in second was Chris Scott at 6.05, while the winner was Patrick Serge, catching a 6.43 Bass. There were no grand slam winners this year by catching all three species.

The next two big events at the Balboa Angling Club are the White Seabass Seminar on May 15 from 6-8 p.m. at the clubhouse, then on May 25, the Annual Fundraising event. You can call the clubhouse for details at 949.673.6316. The Balboa Angling Club is the best value in town, and if you are looking for Junior programs for your kids this summer, this is a must call. 

• • •

Saturday is Opening Day for the Balboa and the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Clubs, while the Newport Harbor Yacht Club celebrated its opening day last Sunday. From the different posted photos, I noticed the weather was perfect and the membership could not have been prouder of their new NHYC clubhouse. I always enjoy Opening Day and I am sure you will find me doing my yellow beard walk between the two clubs. You will have to come up to me and ask what I mean about my yellow beard walk.

For all of my readers, I have re-posted my Flag Etiquette column I wrote back in 2007 under the title “The True Yachtsman Guide to Flag Etiquette for Opening Day,” which you can find at lenboseyachts.blogspot.com. I also posted a YouTube video of the yellow beard walk along with the best way home.

• • •

This Tuesday starts the summer sailing season with the famous Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club’s Taco Tuesdays. Each summer, I look forward to sailing in the weeknight races around the harbor. With the thought of summer sailing quickly approaching, the smile has already returned to my face. NHYC twilights will be starting on May 23. Life is good!

• • •

Next up on the harbor is the Balboa Bay Club’s “Underwater Clean Up” on Saturday, June 1 from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Two hundred volunteers and 80 scuba divers collected 4,000 pounds of trash out of the harbor last year. Enjoy live music and tasty pupus that only the Bay Club can provide afterward. For more information, go to 

www.nhunderwatercleanup.com for more information.

I attended this month’s Harbor Commission meeting and overall, it felt like two steps forward and three steps back. I don’t have time to write about the items that concerned me, so I have to remember what my father told me, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all,” which is probably too much already. Okay. It is always good to see Chris Miller attending from Public Works to update the commission on eelgrass. Let me start out by saying, “Eelgrass is our friend.” in fact, the yacht clubs should make T-shirts with this written on the front of them for Opening Day. You all should know by now Newport Harbor is the only harbor in California with a specific plan which allows the city to permit dredging and impact shallow water eelgrass. Bottom line is it is very difficult for the city to survey the eelgrass and keep the plan in place with all the different government agencies. Short story, just remember “Eelgrass is our friend.”

It was also very comforting to see Lt. Corn from the Sheriff’s Department attending the meeting. The most heartwarming thing I watched was how Harbor Master Kurt Borsting reached out to the public and addressed their concerns. Borsting followed a mooring permit holder out of the meeting to explain to them, in person, on how he could help them with the new time limits on the public piers. Borsting also hurried up to catch me before I had left the meeting at its close. I have never witnessed this before and it left me with an encouraging feeling that we’re all working together to make our harbor better. 

Sea ya.

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Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for 

Stu News Newport.

How to walk between BCYC & BYC on Opening Day.

Opening Day walk.

This is how you get home  Uber