On the Harbor: 2023 end-of-the-year wrap-up

Photo of Jen and I for the 2013 Wrap up

By LEN BOSE

The customers ask me how long have I been selling boats. My reply this year has been, “Longer than I care to admit,” which is similar to telling someone how old you are. Well, I’m thinking the same thing when I count back how many end-of-the-year wrap-ups I have written. Some years, I referred to these stories as  “The good, the Bad & the Ugly,” “My 10 best stories,” “Looking back at this year’s highlights” and “Counting down my favorite 10 stories.” So, I am not going to tell you how long I have been writing these year-end stories. Let’s just get this party started.

Each year we must ring eight bells – “End of the Watch” – or when a sailor has passed away. This year was “Remembering Douglas M. West.” Go here to read it. For me, it was West’s personal touch, on topics he knew I had a personal interest in. He would meet with me for breakfast or lunch at his request. He was an extremely easy person to approach while sincerely considering many of my silly ideas. At the same time, I recall a couple of Harbor Commission meetings when he would firmly remind people when they were out of order.

I spent some time this year with Harbormaster Paul Blank. Go here to read “Touring Newport Harbor with Harbormaster Paul Blank Part 1” and go here for Part 2.

In the first interview, Blank and I discussed moorings, pump-out stations, public docks, liveaboards, Caulerpa algae and so much more. At the end of this year, I felt I should check back in with him. Read “Catching up with Harbormaster Paul Blank Part 1 here and Part 2 here.

This second time around the harbor, we reviewed harbor objectives, harbor code enforcement, reviewing all that had happened in the harbor this past year and dredging, and more. I ended the interview with “I should get Harbormaster Blank to sail with me on my Harbor 20; I’d never miss a wind shift again!”

One of my favorite stories this year was “Getting to know Carolyn Smith, the new BCYC sailing director,” which you can read here.

“When I received the phone call, it felt super nice to be thought of for this position. This is a passion for me, so accepting this position was a no-brainer,” said Smith. As I was leaving the interview, Smith came up with the quote of the year. After I had told her this story would be running in Stu News’ Friday edition, she said with a huge smile, “Stu News, that’s where I get all my Newport news.”

I stopped by to see one of my many old friends around the harbor this year. Catching up with Eberisto “Abe” Parra, owner of Larson’s Shipyard. Go here to read it.

The real reason I stopped by to say hello to Parra that week was I had heard a rumor that he was retiring and closing up shop. When I asked him about this, he laughed and said, “I have been here 43 years and plan on being around another 43 years.” This was good to hear, because the last thing we need is to lose another shipyard from our harbor.

Mooring Issues and changes are always a hot topic each year. Now to the elephant in the room – a proposed pilot program to change the mooring system within our harbor. The history of the mooring system is lengthy, so let’s dive into the murky sand below the surface. Harbor Commissioner Ira Beer has been tasked with providing the Harbor Commission with a recommendation that can be presented to the City Council. You can read about that column here.

Meeting Harbor Commissioner Steve Scully reminded me to stay more active within the harbor. I was able to contact Harbor Commissioner Chairman Scully for an interview, and after I leaned back in my chair realizing just how much I missed this summer by not attending the meetings. The good news to report is that the Harbor Commission has been busy, and taking their tasks to hand by completing their objectives. You can read the column on Scully here.

This is the perfect segue to Harbor Commission goals and objectives, which you can read here. I wanted to take the time to update you on what the Harbor Commission has been tasked with in the upcoming year by reviewing its objectives and goals, along with any observations I made from the commission’s meetings.

Finishing the year on a good note, let’s go back to my column, “Recognizing our annual sailing winners,” which you can read here.

The top-shelf award at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club is the Jon Pinckney Perpetual, which is awarded to junior sailors with the most outstanding racing record this year. This year’s recipients were Zarrin Harvey and Kingston Keyoung. I have never seen juniors more excited about receiving an award than these two deserving awardees.

The time sure goes by much faster when you are having fun, so let’s go sailing!

Sea ya next year.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.

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Huntington Beach Harbor Commission

By Len Bose

I am sure most of you know that the City Of Huntington Beach put in place a Harbor Commission back in 2019 just before the Covid-19 tsunami rolled over the top of us.

Jump ahead to the end of 2023 and let's update you on the tasks of the Harbor Commission who are all involved, and how you can get involved with our Harbor.

For those of you that are unaware of the Harbor Commission in Huntington Harbor let’s start at the beginning. The duties and responsibilities of the commission are listed in the Municipal Codes (Municipal Code 2.65) designates that the Harbour Commission shall serve in an advisory capacity to the City Council in all matters related to Huntington Beach Harbour, its beaches, facilities, and parks. The Commission advises the City Council about Waterway Safety, General Infrastructure (e.g. seawalls, pier headlines, bulkheads etc.), Water Quality, and Municipal Code Amendments. The Harbour Commission also cooperates with other governmental agencies and civic groups for the advancement of Huntington Harbour and recreational planning under the direction of the City Council. The Commission meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 5:00 p.m. in Meeting Room B-8 on the Lower Level of the Civic Center.

Harbour Commissioners study, report, and interpret the needs of the public to the City Council and assist in securing financial support from the community for the enhancement of Huntington Harbour, its beaches, parks, and related recreational needs. The Harbour Commission also reviews the annual budget as presented to the City Council to advise them on the current operational needs and long-range plans for capital improvement in the Harbour. In addition, the Commission also advises the City Council on any other matters concerning the Huntington Harbour when requested to do so by the Council.

That’s a brief description of the commission now let’s meet the Chair of the Harbor Commission Craig Schauppner. I had a chance to interview him in November 2023. He grew up in Tustin, his father was a Marine Aviator and stationed in El Toro, Schauppner followed up in his father’s footsteps, he went to UCLA with an ROTC scholarship, followed by flight school and then blasted into becoming a Navy Aviator, he spent 21 years in the Navy flying airplanes. Moved around the world, when he retired in 2016 at that time he and his wife wanted to live on the water in Southern California. They purchased their first home in Huntington Harbor. “We never plan on moving, and plan on living here the rest of our lives,” Schauppner said.

He noticed a post on a social media page with the outline of why the commission was being formed and thought it would be a good opportunity to serve his city. “So I applied, and then selected to be the one of seven appointed to the commission. It’s been a great learning experience, and opportunity to serve the city while understanding how the city works”. Schauppner said.

There are seven commissioners all serving four-year terms with a total of eight years served. The chair and vice-chair are voted in each July in a rotation format with 1-year terms. Your Harbor commissioners are Schauppner, Vice Char Kimberley Milligan, Chris Nielsen, Van Ju, Diane Wood, Michael VanVoorhis, and William Larkin.

The commission has four objectives they form an Ad Hoc committees for each objective, with the approval of the City Council. These Ad Hoc Committees are as follows:

1. The Vessels and WaterCraft in which Schauppner, VanVoorhis, Wood. Their first task was to recommend changes to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) to the small boat/public channel into Anaheim Bay between the ocean and the Pacific Coast Highway Bridge into Huntington Harbor. The recommendation is that only motorized vessels can navigate this channel, vessels have to be able to go 5 knots, and not stop within the channel. Their recommendation was approved by the council and then submitted to the Army Core of Engineers. This committee is now researching the rules and regulations for rental companies that use the public beaches within the harbor.

2. Water Quilty Committee: Is Larken, Milligan, and Nielsen. Their first task is to research how to obtain and maintain a “Water Wheel” or trash wheel. I would refer to it as a Flotsam Super Pac-Man that eats unimportant items; trash, odds, and ends. The harbor can use two of these Super Pac-Mans, one for the Bolsa Chica flood channel and the East Garden Grove-Winterburg Channel. All kidding aside, The Ad Hoc committee has recommended to the City Council the need for Water Wheels. The Water Wheel is a whole story within itself, and I am sure it will be discussed in future columns.

3. Policy: Larken, Miligan, and Van DuCity are starting the process of updating the city codes written fifty years ago for the harbor.

4. Infrastructure: Schauppner, Larsen, and VanVoorhis are on the Ad-Hoc Committee. Larsen and VanVoorhis are working with a city-wide infrastructure committee to include the Harbor needs such as bulkheads and bridges.

Schauppner explained how important the Fire Department has become ”With the Fire Department being placed in alignment with the Harbor Commission it has been a huge benefit to the harbor. With this alignment we have lifeguards on the public harbor beaches, patrolling the harbor with their boats, and all the efforts the Fire Department has made the harbor safer and more enjoyable for everybody.”

When asked what he would like to complete before terming out “ A water wheel, I feel we will benefit greatly at the Bolsa Chica channel. I would also like to find a way to get the state to use the money it receives from the Harbor, and slip footprint rent from the homeowners, back into the harbor rather than the state general fund.

Schauppner is very approachable, one of the best listeners I have ever met, and it’s quite obvious he truly wants to help improve our harbor.

Sea ya

On the Harbor: Catching up with Harbormaster Paul Blank

By LEN BOSE

 This is Part 2 in a two-part series

As winter approaches, I start to look back on the year and to prepare for the new year. Very similar to looking aft while sailing downwind in a sailboat race. Doing this will keep you aware of the changing conditions. With this in mind, I checked back in with Harbormaster Paul Blank this last week

Q: Can you talk about the Harbor Department’s (HD) objectives for 2024?

A: The objectives are as follows:

–Continue to improve the technology that supports our activities and operations allowing us to be more effective.

–Plan production of an introductory safety video suitable for posting on the city website, accessible on the MyNB app, and made available to rental concession operators (communications, safety).

–Further improve data collection and reporting including:

~Location heat mapping.

~Additional metrics.

~Improve formats for reporting (month and year).

~Complete a new application and receive a $175K grant from the Calif. Division of Boating and Waterways for the removal of surrendered and abandoned vessels from Newport Harbor.

~Replace the 2007 vessel in the HD fleet with a vessel that better meets the current department's operational and functional requirements.

Q: Is anything new going on at Marina Park?

A. The Harbor Department offices are getting some much-needed soundproofing. It’s a very active place with customers, constituents, and colleagues both in person in the office and over the phone. It can be very challenging to participate in a conversation or even just concentrate effectively enough to comprehend emails and other documents.

We also hope to implement a universal electric charging station for electric vessels here in the Marina Park marina. We are close to finalizing a contract with the vendor and are just waiting for the final signoff from the City Attorney.

We did recently have an overdue inspection of our firefighting systems down on the docks. We got a very good report from the inspection agency and are pleased we are prepared in the event of an emergency.

Q: Of your objectives for 2023, which one are you most pleased with in terms of results?

A: The most important objective achieved by the department this year was the elevation of six Harbor Services Worker and Harbor Services Lead positions to full-time. The people who serve in those positions are professionals who have chosen this work as their career. They deliver consistently excellent service and are dedicated to achieving the Harbor Department’s “clean, safe, and well-enjoyed” mission. It is a huge step forward that they can now call these jobs their “full-time” professions and not have to supplement their livelihoods with other part-time work. In addition to the dignity and benefits these team members now enjoy, it has meant significantly less of my time is spent on recruiting and personnel development activities. That time has been redeployed on activities that are of greater value to the harbor community.

Here are the three other objectives I am most pleased the HD accomplished in 2023.

–Establish rapport and open a dialogue with representatives of the Harbor Charter Fleet industry to promote best practices for charter boat operations in Newport Harbor with particular attention to vessel specifications, noise and pollution control compliance, and long-range plans for operations and berthing in Newport Harbor. (Clean, well-enjoyed, communications, community building.)

–Make full use of the $175K grant from the Calif. Division of Boating and Waterways for the removal of surrendered and abandoned vessels from Newport Harbor.

–Conduct Harbor Summer Summit recap in the fall after the very successful and well-attended Harbor Summer Summit in the spring of 2023.

Q: Has there been progress with Code enforcement this year?

A: The code enforcement team is firing on all cylinders at present. The team has distributed the responsibilities very effectively and is focused on their special areas of expertise. Their efforts have focused on stay limits in the anchorages, dye-tabbing of visiting vessels, and operability of vessels in the harbor. We’ve achieved the removal of a couple of unpermitted floats/dock extensions. We just received court approval to take nuisance abatement action on three inoperable and unsanitary vessels.

The code enforcement team initiated and is convening a Southern California Taskforce on Dilapidated and Inoperable Vessels. We’ve gotten positive responses and participation from essentially all the recreational harbors in SoCal.

The intent is to keep track of and alert one another on vessels of concern moving from one harbor to the next.

The group will also attempt to make codes, rules, and policies more consistent from the harbor to the harbor, so all visitors’ expectations are consistently set and they have a more consistent experience.

Q: It’s time for the Christmas Boat Parade. What should boaters on the water keep in mind, and how will the Harbor Department be involved?

A: The Christmas Boat Parade is an absolutely extraordinary event that brings joyful entertainment to more than one million people annually. The Harbor Department will be on the water all five nights helping to ensure a neat and orderly parade as well as ensuring everyone gets back to their berth safely.

All boaters are asked to do all they can to ensure that joyful entertainment is not marred by irresponsible action:

–If you are going to imbibe adult beverages during or in association with the parade, please do so responsibly and when safely back at the docks.

–Noise and light from your vessel can impair visibility and ability to communicate with other vessels. Please be sure you can see and be seen by other vessels on the water.

• • •

I should get Harbormaster Blank to sail with me on my Harbor 20; I’d never miss a wind shift again!

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

Len Bose is a yachting enthusiast, yacht broker and harbor columnist for Stu News Newport.

On the Harbor: Catching up with Harbormaster Paul Blank

By LEN BOSE

As winter approaches, I start to look back on the year and to prepare for the new year. Very similar to looking aft while sailing downwind in a sailboat race. Doing this will keep you aware of the changing conditions. With this in mind, I checked back in with Harbormaster Paul Blank this last week.

This is Part 1 in a two-part series.

Q: From a distance it seemed like a quiet year, no oil spills, tsunamis, down aircraft. So what did I miss?

A: There were a couple of severe weather (wind and rain) events this year. We revived the technology we use to notify mooring permittees of approaching weather and urged them to verify their mooring equipment and lines to ensure all are secure. You may recall, that there was considerable attention and communication in anticipation of Hurricane Hilary arriving in August. One other of the severe weather events was a strong Santa Ana which stresses the mooring equipment from a different direction than usual, so we have significant concern about boats staying in place when faced with unusual conditions. All in all, things were fine and we greatly appreciated everyone’s preparedness in the face of these severe events.

A couple of other extraordinary emergencies we dealt with this year included two vessels taking on significant amounts of water and in serious danger of sinking.

Both vessels were wooden and both were of “vintage” age. Because they were in serious danger of sinking, we brought them to Marina Park where we could use shore power to operate pumps that kept them afloat while assessments and plans were made for their disposition. In one case, we were dealing with a less-than-responsible owner and the eventual outcome was that the boat was removed from the harbor and destroyed. In the other case, I am pleased to report a much happier ending. That boat was repaired while at Marina Park sufficiently to return to its mooring a couple of days later. That boat has gone on to pass a full inspection with the Harbor Department permitting the owner to live aboard.

Another emergency response involved an alert – Harbor Department team members identifying a significant amount of discharge into the harbor coming from the upland.

The location was near the BCYC and was not bound to the surface, so a containment boom would not have been effective. We contacted the water quality team who promptly came for an inspection and then began an investigation trying to find the source. After more than an hour of searching the water, the quality team identified the source as a broken landscape irrigation pipe on Newport Center Drive which was subsequently staunched when the responsible party was contacted. Fortunately, the runoff was nothing more serious than sediment from some landscaping.

Another incident that started out with potentially disastrous consequences resolved without serious damage or injuries: As one of our patrol boats was exiting the harbor entrance they witnessed a few jet skis driving in circles in front of other larger vessels. One larger vessel honked at the jet skier and kept moving. Five minutes later, we were notified and saw the same jet ski stuck underneath a large catamaran. The jet ski operator was safe with no injuries and the vessel also had limited marks from the incident. After assessing the damage, the jet skier hopped back on his vessel after it was dislodged and both went back to their respective storage locations.

Q: How about an update on dredging?

A. Three different suits involving two defendants (Army Corp of Engineers and the City of Newport Beach) are making their way through the courts. The ACE Colonel was here for a tour recently, which we provided. He seemed committed to resolving the suits and moving forward with the project ASAP. There is some optimism the suits will be resolved early in 2024 and the project can get underway in the spring.

Q: And an update on the Pilot Mooring program?

A: I am currently working on responses to the 14 questions or requests for more information the Coastal Commission made based on their initial read-through of the application.  The documentation I am preparing will amount to more than 1,000 pages and is taking a considerable amount of my time to compile.

It is hoped the application will get a second review with the Coastal Commission staff early in 2024. They have indicated they want to come for a site visit soon, which we will provide.

Q: Earlier this year you talked about training programs, and working with many different agencies. Has everything gone as planned, what have you learned?

A: The Harbor Department has engaged in a significant amount of training in 2023, both as a team here in Newport and with some team members attending training in other locations. Here locally we engaged in our own spill response drill right after Labor Day. The drill was a surprise that took place during a scheduled “All Hands” meeting and was very successful. We also did a joint training session and preparedness assessment with the California National Guard Marine Command (MARCOM) which proved very beneficial for all involved. 

The Harbor Department was also well-represented at the following conferences and training sessions:

–California Association of Code Enforcement Officers

–California Association of Marine Safety Officers

–Recreational Marina Association

–Association of Marina Industries (National Trade Group)

On Tuesday, Dec. 5, Part 2 covers: What’s new at Marina Park, Harbor objectives, and more on Harbor Code enforcement.