The Levy's set sail on extended cruise aboard "StarGazer"

 

Photo from Left to right Emily, Katie, Harper, David

Many years ago while commissioning a boat for a double-handed Trans Pac race berthed on via Lido Isle Soud a college kid was teaching sailing at the Lido Isle Yacht Club and would stop by each day aboard his coaching boat, say hello, and ask how are things going. There was some kind of trust between us and who could not trust a person wearing a Ryen Sponner shirt every day? Time goes on and we always take an extra moment when crossing tacks with each other to ask how are you doing. The other day an Instagram post popped up on my Facebook page with Katie and David Levy with their two girls Emily, 12 years old, and Harper, 9 years old, pushing off the dock in this year’s Baja Ha-Ha cruiser rally down the coast of Baja Mexico. I immediately became envious of the Levy family that they are doing this, and wondered how far they would be going. Just then I received a text from David “ Morning Len, we started our cruise and Katie has been posting on Instagram. I thought I would share our adventures with you! I replied how envious I was and what a perfect time of life to take such an adventure. I then asked how long are you planning on staying in Mexico or is this an extended cruise? His reply was “ Hey Len, The current plan is to take off for a couple of years.” I thought to myself what a great story and David agreed to an interview.

The Levy’s own a 44’ CSY cruising sailboat by the name of “StarGazer”, and have owned her over the last 15 years. Back in 2011 Katie and David participated in the Baja-Ha-Ha and cruised parts of the Sea of Cortez at that time they thought how wonderful it would be to return with some kids. On their return home they got to work and had Emily in 2012 and Harper in 2015 with that part of the task completed they focused on getting the boat ready. Over the last six years, they completed a major refit to the boat “ I touched every inch or millimeter of the boat during the refit. We replaced the chain plates from internal to external chain plates and oversized them, they are extremely beefy, we replaced the teak cap rail on the bow glassed over the deck to hull joint, and an aluminum toe rail was added. Replaced all the stainless steel on the boat, all the handrails our new with solid handrails all away around the boat, a hard dodger which is fully enclosed. I completely re-wired the boat to ABYC standards, an added 120V AC system, inverter, 720 Watts solar panels. I re-plumbed the boat, replaced countertops and fixtures. I installed an Electromaax water maker that can produce 7-8 gallons of water per hour very efficiently with the least amount of draw from the batteries.” David said. During his spare time David became an ABYC certified adviser electrician, he then took the job as the Western Regional OEM Sales Manager for the NAVCO group and represented about 20 brands.” David said.

The Levy’s also added a fully enclosed dodger around the cockpit along with a complete set of electronics from and added 120V AC system, inverter, 720 Watts solar panels.

Starlink satellite communications, AIS system, Garmin “inreach” which will allow you to obtain texts, and weather. B&G sailing instruments from chart plotter to autopilot. When David was going over all the electronics most of it was flying way over my head. He did post an Instagram going over most of what he told me and Yes I would want everything he has done with the boat. Not only did he touch every base he did it right with the best equipment available at this time. We also talked about communications and the Starlink satellite system which is all new to me and I have only been retired from offshore racing since 2021. “Starlink is differently a game changer, Katie is still able to work remotely, and the kids are able to complete part of their homeschooling through Zoom and Teams calls. Within 12 miles from shore we have unlimited data which is less than your monthly cell service. “We would not have been able to do what we wanted done without Starlink right now,” David said.

I asked David what are their planned designations and if he is looking forward to one spot. “It felt great to get off the dock and sail past the Coronado Islands, after committing to this lifestyle change, renting our house, selling our cars, leaving work, “sailing into Mexican water was a pretty big milestone for us. For now, the tentative plan is to cruise the Sea of Cortez for the next few weeks, then head to the mainland over to Mazatlan, LaCruz, Banderas Bay, and PV or as far south as Barra de Navidad with the plans of heading North up the Sea of Cortez in the spring and maybe heading to Panama in the summer. From where we are headed next we will have to wait and see. We just want to go out and explore, for us it’s really about spending more time with the family and getting these experiences for our kids. David said

You can follow the Levey family on Instagram under “Stargazer”. I picked up on a great quote from David. When explaining the electronics and how data is transmitted and received he said 

“It’s a boat they go in waves”.

Sea ya

The Harbor Report: Continuing our spin around the harbor Published on Nov 12 2014

Should she stay or should she go now?

By Len Bose

November 7, 2014 | 2:39 p.m.

Join me now as we continue around the harbor in preparation for the Harbor Commission's special meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

In my last column, I began a list of the questions I plan to ask at different stops along the commission's harbor tour. We stopped with RGP 54, regarding dredging and eelgrass mitigation permits, which will be discussed just as we approach the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

As the ferry continues up the Balboa Peninsula, the next waypoint is the Cheyenne (ex PlayStation). This vessel is intended to be support for a deep-sea submarine. The owner will not like what I have to say but it’s time to revoke her special mooring permit. She has taken up a large foot print of our harbor for long enough and its time to throw in the towel on this one.

Our next topic will be jet packs, and this is all but decided with the Harbor Commission recommendation to prohibit them in the bay. The City Council will discuss the water-propelled vessels Jan. 13 or 27. And you will have a chance to meet our newest harbor commissioner, Bill "Skip" Kenny, who, I feel, will turn out to be very productive.

Next up is Marina Park, and I assume Harbor Resource Manager Chris Miller will lead this discussion. My question will be: Is there room for a marine recycling center at this location? I will also try to understand if dry storage will be available for mooring permit holders and other harbor users.

19th Street Pier

As we work our way toward the Rhine Channel, the next two waypoints will be the 19th Street Pier and the Newport Bay Marina. The 19th Street Pier has a new public restroom, and I just wonder how often the local residents might complain about late-night guests at the public docks. I will need to check in with a couple of my friends who live on their boats in the surrounding moorings for their input.

The Newport Bay Marina has been working hard to complete this project, and we will just need to wait and see if all of the requirements that the city made are being followed.

As we do a 180-degree turn, it might be a good time to ask Harbor Patrol Officer Sean Scoles about noise complaints in this area of the harbor, make note that there are two public docks in the Rhine and ask if we have enough commercial working space at the end of the Rhine for the future.

Our cruise will now head under the Lido Bridge, and the next two topics will be alternative anchorages and Lido Marina Village. I have good friends on both sides of the debate about whether to make the North West Lido Channel into an alternative anchorage area.

This is the exact spot where I asked my wife to marry me some 24 years ago, and I have to say I really like the idea of installing day moorings in Big Corona as an alternative anchorage. Commissioner Brad Avery will lead this discussion.

As for the Lido Marina Village, two thoughts come to mind: That is a lot of big-boat slips that could support more large charter boats than we already have, and the developer has promised that's not the intention. Make sure you note the proposed public pier alongside the sea wall just northwest of the Elks Lodge. It's a perfect spot for a new public pier.

Next, we will travel east down Mariners Mile, and our waypoint is to discuss Vessel Overhang. This will be a difficult topic to cover while on the ferry.

As we proceed past the Orange Coast College Sailing Base, it might be a good time to ask if there is another public dock that very few harbor users are aware of nearby.

Next, we will round Bayshores and head toward the PCH bridge. The next big waypoint is the Lower Castaways. Commissioner David Girling is chairing this for the commission and doing an outstanding job.

I have to wonder how this area's plan might change now with the new City Council. I have always felt this area is best served as a marine industry launching point, but very few people have agreed with me. It's a huge topic, so pay close attention to Girling on this one.

As we head back east down Balboa Island, note all the shore moorings' derelict boats on the beach. Good time to ask about the state's VTIP program.

This will be a fantastic opportunity for you the harbor user. I hope you can make it.

Sea ya.

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

The Harbor Report: Preparing questions for harbor meeting and cruise Published on Nov 1 2014

Balboa Ferry Special Harbor Commission meeting November 15, 2014

By Len Bose

October 31, 2014 | 2:41 p.m.

I have written about the Harbor Commission special meeting set for 8:30 a.m. Nov. 15.

It will convene in a conference room in the Harbor Patrol facility at 1901 Bayside Drive and then be moved to one of the Balboa ferries waiting at the Harbor Patrol visitor's dock for a tour of the harbor.

Copies of the route with waypoints to be called out on the tour can be found on my blog site, lenboseyachts.blogspot.com. Commissioners will address the waypoints on which they are most well versed. The ferry has a capacity limit, and guests will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis.

In an effort to familiarize you with the waypoints, I thought I would take the time to share my observations, concerns and the questions I will be asking at the different waypoints during the harbor tour.

We will start at the Harbor Patrol Office. Let's hope Deputy Sean Scoles attends this meeting because he is easy to approach, loves the harbor and does an outstanding job.

I would ask Scoles: 1. What is his definition of a derelict boat? 2. How does the mooring waiting list work? 3. Can people pass on a permit if they do not like the location, and how many times can they play the pass card? 4. Can two mooring permit holders trade permits to obtain a more usable location for themselves? 5. How did the VTIP program work this year for our harbor? 6. How many boats can a mooring permit holder keep tied to a mooring at one time?

Most of these questions relate to city codes or policies, but this will be a good chance to hear how these two departments define them.

Assuming we head over to the M Street public pier first, I would have to ask an attending council member if the city has received and filed the recommendations made by the Harbor Commission last year regarding public piers. For example, have the park rangers enforced the rules, optimized the available space and considered the Adopt-a-Dock program? To be fair, the Harbor Resource Department has made improvements to the public docks this year by replacing benches and walkways.

It would be interesting if we then could go out of the harbor entrance and over to Big Corona to discuss that area as an alternative place for day moorings and, at the same time, do a quick overview of a tidal gate.

I should just stay on track and, as the ferry moves down the Balboa Peninsula toward the Fun Zone, point out what I see as a derelict vessel and see if it fits Scoles' definition of a derelict boat.

Next up will be the Balboa Ferry Landing, and I assume we will talk about sea-level rise. This will be a good time to ask Harbor Resource Manager Chris Miller where our harbor's data points are so we can observe them ourselves during the upcoming king tides this winter.

We will then go past Bay Island to view the new bulkheads/seawalls. At this time, the water is ebbing and the harbor is almost at low tide. What you should notice is how the steel wall was finished, and there should be little residue from the retreating tide line. The bulkhead cap will be noticed along with the expense of changing the docks to meet the new height of the seawall.

Continuing up the Balboa Peninsula and just about at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, we will come to the waypoint RGP 54. Miller and Commissioner Doug West will lead this topic, which regards dredging and eelgrass mitigation permits.

From my point of view, these guys are staying on task and are the best people for the job — although I will ask if the Coastal Commission considers the upper bay's eelgrass as part of the lower bay's eelgrass percentage for the whole harbor.

Interesting stuff, huh? We are barely halfway around the harbor. Please place Nov. 15 on your calendar and attend this meeting. Next week, I will review the rest of the harbor with you.

Sea ya.

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

So far so good with my good friend Nat Fuqua

When you round the last mark and are heading downwind towards the finish line of life it feels good to reflect back before that last gybe into the finish. One is reminded of just how long the racecourse has been while being determined to cross in good order, and fortunate not to have had to withdraw early from the race because of a breakdown. 

   So far so good with my good friend Nat Fuqua competing in this race of life. I estimate we met in 1970 when he moved into the neighborhood. The group of kids at the end of the cul-de-sac on Regatta Street in Huntington Beach were all very good athletes. We played every sport until the street lights came on each day. Baseball, football, street hockey we were all very competitive. Fuqua and I have memorable stories for each sport, at the end of the 8th grade, Nat moved out of the area and returned to graduate from Edison High in the last semester of our senior year. We attended our senior prom together and partied until the street lights were turned off. We attend Aerosmith, Cal Jam 2, Kiss, and Rolling Stones concerts, and have a great story about driving home in a big ass Cadillac from the Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. 

Just out of High School Fuqua decided he wanted to be an airline pilot and started flying lessons. One weekend we decided we would fly to Palm Springs with a couple of dates for dinner. We got lost over the Salton Sea on our return home that night and spent the night in some small town on the Mexican border. Our dates thought we had this all planned as we only could afford a room with one double bed in it.

Fuqua soared into his flying career while I started to sail almost every day. We always thought how cool it would be if he flew over one of the boats I was on during a big race. He was my best man at my wedding while I was his best man. We stayed in touch over the years sometimes going years before hanging out again. 

As we start this last downwind run towards the finish line of life the attached photos add thousand of words to our race reflecting on just how good it has been flying and sailing through life. We both toast each time we meet that neither of us has had to work day in our lives.

We are getting together this weekend for a type of bucket list Sunday. Fuqua purchased killer seats for the Cardinals/49’ers game followed up with front row center for ZZ Top that night. I bought us “Sharp dressed man” ZZ-Top Cowboy hats, some new cheap shades, and a little something for the football game. I’m so excited I think I pooped a little!

Sea ya

Bose 6th Grade

Fuqua 6th Grade

Bose 7th Grade

Fuqua 7th Grade

Bose 8th Grade

Fuqua 8th Grade

Hot for Teacher 8th Grade

Senior Prom

Fuqua Best Man at my Wedding

Today

ZZ Top May, 2022

On the Harbor: Good Samaritans who are helping keep our bay clean

By LEN BOSE

In my recent travels around the harbor, I noticed a new boat in the harbor named Good Samaritan. The word “samaritan” has multiple meanings, yet this one fits the boat’s name: A person who helps others; A person who is compassionate and helps someone in need, especially when they are not obligated to do so. For example, you might describe someone as a Good Samaritan if they purchased a boat and the crew to help clean up the harbor of trash and debris. (I edited that definition a little at the end.)

Well, that is what REALTOR® Tim Smith has done by commissioning Elastic Work Boats from Carmi, Ill. to build a 25’ custom Omini Catamaran that is powered by a 50hp Suzuki outboard that features a large skimmer that can collect more than 1,000 pounds of debris into a cage, which can be crane-lifted out to dispose of the different materials hauled from the harbor. Other features included handrails, bow rollers, VHF radio, hard top, and commercial rub rails. This is the proper vessel for this job with no expense spared. I have not had a chance to talk to Smith on the phone yet, but without a doubt, he did his due diligence and has purchased a vessel that will last for many years. It’s my understanding that a non-profit group will be formed to cover expenses from storage, maintenance, and the skipper. I am not sure how Smith found long-time charter boat Captain Robert Sloan to operate the vessel, but after talking to Sloan over the phone and then just by chance running into him on the harbor the following day, Smith has hit it out of the park again. There is no one better for this job, and after meeting Sloan he is my new best friend.

“I have been a charter boat captain most of my life and have always stopped to pick up trash, now I get paid to stop (and do this), so it’s the perfect job for me,” Sloan said. He works three days a week and eight hours each day on this project. He also runs a couple of boats at the Sea Scout Base for a couple of other non-profit groups.

His clean-up route takes him from Upper Newport Bay and then counterclockwise around the harbor with stops along the open beaches, public dock, marinas, yacht clubs, and under the different bridges. “I have learned where the trash accumulates over the last month and a half that we have been on the harbor,” Sloan said. What surprised me is that he is walking that extra mile by walking all of the harbor’s beaches and patrolling the waterways. Sloan does have one crew member who joins him every day and that is his dog, Xena. I have never seen a happier dog and I am very envious of Sloan being at work on the harbor with his dog. The two of them have found some interesting items – not just tennis balls floating down the harbor but refrigerator doors, ice coolers, and huge deadhead logs, and the season doesn’t really start until winter when the rains flush out the uplands. “It’s as clean as it gets right now, although when it rains it’s all going to be a mess again,” Salon said

 Most of the time Sloan uses a type of pool pole and net to pull the debris from the water and has come up with some of his own ideas by placing a type of barbed zip tie on the end of the pole to grab items and then pull them out of rocks or tight spaces. After each day’s work, Sloan heads to Marina Park to use the crane there and weigh in, then disposes his catch.

According to Harbormaster Paul Blank, “We had a goal (of collecting debris) for the first fiscal year which began July 1 of 1,200 pounds of debris. With the two teams working together and starting to weigh in, our catches as of August 3 were at 2,281.3 lbs.,” said Blank. That’s mind-blowing to me, because the season has not even started yet and we have “The Beast” in the bullpen with the Trash Interceptor going into service very soon in Upper Newport Bay.

I hope to catch Tim Smith on the phone soon and ask him how he came up with such a great idea, what are the future plans for the clean-up boat, and how we can all donate to this project. One of the vessel banners reads: Who you work with matters.

That takes on a whole new meaning to me, while making me feel good about our harbor.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Pacific Airshow this weekend and a recap of recent events

(L-R) Joshua Legg and Greg Helias, 2024 H20 Fleet Championship winners

By LEN BOSE

It’s that time of year when I am waving to the fighter jet pilots from my office window, and believe it or not I have had the pilots return my wave with a salute in previous years practicing for the Huntington Beach Airshow. Speaking of war jets, I completely missed the fact that the War Heroes on the Water were in the house that second to last weekend of September. That same weekend was the Harbor 20 Championships, and my predictions were very accurate this year. We also have most if not all of our harbor channel markers now eliminated.

On Saturday, Sept. 21, the War Heroes on Water “WHOW” commanded the harbor filling the anchorage and the harbor with some of the best-looking vessels located on our coast. If I’m not mistaken, this is the seventh year running the parade and fishing tournament, with each year bringing in more yachts and people. It’s all about saving the lives of our veterans through public awareness and fundraising, and providing a platform for veterans to strengthen their spirit and move forward towards purpose and healing. I refer to the event as WOW, because of all the yachts and people involved. My understanding is that the fishing tournament brings so many people to Avalon that it’s the busiest day of the year for the shore boats.

This leads into the Huntington Beach Airshow, taking place October 4-6, with the weather forecast showing flat sea conditions and mid-70s air temp. Saturday looks like the best day; the chance of fog diminishing from Friday. Sunday looks like it will be baking out on the water, with the air temperature forecasted at 85. Either way, it’s a great day on the water featuring the Thunderbirds, Canadian Snowbirds, F-22 Raptor Team, 122d F-15 Fighter Squadron and much more. This event always seems to make summer go out with a boom!

In my last column, I talked about the Harbor 20 fleet championships that sailed on September 21 and 22. My C Fleet predictions were a little off with Erika Foy and Paul Noring sailing away from most of the fleet, other than Team Kelly, who only finished five points behind to take second place. I was a little closer with my picks in B Fleet with Tucker Cheadle and Steve Schupak leading John Bubb after the first day, and for whatever reason he could not make it to the race course on Sunday, allowing Bubb to take B Fleet. Welcome to A Fleet John, you sailed fast this last season, and I am sure you will hold your own next season in A Fleet.

I hit my predictions perfectly in A Fleet with Team Legg and Helias winning the Class Championships. They had a slow start placing 11th in the first two races of the series, but Helias told me after the event that he mentioned the curse of me picking them to win after the second race. That must have lifted the bad jujum because they won six out of the last 10 races. Team Wiese finished in second place with Thompson and Conzelman taking third place, and Team Campbell in fourth. Chuck Simmons and I finished a hard-fought battle in seventh place. We’ve had many 4th or 6th place finishes, with our best finish being a 2nd. We felt good about our effort, but made too many mistakes mixed in with some bad luck.

In the middle of September, Harbormaster Paul Blank sent out a notice that most if not all the racing, anchorage and aids to navigation in the lower bay have now been illuminated. This is one of those small upgrades to the harbor that is more difficult to accomplish than you can imagine. Now we can hope that the next item is the county or Orange Sheriff’s Department seeing the light, and providing lights on the upper bay channel markers sometime in the near future.

If we are really lucky, maybe the Coast Guard might even see the light and change out the three remaining “old-fashioned” channel markers and replace them with smaller buoys when they start dreading next year. I know I’m reaching for the stars on that one, yet we can only wish.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Dredging, Harbor 20 Fleet Championships and the upcoming Pacific Airshow…there’s a lot going on

By LEN BOSE

This summer has sailed past us at the speed of an America’s Cup boat on its foils, yet we still have a couple of marks to round before fall arrives and the harbor cools down. This week, I had a chance to catch up with a couple of my harbor sources regarding dredging, the Harbor 20 fleet preparing for the fleet championships this weekend, and let’s not forget, the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach.

While attending the Yachtsman’s Luncheon at the Newport Yacht Club on September 4, it was brought up that the city has found a new way to dispose of the unsuitable materials that are in the lower harbor. The original plan has been the Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) Project, which is the hole in the harbor, that can be dug and placed in the anchorage off of Lido Isle and later capped off after the unsuitable materials have been placed inside the hole.

We’ve all read that many residents did not like that concept and found a way to hold up the dredging through the courts. The city recently learned that another option has resurfaced taking place in the Port of Long Beach Pier G fill next year. This is very similar to the process that we used to dispose of unsuitable materials during the harbor’s last dredging. These materials are placed on a scow and towed up to Long Beach for disposal. Problem solved. Let’s get to dredging the lower harbor back to its original depths and now everyone is happy. Well, guess what, the devil is always in the details and there are a whole lot of hurdles to get past before this idea can be implemented. My take is that this is an option that has worked in the past, and an all-out effort must be undertaken to achieve the same goal. By no means is this a done deal, and it is my understanding that the CAD project is not off the table, should the other plan not work out. For some strange reason, this is analogous to taking my dog to the park and picking up after him. Let’s just hope we brought enough waste bags, and there is a trash can nearby. 

Moving on to my favorite subject – sailing – this weekend is the 27th Harbor 20 fleet championships with 25 competitors entered at the time of this writing. There are seven boats entered in C class that are only racing on Sunday, which I feel is a great idea after racing both days last weekend in the warm-up events. My money will be on Team Kovacevic – Carolyn and Dominic – who had a strong showing in last week’s NHYC Fall Regatta. At the same time, Team Kelly with Devon on the helm while Greg is crewing is a very fast team; this will be very close, as anyone in the fleet placing the dots together can win. In B fleet, there are six boats entered; this is going to be a very close race between Tucker Cheadle and Steve Schupak sailing Summer Dream and John Bubb sailing Tiger. Bubb has been on fire this summer finishing in second in the Flight and showing great boat speed all year. With team Cheadle/Schupak having the consistency to win this division, I’m betting on them to take the pickle dish. In A Fleet with 12 boats entered, don’t look at last weekend’s results in the Fall Cup because somehow I won that race. Like I said, sometimes anyone can connect the dots, and Chuck Simmons and I were going fast. The real race is going to come down to four teams: Team Wiese, Team Legg and Helias, Team Campbell, and Team Thompson and Conzelman.

My guesses over the years are kind of like my chances of being on the cover of Sports Illustrated – I rarely have been proven right. So with great thought, I am going with Team Legg and Helias, who both sailed together at USC. Legg has returned home to Cape Cod for the summers and has been on top of the very competitive Herreshoff 12 fleet for a long time, teaming up with past fleet champion Greg Helias, who is without a doubt one of our harbor’s best. This team showed speed to burn last week and would have easily won last weekend if it was a two-day regatta. They will have to show up with their game faces on because Team Thompson and Conzelman are the most consistent team on the harbor. Teams Campbell or Wiese (if sailing at their best which they normally do) could sail away with the regatta on the first day. It reads as if I spread enough bad juju over my competitors and can only hope for the best. I know it will be fun because it always is when sailing with Simmons. Both A and B fleet are sailing in the normal two-day regatta.

Keep in mind the Huntington Beach Pacific Airshow is October 4-6, and it’s one of the busiest times on the harbor. It reminds me of the Ensenada Race back in the day with hundreds of boats leaving the harbor all at once. The show is best experienced from the water, so you need to call up your long-lost friends with a boat and ask them what they are doing that weekend. Make sure you bring some good rosé with you.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Join me as I share my “Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame,” story at this week’s NHYC Yachtsmen’s Luncheon

(L-R) Hook Beardslee and Barney Lehman, part of the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame, The Silent Generation

By LEN BOSE

This Wednesday (Sept. 4), I will be speaking at the Yachtsmen’s Luncheon at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club (NHYC). Lunch is open to the public with people starting to arrive around 11:45 a.m. Lunch is served first, and if I recall my presentation starts around 12:20 p.m. The topic will be a review of a story I wrote about five years ago – “Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame,” which has been one of the most-read stories over the years. You can find my original story at http://lenboseyachts.blogspot.com/.

One day, I found a story in another local paper that touched on this topic dating back to the 1990s. I found the story out of date, and in my opinion, not deeply researched. I thought to myself, let’s update the story, and I went to work. I had no clue how much research it required. I interviewed David Carol, Phil Ramser, Larry Somers, Don Ayers, Brad Avery, Tom Schock, Henry Sprague, Jane Farwell, George Twist, Dennis Durgan and Dave Ullman, along with spending many hours with the NHYC’s, well-written and updated history book. I did make stops at Balboa Yacht Club (BYC) and the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (BCYC), and really should have made a stop at Sherman Library. My interest in our harbor’s history is overwhelming, but I needed to stay focused on the sailors.

I still have the recordings of all the interviews of the many people I interviewed, and a couple of them still are fresh in my mind, which seems to be more difficult to recall every year for me. Of all the quotes I still easily recall, was one from David Carol describing a conversation he had with Fred Schenck on the docks of the NHYC. Schenck was approached by Humphrey Bogart to give sailing instructions to his wife Lauren Bacall in her Lehman 10. Schenck at the time was 19 years old and had seen photos of Bacall, yet in person, she was even more beautiful. “She was something else,” said Schenck. After telling the story, Carol was laughing so hard; my guess is Schenck might have described the moment a little differently.

 Another interesting interview was with Henry Sprague. Sprague is known to be a talker, and he must have had tears in his eyes when telling a story when he and Bill Twist were junior sailors and went to a movie theater somewhere around the corner from the BYC. I recall Sprague describing the incident with a third sailing friend who was with them, when one of them produced a couple of M80s, which are very loud explosive firecrackers. “I’m not sure which one of us brought them or who lit them, but two of them rolled down the theater floor to everyone’s surprise. The funny part was the theater manager tried to run us down on foot and catch the three of us. The yacht club was over a mile away and we were maybe 18 years old, and this guy was still just behind us,” Sprague recalled. When I asked George Twist to remark about this story he had a long pause and said, “Yeah, Sprague is quite the character.”

I also had another interesting talk with Dennis Durgan, who covered his America Cup experience, Fastnet Race and Congressional Cup races. The quote I recall most was, “If you can make your Sabot go fast, you can pretty much make anything go fast.”

All of the interviews are priceless to me, and yet I was extremely fortunate to spend time with Nick Scandone. Scandone called me up one night and asked if I could go back East with him to the Norton Yacht Club. Scandone had Lou Gehrig’s disease and was restricted to a wheelchair at that time. My full story with Nick at this event can be found at http://lenboseyachts.blogspot.com/2006/06/all-in_27.html.

If you are wondering how I decide who should be inducted into the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame, it must be someone who has spent most of their lives competing in our harbor, their attendance would most certainly increase the boat’s performance and I would recognize their advanced skill level in the sport of sailing.

A sailor’s story is always an interesting one…quite often funny and sometimes sad. I had my share of laughs and tears while researching and writing this. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired to see your name or that of a loved one on the list. I hope you can make it to the luncheon.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

The Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame (First Posted on 1-16-2020)

I would like to introduce to you the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame. My interest in our Harbor's history has always grabbed my attention and affection. So yeah, I like doing this kind of stuff. I started with the Newport Harbor Yacht Club history book, three yacht club roster books and my phone. I interviewed David Carol, Phil Ramser, Larry Somers, Don Ayers, Brad Avery, Tom Schock, Henry Sprague, Jane Farwell, George Twist, Dennis Durgan and Dave Ullman.  To qualify, inductees into the Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame must have spent most of their lives competing in or Harbor. Their attendance would most certainly increase boat's performance, and I recognized their advance skill level in the sport of sailing.

This is a living document and will be amended as more information is gathered and better photos added. If I have the information or have forgotten someone you feel should be added, Please do not hesitate to contact me at Boseyachts@mac.com

A sailor's story is always an interesting one....quite often funny and sometimes sad. I had my share of laughs and tears while researching and writing this. I hope you enjoy it and are inspired to see your name or that of a loved one on the list.

                                                                                                 Respectfully Len Bose 1991 

The Silent Generation from 1925-1945

Walton Hubbard

Walton Hubbard: 1927 Star World Champions Active boat builder” Walton Hubbard pronely did more to develop new yachtsmen and new yachting activities within the range of everyone. Famous Star boat builder, Falcons, Albatross, Rhodes 33 He owned South Coast Boatyard He passed away at the age of 36.

Dick McKibben

Dick McKibben: Was the first winner of the first two Flight of the Snowbirds in 1936 & 1937. McKibben boat was named after his mother’s nickname  “Wa-Wa.” 1937 was a good year for McKibben winning the Staff Commodore IB Potter Perpetual  which is a high point series for the Snowbird fleet. He also won the Griffith Trophy that same year. McKibben was also apart of the crew of Walt Elliot’s Cal 32 “Escapade” 5 Time Lipton Cup winner. 

Left to right Hook Beardslee & Barney Lehman

Harlan (Hook) Beardslee:  1934-35 won two Star internationals/Worlds with Barney Lehman. It was written that in a Star Mid-winter regatta that Beardslee withdrew from a race because he had fouled another competitor, who did not file the protest Beardslee withdrew. “The Rhodes class always showed up with a sizable fleet, but the race was usually for second place when Hook was sailing his # 8 Seabee” Won 9 out of 10 Rhodes 33 Championships between 1939 & 49. Tom Schock said, “He was a man of very few words, he was bigger than life.” NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner

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Barton Beek:  Flight of The Snow Bird winner and top Star sailor. “Under that crusty exterior was a huge heart (even with the pacemaker). With Linda by his side, Barton participated and showed us all what it was like to be a true competitor in the corinthian spirit. The Star Class was his passion and one of the reasons it remains THE CLASS of yacht racing after 90+ years is the dedication and spirit of guys like Barton” quote from The Star Class web page. 3rd Place 1976 Star Worlds, Star Baxter Bowel Winner 1979 & 86. Lehman 10 Lehman 12 champion. He was a BYC Sportsman of the year and NHYC Burgee of Merit recipient. 

Fred Schenck

Fred “ Mr. Snipe” Schenck: “Was one of the best dingy sailors come out of the harbor.” Dave Carol said. When Humphrey Bogart was racing Lehman 10’s, Bogart asked Schenck if Bacall could sail with him to learn more. Schenck was 19 years old and had seen photos of Bacall, yet in person, she was even more beautiful. “She was something else.” Said Schenck. He was the sailing master Circus II for Howard Ahmanson and sailed to Hawaii in the Trans Pac race. According to Dave Carol, he could sail anything. Dragons off the coast of Spain, part of the crew of Walt Elliot’s Cal 32 “Escapade” five Lipton Cup Wins. Lehman 12 sailor. Won the Snipe Worlds once and crewed in the worlds 4 times, won Lehman 12 Champs 1963 & 65, NHYC Burgee of Merit

Don Elder

Don ( D.K.) Edler: Part of the crew of Walt Elliot’s Cal 32 “Escapade’ won the Lipton Cup 5 times, 1964 Won the Star world championships. 2nd Star worlds 1960, Star Baxter Bowl Winner  1956, 57 and 61, active Lehman 12 sailor National Champion Lehman 12 1961, Tom Schock: Big man, “When Edler talked everyone listened” A lot like John Wayne walked and talked like.” NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner

Tom Frost

Tom Frost:  Quoted from Sea Magazine “A sailing whiz kid, 19-year-old Tom Frost from Newport Beach, Calif. Won the Snipe Nationals for the second year 1953 & 54 in a row. His record of two firsts, a second, a third, and a fourth against the country's top 24 Snipe sailors makes him a crown prince among small-boat skippers.  Sept 14 1952, The Newport-Balboa News-Times: “Tom Frost has done it again! The Newport Harbor schoolboy, who placed second in the World’s Snipe Sailing Championships off Monaco along the French Riviera last week, today holds the honor of being the Snipe sailing champion in the International Regatta, at San Remo Italy. Tom and his crew Fred Schenck. In 1950 & 51 Frost was NHYC Junior Champion and Flight of the Snowbirds winner. Tom Schock said, “Greatest small boat sailor that ever was.” NHYC Burgee of Merit recipient.

Dick Deaver

Dick Deaver: “Probably one of the best sailors in the Harbor,” Said Dave Carol, He sailed PCs, with Lowell North. Two-time winner of the flight of the snowbirds 1949 and 50. 1976 & 78 Congressional Cup winner. Won Bronze metal Dragon Class 1964 Olympics. A crew member of three Trans Pac winning teams. Winner of the 1976 One Ton Worlds and skipper of an Admirals Cup Team in 1979. Best known for being apart of the beginning of North Sails and being very thorough in his racing preparation BYC Wall of Recognition.

Bill Ficker

Bill Ficker: 1957 Star North American Championships 2nd ,1958 Star Baxter Bowl, 1958 Star World Champion Winner, 1962 Lehman 12 National Champion, 1970 America Cup winner aboard “Intrepid”, 1974 Congressional Cup Winner 1974. Lehman 10 & 12 competitor,

George Twist “ He was a very meticulous, thoughtful personal person without natural talent very organized and knew what he needed to do”. Peter Wilson said, “Ficker had a unique way of motivating the crew. He wanted all of us to decide how best to do our jobs,”. NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner, Two-time BYC Sportsman of the Year recipient. 1993 America’s Cup Hall of Fame, 2016 US Sailing Hall of Fame.

The Baby Boomers from 1946-1964

TC

Tom Corkett: Grew up sailing Snowbirds in our harbor, 1963 at the age of 21 he won the Trans Pac overall and became the youngest skipper to compete and win, 1969 1st Class 2nd Overall Transpac, 1967 & 68 1st in class Acapulco Race, 1964 & 65 Mazatlan Race 1st in Class, 1966 2nd overall 1st in class. 1992 Pacific Cup Double Handed winner aboard the 60’ “Peregrine”. Was active in the Etchells fleet and today is very competitive in the Harbor 20 fleet. NHYC Burgee of Merit recipient.

Henry Sprague

Henry Sprague III. Two Time winner of the Flight of the snowbirds, 1961 Sailed with Tom Shock  in the Sears Cup, 1963, he won the Sears Cup with George Twist, 1974 Finn National, and World Championships. 1969 Congressional Cup winner, Lehman 12 Champ 69,73, 74,76,77. Now known as “Super Sprague”, Tom Schock described Henry as “Pure natural sailor.” 1967 Collage Singlehanded National Championships for USC, George Twist “ When it was his turn on the tiller the boat seemed to go a little faster”. Known as a natural sailer, Two-time winner of NHYC Burgee of Merit.

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Fred Miller: Finn National Champion 1960 & 1961 and North Americans champion in 1961. Placed 3rd in  Finn World Champions, Active Snipe Sailor.  Henry Sprague described Miller as  the “Original Harbor Columnist five days a week in the Daily Pilot, true Guinness, went undefeated, continuously smoked  “Salam” cigarettes. Was known as a perfectionist and would help people organize their boats for side work.”

Nina Nielsen

Nina Nielsen: Snowbird champion, 1969 Jr. Sabot National Champion. 1969 Balboa Sabot fleet Joe Wells Perpetual winner. 3rd 1976 Adams Cup; Dick Sweet recalled “My bravest student was Nina Nielsen. Nina was so small that she didn’t have enough weight to keep the boat upright. Because of this, she would tip over nearly every day, but she never complained or called for help. Nina was the smallest girl with the smallest voice and the biggest heart that he had ever seen sailing. Nina later went on  to win the Intercollegiate sailing championships three times for Princeton and become the first.  Top Snowbird and Lehman 12 sailor, Active Etchells sailor.

Scott Allen

Scott Allen: Flight of the Snowbird winner. 1968 & 69  College Sailor of the year, 1967 Cal 40 class winner Trans Pac with14 boats in his division. Prince of Wales winner 1967 and Congressional Cup winner 1967,  NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner.

The Durganizer

Dennis Durgan: Grew up as an active Sabot and Lehman 12 sailor within the harbor. “If you can make your Sabot go fast you can pretty much make anything go fast,” Durgan said. He was tactician for Bill Ficker 1974 and Dennis Conner 1975 Congressional Cup Winner. Congressional Cup-winning skipper in 1979 and 1980. In 1980 he was Dennis Conner’s tactician aboard Freedom for an Americas Cup win. Sailed in the 1979 Fastnet Race “ I learned a lot about myself on that one Len” Durgan said while interviewing him. 1991 Trans Pac Overall Skipper aboard Chance. Two time Lipton Cup-winning skipper 1978 & 1991 NHYC Burgee of Merit Winner.

Sawyer,Twist, Duffield, Durgan

George Twist: Americas Cup with Ficker in 1970 aboard Intrepid, 1961won the Sears Cup as crew with Tom Schock, In 1963 Won the Sears Cup as crew with Henry Sprague, Crewed on the 1973 Lipton Cup Boat, Came in 5th in the 1987 Soling World Championships, Competitive Finn sailor, 1973 Lehman 12 Champ, Etchells Fleet 6 Champion 1976,77,79,  Etchells 22 North American Champion 1982 . 2019 Flight of Newport Beach Harbor 20 5th Place “Was one of the best crew members in town, he was a really top notch crew. Every boat he stepped on always seemed to go faster”.  Tom Schock. “Twist was my best friend, we dominated everyone that sailed in the same water as we did”. Henry Sprague

Terry & Duffy Duffield

Marshall “Duffy” Duffield: 1973 & 77 Lipton Cup Team winner. 1979 & 80 Congressional Cup Crew with Durgan, Trans Pac 1991 MVP award aboard Chance the Overall winner.

Burke Sawyer: Best known as the owner of Watts sails and big boat sailing. 1958 Flight of the Snowbirds winner, 1968 Prince of Wales skipper winner. Sailed with top Cal 32 sailors,1972 Acapulco Race 1st class, 2nd overall. Tom Schock: “He really bloomed into a world-class sailor when he took over Watts sails sailing on the different IOR boats around the world.”

Campbell at the tiller

Argyle Campbell: Grew up a harbor Sabot sailor at the age of 8, Lehman 10 & 12 competitor, Congressional Cup winner in 1970 & 72. Four-year Intercollegiate All American at USC, 2001 Melges 24 National Champion, 2011 Etchells Worlds Grand Master winner, 2015 Etchells Jaguar Series Winner, 2nd Place in Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Championships 2018 & 19. It has been said, by more than one of the interviews I did, that Campbell started very young and lost every race but he kept at it and became one of harbors best. He really, really worked at it.“Persistent yet consistent” BYC Sportsmen of the year award and BYC Wall of Recognition

Tom Schock

Tom Schock: Grew up sailing snowbirds on the harbor. Participated in 1961 & 1962 Sears Cup. 1959 Thistle Fleet, District, and Pacific Coast Champion, Intentional 14, Lehman 12,Lido 14, Harbor 20 Champion, 1998 Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Champion. George Twist “ He is persistent and kept going at it.”

Dave Ullman

Dave Ullman Grew up sailing Prams and  Balboa Dinghies on the Harbor, active Lehman 10 & 12 competitor, Lido 14 National Champion 9 times, Three-time World Champion in  470s 1977,78 & 80. Snipe National Championships 1973, Thistle, Sabot and Coronado 15 National Champion, Gold metal Snipe in Pan American Games 1975. US Sailing Champion of Champions 1980, 5-time winner of the Lipton Cup, US Team Racing Championships, Melges 24 World Championships in 2007, Rolex Yachtsman of the year in 1996, 2016 Sailing Hall of Fame. Four-time winner of BYC Sportsman of the year award.

Tim Hogan

Tim Hogan: Grew up sailing Snowbirds and Sabots on the harbor. Active Lehman 12 Team racing sailor, 1962 Junior Champion, Three time-All- American, 1969 “College Sailor of the year” Competed in twenty-two sailing events and won twenty. 1972 Prince Of Wales winning skipper, Won the 1973 Lipton Cup Team. 1972 North American Match Racing Championships Prince of Wales, Santana 20 National Champion 1977, 1988 Etchells North American win, 1980 Lipton Cup win, Competitive Finn sailor, NHYC Burgee of Merit

Jim Buckingham

Jim Buckingham: Grew up sailing Sabots on the harbor. 1979 Intercollegiate All-American. Competitive world Star and Etchells sailor, Five-time Lehman 12 National Champion 1982,83,85,88 and 89. Top of the Harbor 20 Fleet 1 in A fleet, Placed 4th in 2019 H20 Class Champions. As crewed in Trans Pac and Cabo offshore racing.

Bill Menninger

Bill Menninger: 1980 J24 Nationals 3rd, 1982 J24 Worlds 6th, 5th 1987 E22 Worlds, 1st 2016 Master Regatta, Crewed on 3-Lipton Cup winning Teams, Crewed on 4 Baldwin Cup wins, Harbor 20 Fleet Champion 2008,10,11,12,13,17, Harbor 20 Class Champion 2019

Gaudio        Photo provided by Joysailing.com

Mark Gaudio: Grew up sailing Sabots and never left home. Won the Jr Sabot Nationals in 1972 First Flight of the Laser winner, Won Senior Sabot Nationals (17 ) Times, (4) Lido-14 Nationals, (1) Cal 25 Nationals, (4 ) Cal 20 Nationals, (1) B-25 Nationals and (4 )Harbor 20 Fleet Championships in 2004, 05 and 06. Spends most of his time now on the water coaching the Jr. Sabot Sailors.

Ann & Kurt Wiese

Ann and Kurt Wiese: Kurt sailed sabots as a kid in the harbor and was Intercollegiate All- American in 1977 and 78. He and Ann have sailed Lehman 12, Lido 14’s and Harbor 20's for over forty years together in the harbor. Always being at the top of the fleet in each class, never winning a class championships. Although it is a safe bet that they have won more one-design regattas than everyone on this list.

Generation X

Nick Scandone

Nick Scandone.  Grew up sailing Sabots on the harbor. 1988 Sabot National Champion, Lido 14 Competitor, 1988 UCI National Champion, and Team Race National Champion, Intercollegiate All- American, 1991 470 North American winner, 2005 2.4 Metre World Champion, 2nd Place IFDS Sailing World Championships,  2008 Beijing Paralympic Games Sailing Gold Medal, National Sailing Hall of Fame, US Sailing Rolex Yachtsman of the year, NHYC Burgee of Merit, BYC Sportsman of the Year and Wall of  Recognition,  BCYC Kennedy Memorial. Scandone is the only person to have won NHYC, BYC and BCYC top awards.

Jon Pinckney Center

Jon Pinckney: Grew up sailing sabots on the Harbor, Won the Junior Sabot Nationals in 1980, (7) Time Flight of the Laser winner, (1) The Flight in Harbor 20’s. Four-Time Intercollegiate All- American 1986,87,88, and 89. 2016 Lipton Cup Skipper, 2014,15 and 16 Harbor 20 Fleet Champion. Baldwin Cup Winning Team in 2014,15 and 16. Phil Ramser said, “Best sailor I have ever seen on our harbor.”

Mike Pinckney

Mike Pinckney: Grew up sailing Sabots on the harbor. 1983 Intercollegiate honorable mention, 3 Time Intercollegiate All- American 1984,85 and 86. 1988 Sears Cup-winning crew, 2016 Won 50th Anniversary Governors Cup alumni regatta. Mike has spent most of his time coaching Junior programs. When he shows up on the racecourse odds are very good that he is going to win the day. Jack Franco said Mike Pinckney is one of the best he had ever competed against.

Millennial

Justin Law

Justin Law: Grew up sailing a sabot on the Harbor. Twice the runner up in the Sabot Nationals. FJ National Champion, Intercollegiate honorable mention, 3 Time Intercollegiate All- American. Finalist Intercollegiate Sailor of the year. 2017 Trans Pac Division Winner, 2017 Cabo Division Winner, 2015 ISAF Team Racing World Champion. (4) Time Baldwin Cup winning skipper, 2019 Lipton Cup winning Skipper. NHYC Burgee of Merit





Sea ya