2009 Harbor Awards

By Len Bose

2009 BYC Club Champions (l) Dave Ullman, Commodore Allan Andrews and Walker Ban

It was a VERY good holiday for the Bose family. We sold our Nordhavn 62, Jarvis Newman 38 and a 45’ Catamaran in the month of December. Now that I have told you about my good fortune, I would like to report on the different award winners around the bay and make up some new awards.

The Corinthian spirit is a big part of the yachting tradition in our bay and the true yachtsman does not need to be recognized for their efforts. But let’s get real – everyone likes a “pat on the back” and hear the words “well done” for their efforts. The following are the award winners from around the bay.

BALBOA YACHT CLUB

66 Series
First Overall “BIEN ROULEE” Glenn Highland Owner
Second Overall “TANGO” Roy Jones Owner
Third Overall “AMANTE” The Richley Family

Long Point Race Week
First Overall “Linstar” John Shulze Owner

Belly Trophy “Best Yacht Club results” Recipient: BYC

Seagal Leadership Award for Outstanding Leadership in the Adult Sabot Group recipient: Bob Reilly

Leo Collin Award for the Most Active Racing Sailor in the Sunkist, Twilight and Beercans Series recipient: Jim Jackman

Judy Franco Award for Involvement in the Balboa Bay Fleet recipient: Rowell Greene

Colline Gibbons Trophy & Marilyn Gibbons for Colline Gibbons: For Top Performance in Sabots in the Twilight Series & Marilyn Gibbons: For Most Frst Places by a Non-Keel Boat in the Sunkist Series recipient: Molly Lynch

Most Competitive Fleet for Support/Organization for a Racing Fleet recipient: Gator Cook

High Angler - Female recipient: Ali Johnson

High Angler - Male recipient: Eric Noyes

High Angler Junior recipient: Samuel Bigelow & Nick Johnson

Angler Event Chair of the Year recipient: Chris Webb

Race Committee Member of the Year recipient: John Minor

Race Manager of the Year recipient: Pinky Greene

Ocean Racing Sailor of the Year recipient: Bill McKeever

Match Race Sailor & Big Boat Sailor of the Year recipient: Chris Nesbitt

Blue Water Sailor of the Year recipient: Erik Berzins

Franklin Angler Award recipient: Harvey Wills

Race Council Member of the Year recipient: Jeff Keenan

Event Chair of the Year recipient: Judy Gorski

Pluck Award for Overcoming Some Obstacle Well, or Hanging in There through Adversity, and Pluck may be a combination of Luck and Persistence recipient: Glenn Highland

Franklin Cruising Award for Biggest Contribution to the Cruising Group recipient: Buzz & Pat Lowe

BYC Angler for Outstanding Angler including tournament results, notable catches, etc. recipient: Kevin Klemm

BYC Senior Club Champions recipients: Don Becker, Bob Strang, John Minor

BYC Club Champions recipients: Dave Ullman, Alan Andrews, Walker Banks

One Design & Dinghy Sailors of the Year recipients: Kieran Chung & Ryan Davidson

Sportsman of the Year for displaying outstanding sportsmanship during the yachting season recipient: Don Becker

Commodore James Whyte Memorial Perpetual Trophy for the BYC member of the year recipient: Greene Family

The two most prestigious awards at BYC are the Sportsman of the Year and Member of the Year awards. Winning one of these awards means you went the extra mile for your club and harbor. Also note The Franklin and Club Champions. At BYC, the Club Champions win a front row parking place with their name on it.

NEWPORT HARBOR YACHT CLUB

Burgee of Merit
Serves as NHYC’s highest honor awarded to a west coast yachtsman. The Burgee of Merit is not awarded annually, but only at a time when the Newport Harbor Yacht Club Board of Director recognizes an individual’s accomplishments as worthy of the award. The criteria for receiving the Burgee of Merit includes competing in an Olympic Games, winning a major world championship or bringing unusual distinction to west coast yachting in general.
2009 recipient: Mike Martin

Race Committee Excellence recipient: L. Douglas Sloan, international judge & international umpire

Off Soundings Award recipient: David Stone Solala, & Paxson Offield Kelsey Lee

Fletcher Olson Perpetual Trophy awarded to the non calm sailors who have shown the most outstanding sportsmanship and leadership throughout the year.
Recipient: Chris Segerblom

Vince Healy Award presented to an individual who has shown conspicuous loyalty to the club.
Recipient: Jack Hutchinson

The Jack and Meta Going Cannon Award presented to a individual who has served their club and its members in exemplary fashion.
Recipient: Larry Somers

Boat of the Year: 86’ Fife Schooner Astor, recipient: Richard Straman

At this time I regard the “Burgee of Merit” as our harbor’s most prestigious award.

BAHIA CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB

Officers & Directors 1966 for Best in Whitney Series recipient: Steve Brown

Officers & Directors 1961 for the Most Events Other than BCYC recipient: Erik Shampain

Marcia Holyoake Perpetual for Service to Race Committee recipient: Scott Truesdell

BCYC Ocean Racing Participation for the Most SCYA Events PHRF recipient: Mike Dwight.

Maclaughlin Ocean Racing Perpetual for the BCYC Member with the Highest Score – Ahmanson recipient: Rhonda Tolar

Officers & Directors 1960 for Greatest Number of Racing Points recipient: Erik Shampain

Miller Perpetual for Greatest Number of PHRF Points recipient: Erik Shampain

Officers & Directors 1983 for Ocean Racing with One Over 600m recipient: David Janes

Skipper Hi-Point recipient: Mike Dwight

Crew Hi-Point recipient: Erik Shampain

Gaudio Family One Design recipient: Erik Shampain

Wayne Gary for Power Fleet recipient: Mike Dwight

James Berkshire for Lido 14 Sailing recipient: Ellen Collins

Commodore Langley for the Most Improved Sailor of the Year recipient: Mary Bacon

Lorin Weiss Perpetual for Ensenada Cruising Class recipient: Dan Redding

BCYC 1st to Finish in the Ensenada Race recipient: Dave Janes

Leukemia Cup recipient: Jeff Burch

Commodore Bussey for Most Active BCYC Family recipient: The Caulfields

Elmer Carvey for the Yachtsman who Contributed to Race Committeerecipients: Jerry Moulton & Paul DeCapua

Most Active Angler recipient Bob Kircher

Commodore Domanski for Outstanding Committee Chair recipients: Jerry & Nancy Valuch

The big awards at BCYC are Commodore Domanski along with the Gaudio Family. I know I would be very proud to display either of these trophies on my mantle.

LIDO ISLE YACHT CLUB

John J. Alden Trophy
LIYC Best Place in Largest Fleet (Non Ensenada) in Ocean Race recipient: The Richley Family

Robert Bogen Memorial Trophy
LIYC Cruising Trophy recipient: Tony and Linda Kinninger & Chris and Diana Miner

Lido Hole in the Head Trophy
LIYC Most Unusual Sailor recipient: Greg Shaver

Commodore Rutter Trophy
LIYC Most Distinguished in Yachting recipient: Carter Ford

Jerome Robinson Trophy
LIYC Best in PHRF Ensenada Race recipient: Chuck Brewer

Commodore Haskell Trophy
LIYC Most Improved Adult Skipper recipient: Jim Ciucki

Commodore Lockney Trophy
Most Loyal Adult Member of LIYC recipient: Debbie Benedict

Commodore Ray Trophy
LIYC Adult Nite Flight Low Point recipient: Tim Richley

Commodore Hinshaw Perpetual Trophy
LIYC Commodore Dinghy Race recipient: RC Carter Ford and SC Phil Ramer

Commodore Niblo Appreciation Trophy Starboard Yard Award
LIYC Commodore's Right Arm recipient: Lynda Gruver

Commodore Munson Special Recognition Trophy
Above and Beyond the Call of Duty recipient: Julie Auckerman

Commodore Ward Trophy
LIYC Family Award for Skill, Loyalty and Sportsmanship recipient: The Crook Family and The Bakkila Family

Commodore Schockley Trophy
LIYC Friday Night Low Point recipient: Kathy Sangster

Commodore Woolsey Trophy
LIYC Low Point in the Commodore Woolsey Regatta recipient: Walter Johnson – BYC

F. Platt Preston Trophy
LIYC Best Service for Junior Sailors recipient: C. Thomas Ruppert and Diana Miner

The two most prestigious awards at Lido Isle Yacht Club are the Commodores Rutter & Ward Trophies. If you are the recipient of the Commodore Rutter Award you have truly stepped it up a notch within our harbor.

Now, I am going to announce the Inaugural “Daily Voice” Harbor Awards. I put a lot of time into this and talked with a lot of the people, whose names appear above. While walking the harbor, I stopped and asked the shipyard workers, ferry operators, divers, ship captains and fuel dock attendants. I gathered all this information and combined it with my personal observations of 2009 and came up with the following awards.

Isaac B. Potter Award (The job is ours, let us go to it!”) presented to the individual who has served our harbor in exemplary fashion.
Recipient: Carter Ford

I have known Carter Ford now for more than 10 years. During this time I have seen him put in countless hours and a great deal of effort into our harbor. From the Mooring Association, public docks and Marina Park, his efforts have truly made an impact for the better of our harbor. He is a man that completes his tasks and is a good person.

No. 8 Channel Marker Award for Courageous Readiness and Determination in additional to continuing against all odds.
Recipient: Leslie Daigle

Council member Daigle’s continued efforts to secure funding for dredging the upper and lower bays has to be recognized. The city was awarded $17.36 million in federal stimulus funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act this year. Council member Daigle kept this issue on the front of her agenda and has had a big part in achieving this goal.

Heart of the Harbor Award is awarded to the Ambassador of our Harbor.
Recipient: Don Duffy

Don Duffy has been the operator of our harbor’s Clean Sweep Vessel for the last 15 years, and I can’t think of one time when I did not receive a warm greeting from him. He will be retiring this year and his efforts will be truly missed.

The Harbor Voice Award serves as the “Daily Voice” highest honor award. It is presented to the individual or individuals who have made the extra effort in improving our harbor.
Recipient: The Newport Mooring Association

The effort this group has made is truly remarkable. To get a better understanding of all their accomplishments one needs to go to their web site at www.newportmooringassociation.org and start reading. A personal THANK YOU to each director for his or her efforts and services.

That’s it for 2009 in Newport Harbor. Thank you for reading my column this year and I look forward to providing you with more useful information next year.

Sea ya’

Len Bose

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales

SHORT TACKS: Help NOAA Help You

The other night I received one of those late night phone calls. You know the one – you can just feel the problems coming through the line. This call was from the L.A. Coast Guard looking for the vessel and owner of the boat I had sold a couple of weeks back.

“Mr. Bose, this is Lt. Jones from the Coast Guard Station in Marina del Rey. The EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) for the yacht TOMTOM has been activated and we have been informed by the previous owner that you might know the location of the vessel.” Lucky for me the boat was on a mooring in front of the Newport Beach Coast Guard Station. “Yes sir,” I replied. “If you call your Newport Beach office and have them look through their window they can see the boat.”

Len Lesson #15. It’s easy to complete the transfer of registration of one's EPIRB. All you need to do is call (301) 817-4515 and have the serial number of the EPIRB, previous owner's name, and the previous name of the vessel. The helpful person on the phone will instruct you to register the EPIRB in your name at the Beacon Registration Database System at http://beaconregistration.noaa.gov/rgdb/. It's free and it's very simple.

I had never realized that you could go into this system and update your account at any time, including new phone numbers (cell and satellite), an email address, the color of your boat and how many people you have onboard, along with a short float plan. Just make sure you update your information regularly.

Speaking of updating, unless you are a speed reader with good comprehension in panic situations, take the time to read the manual a number of times and check your EPIRB monthly. You should follow your manual step by step. Check the battery, run a self-test and make sure you note that you have properly installed your EPRIB onto your vessel. It's so simple to complete a self-test; even I completed the task without error. Now don’t take me wrong, I also had the manual in my lap and had read it five times. I called the manufacturer on my cell phone instructing me step-by-step, and after about my fifth time and knowing the manufacturer's rep. on a first name basis I felt confident to complete this task on my own.

There are a couple of other things you should look at while inspecting your EPIRB. Check the housing of your device so that it's not obstructed or damaged and look at the expiration date on your EPIRB. There are a couple of features that need to be updated every two years, and make sure your lanyard is secured. The true yachtsmen will log all this maintenance. I'd also suggest that during your yacht club's opening day inspection ask members if they have inspected their EPIRB and have logged their work.

Should you ever be in the very unfortunate position of “stepping up” to get out of your yacht, remember this one piece of information: “Once the EPIRB is turned on, leave it on … the satellites will hear you! There have been cases where people have kept turning the EPRIB off in an attempt to prolong the life of the battery.

Sea ya',

Len Bose

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

SHORT TACKS: Come Sail Away With Me!

By Len Bose

I want to take some time each month and report on one of the local racing fleets. We will start by introducing the fleets and provide contacts for you.

While racing on the bay, I have noticed the following fleets are still active. Lehmans 12, The Lido 14’s, Harbor 20’s, Fins, Sabots, FJ’s and our local Performance Handicap Racing Fleet or PHRF for the keel boats.

The Lido 14 fleet (which I own) started from the design board of Barney Lehman and was produced by the W.D. Schock Corp. starting as far back as 1958. This fleet has provided an introduction to sailing for more than 50 years, and has produced some of the harbor’s top sailors such as Mark Gaudio, Nick Scandone, John Papadopoulos, Dave Ullman and Jack Franco.

I bought a Lido 14 when I was a student at OCC taking beginning sailing on Lido 14’s. I was on the school’s sailing team and we used the Lido 14 for our practices. I thought it ironic that Nick Scandone was introduced to the fleet the same way.

Flash ahead 25 years. The Lido 14 has rejuvenated my interest in sailing by allowing me to return to my collage days and at the same time letting me sail with my 10-year-old son Andrew. I can race in a class championship with more than 50 boats attending or I can sail from the club over to the Pavilion for ice cream with Andrew. I’m as lucky as Roy Woolsey who sailed in his last class championship with his son at the age of 90 in 2007.

For more information about the Lido 14 class, visit here.

For more details about the local fleet, go to my blog and catch up on the activity of Fleet 1 over the last two years.

Our next race is Dec. 5 at Balboa Yacht Club in the Sunkist Series which starts at 1 p.m. You’ll be able to watch most of the race from the main dock. If you’re interested in buying a boat, contact my good friend John Papadopoulos who owns Double Wave Marine Sales at http://www.doublewave.com/

The fleet even has a boat we will let you try a few times to make sure it suits you.

Here are some race results:

Last weekend’s American Legion Lido Classic. There were a number of us out there last weekend. Parents drove the start and to the first mark, then passed the helm over to our kids. This led to some exciting moments!

Lido 14

1^st place: The Bose Family

2^nd place: The Foster Family

Newport Harbor Winter Series, with two races then back to the club for some lunch followed by two more races. Very competitive racing with some of the best sailors. Visithttp://www.nhyc.org/files/Winter%20Series%201.htm

Fin Class

1^st place: Henry Sprague, 9 Points

2^nd place: Bill Bissell, 12 Points

3^rd place: Erik Bissell, 13 Points

Harbor 20 A Fleet

1^st place: Bill Menninger, 10 Points

2^nd place: Terry Gloege, 12 Points

3^rd place: Bob Yates, 16 Points

4^th place: Chris Allen, 17 Points

Harbor 20 B Fleet

1^st place: Peter Haynes, 14 Points

2^nd place: Andy Binkerd, 17 Points

3^rd place: Rolly Pulaski, 19 Points

Lehman 12

1^st place: Nick Madigan, 15 Points

2^nd place: Garth Reynolds, 16 Points

3^rd place: Brian Bissell, 16 Points

Len’s Lesson #5: “You’re never as good a sailor as the day you graduate from college.”

On the horizon, the yacht clubs’ annual award winners and this year’s Daily Voice Yachtsmen of The Year Award.

Sea ya’ next week.

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales

SHORT TACKS: Harbor Busy With Sailboat Races And Sea Lions

If you did not notice how active the harbor was this last weekend you have to come on down and join in on the fun. Everyone was out yachting from Bahia Corinthian Yacht Clubs (BCYC) Double Handed sailboat race series to Balboa Yacht Clubs (BYC) weekend Sunkist/Choc Regatta.

BCYC Double Handed Series is a three-race keelboat event starting in September and ending in November. This event is always on the top of my list because one really breaks a sweat while trying to get your boat around the course. You can’t help but laugh at your self as you stumble around the boat to get the genoa down and the spinnaker up. Then quickly looking over and see how your competition is doing and asking yourself if you are too old for this? This years winner was Chuck Brewers Beneteau 44 “Heartbeat II” with the Sea Scots base Dave O’Hara onboard throughout the series. By the way Dave I will be back next year! Results can be found at http://bcyc.org/

One would think that the racing season is slowing down as the holidays fast approach? Not in Newport Beach, BYC Sunkist/CHOC regatta is Balboa Yacht Clubs largest attended series of the year. The CHOC event, which earned a reported $ 15,000 this year, is only run the first month of this four-month series. On Saturday the dingy fleet which includes Harbor 20’s (18 boats entered), Sabots (9 boats entered), Lazers (7 boats), Lido 14 (15 Boats) and the Thistle (3Boats). I would like to call out the Fin fleet, where were you guys? On Sunday it’s the Keel boats turn with forty-seven boats making it out on this warm fall day. Now you have to give it up to the yacht “Scavenger” and Bill Taylor’s crew. The aft part of this boat has been winning races dating back before there was water in the bay. I just hope I can bring home at least half as many pickle dishes Bill has over the years. He makes it easy for me to return each year because if he is out there having fun with family and friends so am I. Results can be found at http://www.balboayachtclub.com/

While taking my cruise around the bay this week I noticed that the big male sea lions have left the bay in search of food after a busy summer. With less sharks being reported the Sea Lion population is raising and these big fellows have leaned that man means a meal. NOW this is kind of a “no brainier” DON’T feed the seagulls and DON”T feed the SEA LIONS! Because the same thing ends up happening although it’s just not on your head it’s on your boat. By feeding these guys it just adds to their aggressive behavior. I stopped by Island Marine Fuel (http://www.islandmarinefuel.com/) to talk to owner Dave Beck and asked him what he has been seeing? “Most of the sea lion population have taken over the two derelict boats the county put on the mooring across the bay.” Dave told me “This is probably a good thing because the Sea Lions do not really care what type of boat they own and it keeps them off my boat” Unfortunately the County removed the boats and towed them in for auction and the Sea Lions are now back on the search for a new crib.

Lens Lesson: # 3 DO NOT FEED THE SEA LIONS.

Lesson # 27. The best way to keep the sea lions off your dock or the back of your boat look s to be a wooden 2” by 2” peg board.

Lesson # 17 Allways go to http://joysailing.com/ for your yacht photos. I don’t know where I would be without Bronny help.

On the Horizon, I will be doing a story, the first part of next month, reviewing the Yacht Clubs annual award winners.

Sea ya

Len Bose

The Perfect First Boat Costs Next To Nothing By Len Bose

By Len Bose

I received a sales call this week from a prospect who was not sure if he wanted to purchase a power or sailboat. He just wanted to get on the water and start yachting.

I asked, “Do you know how to sail?”

"No."

“Have you owned a power boat before?”

"No, I just want to get on the water!"

All right then, I have just the boat for you! It's called the School of Sailing & Seamanship at the Orange Coast College sea base at 1801 W. Coast Hwy Newport Beach” I then brought up the school web page and started to tell my future prospect to sign up for beginning sailing.

As I glanced through the web page I noticed that the sailing base has a lot more to offer than when I learned how to sail there some 30 years ago. I then informed my prospect of all the different powerboat classes that are available along with the weekend trips to Catalina and the Channel Islands.

The school offers everything from first aid and CPR classes to sailing to Hawaii. I found myself eyeing the marine electrical systems class imagining how much money I can save on my boat if I understood my AC and DC systems better.

When I heard my prospect over the phone asking, “Are you still there?”

I told him that the school will place him on the proper course in deciding just what your needs and desires are.

"Once you have accomplished that I will find the proper yacht for you,” I said.

My prospect asked if the classes are expensive? No, a beginning sailing class works out to be about $7 an hour. Now that's value.

"Well, thank you, Len," he said. "That’s good advice. Looks like I can sign up online. Perfect!"

"Just don't forget me," I said.

OK, time for Len's Lessons.

Lesson #543: When you bring a boat down to Ensenada, make sure you tell your credit card company you are headed out of the country. After I placed a month’s slip rent at Cruise Port Marina, my card company turned off my card.

Lesson #544: Make sure your credit card works before you get to window #2 at the port captain's office. This caused me about a two-hour delay.

Lesson #545: I also noticed the owner of a sport fishing vessel from Long Beach, who had been in line longer than me, trying to purchase nine fishing licenses. He should have called Joan Irvine Travel at (949) 548-3481. Joan will save you a ton of time from everything from a Mexican fishing license to your temporary import permit and port entry papers and don’t you dare forget about your LLC maritime letter of permission. I would have saved about three hours if I had called Joan first.

Next week I will report on Balboa Yacht Clubs Sunkist and CHOC regatta/series this weekend. Get your boat out and help The Children’s Hospital of Orange County bysigning up for this regatta! I will also be competing in BCYC Double Handed series this Saturday and I will be sailing around the bay checking in with all my friends.

Website of the week is the Stern Scoop. Look through this page for your yachtsmen holidays gift ideas. Then go shop on ebay like I do.

Sea ya.

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

SHORT TACKS: Getting A Charge Out Of Electric Boats

By Len Bose

Hello, everyone my name is Len Bose, and I have been a yacht broker in Newport Beach for 22 years. I’ve been sailing for more than 35 years, and I should be around for another three-plus decades before I give up the tiller.

I asked Tom Johnson and Bill Lobdell if I can take a trick at the helm on reporting the harbor news in the Daily Voice. I only had to buy them lunch and tell them a couple of yarns before they casted me from the dock. As I sailed away I heard Bill yell over the water, "Convince our readers to go yachting!" No problem, I thought to myself, I can do that!

So as I sailed away from the dock and before I reached M mark I looked under my boom and noticed 12 ladies having a bachelorette party on a 21-foot electric Duffy boat. Now that brings back good times! I can write books of all the fun I’ve have had in bay launches.

From my college days of going from Woody’s to Snug Harbor and then going for a midnight swim down the water slides at Lido Isle Yacht Club, the Bay Club and the Dunes singing and laughing the whole way around the bay. To a couple of years later, I got lucky, no pun intended, the night my wife accepted my proposal to marriage just under the Lido bridge next to Z mark in a electric Duffy.

Now these days, I take sunset cruises with my wife and friends. We also spend time on the water taking my 10-year-old son out on scavenger hunts with his friends or dressing up as pirates and terrorizing the harbor. So are you asking yourself, how can I get in on some of this fun?

It’s simple, call Lee at Duffy Boats Rentals at (949) 645-6812 or you could spend hours just going through its web page gathering your ideas for your cruise. There is something for everyone cruising the bay and like Lee told me, “There is no wrong day to go out on a Duffy.”

I just booked a boat for my wife and I to take a sunset cruise this weekend for three hours. I requested a pu-pu platter from one of the local restaurants, and I plan on stopping by Rolfs wine store and grabbing a couple good bottles of wine. Just at sunset, I plan on switching the iPod to some of Dean Martin's greatest hits and heading straight for z mark just next to the Lido Bridge. That’s amore, baby!

Len's Lessons 345 through 353: While cruising the harbor in an electric boat stay to the right of everyone. But remember not to get close to the docks, those overhanging anchors from the big boats will sneak up on you and grab you. Never go under bridges, stay out of the mooring, never go against the grain of traffic, know where the lifejackets are on the boat, pay close attention to your check-out person on the dock and take your pirate's eye patch off while driving because you never know when the next bachelorette party will cruising by.

On my next tack I am headed down to Ensenada to deliver a 40-racing sailboat I just sold to an Australian fellow. I promised him I would get the boat on the yacht path transport ship where the boat will be loaded up to be taken to its new home in Thailand.

Sea ya.

Len Bose

NEW LISTINGS!

NEW LISTING





2003 Beneteau 47.7 First

This is the perfect performance cruiser! Lots of room, Bruce Farr design and a HUGE diesel to power you close to 10 knots.
Looking for a proper yacht for the family of three plus? Want to go club racing? Want to get somewhere fast when the wind dies down? The Beneteau 47.7 is the yacht for you. Located in Newport Beach easy to show. Go to my link on the side of the page to get the spec sheet.




NEW LISTING



1975 Santana 30

Looking for something clean at an OUTSTANDING VALUE? This Santana is the perfect boat for the person that just wants to come down and bay sail.

LIDO 14 2008 Wednesday Night & Season Reports

( Team Mueller/Strang returns?)

4-30-08 Lido 14 Fleet 1 and The Balboa Yacht Club at 17:30. Ten teams showed up to a southerly breeze of 5-9 knots that aloud PRO Jeff Keenan to get in five races. With the course set in front of the club everyone on the dock and in the clubhouse had a good view of all the action. This combined with short courses kept PRO Keenan on his toes between starting, finishing, scoring and taking photos of the fleet. At one point Jeff threw me a refreshment, took a photo of us and then sounded the horn as we crossed the finsh line in that order, Perfect!


Team Kent "Leading The Way!"

You have to understand that taking photos on the water is not that easy and then taking photos of my team mate Dina is like finding “Waldo”, she don’t like it! This is all Jeff needed to add to the fun factor last night.
Speaking of fun it was good to see Team Mueller/Strang return to the water and they wasted no time returning to the top of the fleet. In fact it was good to hear Steve at the end of the night say “ I think we might look for another boat”.
I did not get a chance to see the results although the consensus was that Team Kent won the night, or at least would have won the night if they had not missed the first start. Steve and Diane were able to get off the starting line well and stay in the top four finishers. It was good to see Bob Yates sail down from Lido to make the start and like always sailed very well.


"The true Pro at work" an no thats not Jeff!

The fleet continues to ask me where is the “DUCK” and I reply “I cant find the Duck” so WHERE IS IT? Only one way to find a duck and that is with a Duck Call. At the next race someone will be in charge of finding the duck and will be requested to blow the call at each mark rounding. This caller then may pass the call to the next person of their choice or return it to the PRO or Principle Duck Caller “PDC”


Team Killian


From the "Sea Lawyer"

This part of or newletter is from a new writer named “The humble sea lawyer”. This piece was done to “keep it fun”. I would like to thank this writer in advance for their efforts.

So with no further ado, The humble sea lawyer:

Recently it has become apparent that some back to the basics may provide clarity to the often hectic and at times confusing mark rounding’s where much like starts, there is a higher percentage chance of boat to boat contact due to the increased proximity & density. Contact as we all know is something in sailboat racing that is very much frowned upon in the fine sport of yachting (14 footers included), see rule 14 (interesting, two 14’s, coincidence, maybe not)...at least it’s easy to remember!

In an attempt to prevent contact between boats moving forward, perhaps a re-read of Rule 18 which applies or “turns on” (if you are of the umpire mentality) during mark rounding’s and passing obstructions is warranted. This week’s c-lawyer submission is on that rule, as it applies to leeward mark rounding’s.

Please note for the record the comments contained herein are strictly one armature sailors general understanding of the written rules of sailing through experience and are not intended to replace these rules as published:

So you have had a great beat, and even better run, and now you find yourself neck and neck with the duck sailor for the lead (we call him that because he never ducks during a race), only you are on the “outside of the wheel” going into the leeward mark rounding. To make things worse, the duck sailor has jibed onto starboard going into the rounding putting you in the frustrating predicament of having to avoid contact with them or risk doing a donut (circle, see rule 31), something short course racing is very unforgiving to. While Rule 18.4 requires the duck sailor to jib around the mark, you realize that in doing so, his/her boom may extend well past the starboard side of their boat in the process, how much room do you need to give them, and when? Rule 18.2d specifies that rule 16 (changing course) “turns off” during their rounding. Essentially you have to anticipate the duck sailors jibe, and make prior arrangements to keep clear of them, even if they end up taking more berth during the course of the rounding than when they started it, (ie. the jibe/turn/boom swing etc…)! In a lido, this can put you well outside a 14’ radius from the turning mark (uggggggggh). Perhaps next time I will just slow down, let them go ahead and round tight behind that duck sailor on starboard going into the leeward rounding after all. It sure beats doing donuts and I only slide back a half boat length from the leaders and lose no lateral distance from the weather mark. Better yet, I am going to fight harder to be the inside overlapped ROW (right of way) boat going into the next rounding, let that duck sailor suck on my gas after the rounding. Can’t wait until next Wednesday now…stoked to try out my new moves.

As always, please feel free to browse the ISAF 2005-2008 racing rules of sailing in their entirety by clicking on the link below.
Fair winds and fun (incident free) sailing for all!

http://www.sailing.org/tools/documents/RRS2005-2008-[502].pdf




So that wraps up the spring series twilights with over 40 races, 15 teams, 400 photos, five thousand words written, over 150 refreshments served and memories for a life time. For me I find my thoughts wondering over the good times on the water with my friends at sun set during the flag lowering ceremonies. Can’t help from smiling can Ya!

"At Sunset"

"Good Times"

"Paps training our youth"

"Where is Waldo"


"Jeff just taking more photos of my head"


"Yea Steve you won another race!"


"The fleet posser"


"Jess closing the spring out"

SEA YA!

LENS LESSON # 244 " Be alert to the source of trouble"



4-24-08



4-24-08 Fleet 1 & The Balboa Yacht Club at M mark at 17:30. Seven Teams showed up for some perfect Lido 14 sailing, I mean DUDE you should have been there! WNW breeze at 13 knots with puffs up to 17 along with seven teams that could be in the top ten of any championship, two National Champions, the current fleet champion. Like I said DUDE you should have been there!

Team Fradkin/Schock, I like to call him Johnny Current, came of the starting line, in the first race, well and held his lane. They kept their advantage as the fleet sailed to the right side of the course. Everyone rounded within a boat length of each other and a number of teams jibed set while Team Fradkin/Schock and Team Bose/Corsi bored away and stretched out. We worked our way back up wind taking about three boat lengths away from Johnny Current as we set up on layline. I had figured that team Fradkin/Schock was gone and I wanted to hold on to our second. As we tacked onto layline out of the left corner of my eye I noticed Johnny Current had turned into Johnny bum bulls as I had thought he had dropped his tiller. Unfortunately, Team Fradkin/Schock had broken their tiller and all they could do is plead with the fleet not to hit them as they were dead in the water and on layline. We barely kept the lead to a hard charging Team Nesbitt and won that race by less than a foot.



Lens Lesson # 18 ; Haste and speed are not synonymous

4-16-08





WED...WIND VARIABLE 10 KT OR LESS...BECOMING NW WINDS 15 TO 25 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.



OK if you look at your calendars the sailing season is at full swing. Now look at your Lido 14 Calendars and the season is half over already. BLAM! "Get back up again" and make it out to the Wednesday nights off M Mark 17:30. Team McRae/Gorski have had the jump on everyone this season so they will be providing the fleet with refreshments this week.
Teams showing up, Killian, Fradkin, Stoneman, Papadopoulos Bose, Rulla, McRae, Gerry, Cochran, Walters, Simmons and Nesbitt. We are still looking for Heim, Yates, Thorone, Zuelsdorf Gaudio, Robertson, Hunter, Johnson, Fuller, Schupak, Wiese, Little, Jackman, Hughes, Rossen, Ryan,Colins and Newbre.
Its TIME guys, the weather is warm looks like we will have some BREEZE. ITS UP TO YOU!

Sea Ya!


3-26-08 Balboa Yacht Club and Fleet 1. With the cat away the mice did play with eleven teams showing up to a southerly breeze that allowed us to race directly in front of the club. All the people at the club, that included the Cabo participants on their boats, were treated to three twice around races with the fleet never out of eyesight.
This month we had 15 teams participate in our races with a lot of new blood, to this event. One of the teams was Barry Wood and his daughter. Barry follows the fleet throughout the year and attends the Harry Wood regatta each year. This regatta was named after his father and there is a long history and involvement with the Lido class from the Wood family. Make sure you stay around for the trophies presentation because regatta chairman John Papadopoulos always covers a good part of the history of the event. This presentation is like the words of a good country song. If you listen to the words, it makes you WANT SOME of that “good feeling” of being remembered for all your efforts.
Speaking of “ Good Feelings”! Barry Wood was first in the parking lot this week ready to go play. While rigging my boat Barry came up “ Hello Kid, Why are you here today?” Always with his warm welcome he then helped the fleet put their boats in the water.


While putting our boats away a small earthquake was reported in Newport Beach, I thought it was just Chris Nesbitt putting his boat away. Chris and crew Ryan Davidson were ready to rumble this week finding a left shift at the weather mark each race that kept them in the top three all night and winning the day. " Its all Ryan, I keep falling down" said Chris after their second win. After the racing and with the fleet filling up the bar, good times were had by all. We still need to replace The Duck this year with something new. Also remember that John Papadopoulos is having a Lido 14 race clinic this Saturday that will tune you up for this season and Sunday’s race. Fleet 2 is having their Invitational Race in Marina del Rey on April 5th that looks to be a lot of fun. We also need a volunteer for race committee this next week along with a refreshments sponsor? Results from last night race are attached and I should have the month’s results for you on Monday.

SEA YA


Lens Lesson # 8

"Work hard at what you love and be remembered for that work"


3-19-08 Balboa Yacht Club & Fleet 1. M Mark at 1730 again we had seven teams show up with four races in a 7-knot westerly. PRO Jeff Keenan and Christophe Killian were on the job and on time. This is the second year Jeff has run the races for us and he has a routine that keeps us on time with the fun factor meter at full tilt. Should everyone think about it next week, please thank Jeff, and buy him a drink at the bar after the race.

The quotes were flying yesterday. “I love my wife and son and I really like these Wednesday night races,” said Len Bose at the start of the night. Next was Carley Simmons “ Look daddy we are going to hit that nice red boat” and at the fourth start Chuck hit the line at full speed and you could hear Carley “ ZOOOOOOOOOM!” I know I said this last year although when you have two teams sailing with there kids, Team Nesbit and Davidson trading the helm with Ryan taking a second place in the first race, Ryan is one of BYC’s top junior sailors, and Chris Nesbit winning the second race.

You blend this all together with a fantastic sunset while we are putting the boats away over the clubs load speaker comes the “ Attention on deck” for the flag lowering ceremonies followed by the Horse track tune of “Their off” rather than the normal tune and you have GOOD TIMES at the yacht club. Of course this was followed by one of the better quotes of the night while Nancy Davidson was helping the fleet by operating the crane and lifting the boats out of the water, Kelsy Cochran centerboard was not all the way up. After Kelsy team mate Kelly pulled the board up Nancy looks down from the cranes operating spot and asks me “Hey Len, is that all the way up” not knowing what she was referring to I had to laugh which of course lead to a load round of laughter on the docks. From there we all headed up to the bar and then to dinner. I trust that our flag officers at BYC are noticing the 20 extra people at dinner and in the bar? The fleet will grow to 50 people within the next couple of weeks!

The amount of people does not matter because the time spent around the dinner table is as about as much fun as on the water. I would also like to thank John Papadopoulos for buying dinner for the table last night. GOOD TIMES and I look forward to seeing more of you soon!


SEA YA!

Len Bose
boseyachts@mac.com
(714) 751-6121


Len Lesson # 5 " Life is short, therefore one should sail more often."

&
# 76 "Where not here for the apple turnovers"





WED...WIND VARIABLE 10 KT OR LESS...BECOMING W 10 KT IN THE AFTERNOON.



I had three deals close this last week and fell behind on my write ups.



3-12-08 Balboa Yacht Club & Fleet 1. M Mark at 1730 had seven teams show up for the first race of summer sailing. The breeze was light and shifty and always threatening to fill in from the west at about seven knots. This kept race committee Jeff Keenan on his toes and looking for a twice around course and passing out beverages to all the participants. Unfortunately after the second lap the wind dissipated to nothing and the current brought us all to the finish line.

We had Christopher Rulla show up with his wife. Chris is a long time fleet one member that works up in LA and has found a place to keep his boat at BCYC. John Fradkin had the person that bought his old boat, sorry I forgot your name, with him and will be joining in on our fun. Chris Nesbit and Paps were sailing together so I believe both will be sailing their own boats this week. Along with Kelsey Cochran who came by and said hello and informed us she will be out this week.

SO! Tomorrow we should have over 10 teams showing up, Killian, Fradkin, Papadopoulos, Kent, Bose, Rulla, McRae, Gerry, Cochran and Nesbit. We are still looking for Heim, Yates, Thorone, Zuelsdorf, Walters, Gaudio, Robertson, Hunter, Johnson,Ford and Simmons.

I want to write more but I am late again.





SEA YA



03/01-02/08-Newpor Beach, CA Newport Harbor Yacht Club Schock Regatta 2008. This year’s race had it all plus more than what was presented in the brochure. With overcast skies and winds out of the southwest along with the promise of Santa Ana winds on Sunday it was anyone’s guess on what the weather was going to-do. I was greeted with the normal warm welcome from event chairs, Ann & Kurt Wiese. I then made the standard enquire about the weather and Kurt response was with a smile and a “Uuhhhhhh”. For those of you know Kurt he is not a person with a lack of words. I replied, “ I have to assume that means-who the heck knows -what we will get this weekend” “Exactly” Kurt replied.


Day one started with an 8-9 breeze out of the south and a windward leeward twice around racecourse. It’s been brought to my attention that when the fleet races within the mooring fields, protests seem to fly. This was exactly what happened to Ryan Davidson and I on the last run approaching the leeward mark in 2nd place with a very short beat to the finish. Although not sure if I had committed a foul, not giving enough room to a weather boat at an obstruction, and being the start of a long regatta I decide to do my 720. Afterwards a witness told us we had given plenty of room, although this did not make me feel any better I did learn a lesson. When you are doing your circles sail well out of the way because on my second circle I truly fouled Eric Heim but fortunately Eric did not say anything.


Speaking of Eric he has sure taken his skill to the next level and is sailing better than most. Eric and crew, Aimee Graham threw out their first race 4th place finish then completed the event with 2,1,4,1,2. With shifty conditions and a number of light wind races team Heim & Graham were off the starting line consistently in good shape and finding the first shift. Then there was Team Little consisting of Bob and his young children sailing at the top of the fleet. While rounding weather marks you could hear Bob “Bobby PLEASE give me the pole back” and “keep your head down”. The best quotes of the regatta came from Saylor Little while fighting through no breeze on day one “Is this the doldrums?” How Team Little continues to stay at the top of the fleet in a VERY competitive class makes one smile in envy. Team Little also had the hindsight to return to the dock after race one on Sunday before all hell broke loose.
What happens next was something that only occurs twice a decade we won the next race! I need to be serious now, what happen next is that the Santa Ana winds finally made it down onto the racecourse with a huge gust of breeze. This led me to capsizing with a number of masts breaking. Two very important lessons need to be remembered. 1. Keep a small bucket in your boat. 2. Chase boats must have the proper tools on board when all hell breaks lose. Don’t get me wrong NHYC had the chase boats and I am very fortunate one was present at my capsize. We must continue to remember the importance to the properly prepared chase boat.
The feel good quote was truly actions taken by the class members to help one another during the number of puffs that rolled across the bay. Once we finally made it back to the dock I had two people helping bail the boat. Other people were rolling my sails. As I stood on the dock wide eyed taking in all that just happened. The competitiveness was set aside and a true Corinthian sprit was felt throughout the fleet. This felt good and big thank you goes out to the whole class for stepping up to the task at hand.

OK, Let’s get this party started! A week from today is the first of the Fleet 1 early twilights starting at M mark at 5:30 Wednesdays. Last year we were able to produce up to four to five races a night with as many as 18 boats showing one night. Lets do it again. Look for fleet rallying letters on Monday and recap on Thursday.

SEA YA


Len Bose



PS. I thought it would be fun to share the email I sent to my crew on Monday. Thanks again Ryan.

Hey Ryan,

I can’t tell you how thankful I am you sailed with me this weekend. I have been through a number of times when the wind has caught me off guard like that and you did and outstanding job understanding the situation and solving the problem.

You kept your cool, communicated in a calm voice and solved a number of issues we were having on the boat during that puff. These our things that separate the men from the boys and you stepped up.

I am sure your folks are very proud of you at everything you do "well done".

Your "thankful' friend

THE Mast Head Issue # 11 Jack London "Strictly Sail" Boat Boat Show

A good client and friend of mine met me, Tuesday to list his boat and discuss what he wanted in his next boat. The conversation quickly went to what can be seen at the Strictly Sail Show at Jack London Square in Alameda California. “Lets go?” he said, and all the reasons not to go went through my head as I replied “Suuurrre!”. So let me get to the point of this piece, was it worth $ 250 in airline tickets, $ 60 in rental car, going through airport security, and a day away from the office? YES.
What did I see? Sailboats lot’s of Sailboats with small sport boats taking people for a sail to old boats before my time. All the electronics and options one could wish for. If we were pushing large carts around I would have felt like I was in Costco. I wanted it all with too much to report from chamois to the newest satellite communications, routing programs along with what is the best type of hose to use in the head to keep the smells down. I only had three hours before my flight home so I headed back to the docks to look at all the boats.


Along the way we noticed the Santa Cruz booth with the new drawings from Tim Kernan. It was kind of like driving down PCH when summer starts. I could not help to stop and look at the sexy girl on the boardwalk. The funny thing was the person in front of me stopped and I ran into the back of him. While we both paused, on the best way to approach the booth, and not appear to be the dirty old men that we are. I then met Tom Slade. Tom took us through the booth and explained the concept behind the new boats and with eleven boats on order. I have to think this is the next new boat for many reasons. Tim Kernan design can go point to point, around the cans and the interior is something you will want to spend the night on.


The other boat or mistress of the show was the Andrews 28 built by Sylvana Yachts. One can keep this boat on a trailer, race her and cruise her in comfort now that’s value. I also liked the rudder system you have to go check this boat out if you go to the show this weekend. So with a quick look at my watch I am now down to an hour. The Beneteau, Jeanneau and Hanse displays are what also caught my eye along with the number of cruising catamarans. This was the first time in awhile I noticed Hunter and Catalina take second row in their displays. My time was up and I needed more time.

Lens lessons from the show. I needed a whole day at the show not just three hours. I would have taken a taxi from the airport and back when I noticed the lack of parking. This was kind of funny because as I ended parking three blocks up and took my watch off for the walk to the show. Will I return? YES, Should you go? YES. If you find yourself wanting a sailboat within the next two years you must go. Asking yourself, what about the economy? It’s always better to buy in a down market. Look at the resale value of the entire product from 1990-1995 it has had the highest demand over the last ten years.

SEA YA

The Mast Head Issue # 10 Newport Boat Show

35th Annual Newport Boat Show.

Yep, It’s the BIG YACHT SHOW and I am sure you have read all the press releases about the debut of some of the world’s newest, largest, sportiest and luxurious yachts.
Yes, they are all here and I have spent the last two days walking around and getting ready for the show. Most of you know I try to write from a route not taken before and after twenty years of doing these shows let me try to describe some of the lessons learned. These lessons are from where to park, how to search, how to view, who to bring with you and what shoes to wear.

Parking is like buying wine at a restaurant and if you’re like me I would rather pay the corkage fee rather than pay four times the retail value. If you come to the show during the week park across the street off of Short street which is located to the west of Via Lido. Parking is easy most days if you arrive after 12:30 because of street sweeping on Friday. If you are coming to the show on the weekend the Newport City lot is open to the public although the hunting is a little thin because a number of people have figured this out already. It’s still worth throwing a line out and seeing if you can get lucky with a fly by and snag a spot.

For the buyers, I recommend coming to the show the day before it opens and walk around. This gives you a chance to look, without the crowds and salesmen, it’s free and easy to take a quick look around. Over the years I have sold three boats the day before the show opens. You can also call the listing agent and I am sure they will have passes for you at will call before the show opens the next day. That night go to yachtworld.com and do a search for the boat and start writing down your questions.

To board most yachts you will asked to take your shoes off so the best thing to do is wear something that is easy to slip on and off. I find sandals or even better yet would be new pair of Croc’s with socks on.

Now please don’t take me wrong, but kids under twelve really don’t want to spend the day at the boat show and your spouse really does want to be part of your decision in choosing the proper yacht. Keep in mind its better for the boat to be called “OUR BOAT” not “ YOUR BOAT”. After you have an acceptance of offer, YOU BET, bring the kids down to family’s new boat and start planning your first trip to Catalina.

For the dreamers, this is a very important part of the sale and we brokers welcome everyone to come down to the show. Take a look at all the different boats and start defining how you would like to use the boat and then start to recognize the different brokers. Nothing makes me feel better than when a prospect tells me they have been reading my ads and seeing me at the shows for the last twenty years and ready to buy now.

What’s at this years show? Lots of big power boats and not that many sailboats. There are a number of good mid sized trawlers. I also noticed that there are not that many mid sized, 40 -50, late model sport fishers. I can’t help but notice the number of lobster or picnic boats to look at. I found some expedition style yachts of interest and a number bay boats that look like to much fun. Of course there are tons of express cruisers in all sizes. Also the first two people to drop me an email will have a pair of passes waiting for them at will call.

So let your dreams start today and just keep in mind that time on the water keeps you young.

SEA Ya at the show

Cabo 08 My Picks

" THE 1985 CABO RACE ABOARD AMANTE"


Cabo 2008

The weather looks good, the entry list is full and a lot of competitors have been working hard to prepare the yachts properly. This piece is done in fun, and I normally get a number of stern looks from people when I pick my favorites.

First to Finsh
That’s a no brainier with no other yachts 80ft. Magnitude is striving for a new course record.

Maxi
All great boats with top shelf owners and navigators with world-class crew. Always fun to watch from my armchair and this class will be won by Peligroso. Mike Campbell and crew won this class a month ago to PV and have to be the favorites this time. I will be pulling for Medicine Man. I know owner Bob Lane has been continuing to keep his boat updated and has been participating in every event on the schedule. I’d like to see Medman win this won.

Class A
Another close class with world class sailors. The favorite has to be Holua; I am not going to bet against Mark Rudiger and Ullman, would you? I will assume the boys on Grand Illusion will keep Mark looking over his shoulder and certainly DC knows the way to Cabo. Rudiger made some fun audio reports from the boat in the PV race and I hope BYC has set up the same thing.

Class B
Now this is where I spent most of my years racing down to the cape aboard Santa Cruz 50’s. It’s going to be a close race for second place. No one has beaten the J 125 Reinrag2 and with the forecast showing breeze for the Friday starters this J 125 is my pick for overall. My gut tells me it will be a close race between the DK 46 and the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon. I don’t know the guys from the DK but they did very good a couple of years ago. Now the Horizon team has been together for a number of yeas and like I have said before no one prepares a boat better than Jon Champaign. This has to be Horizon turn for 2nd. The Andrews 39 Bien Roulee will show some speed although the crew is new to the boat. They should stay within striking distance for third.

Class C
This class will also be fun to watch. The boys from Paddy Wagon are fast along with the boys from Entropy. Place this all together and I have to go with Resolute the J 122. Now I can’t tell you why and it should be a close race with Entropy and if the breeze holds up over 18 to the finsh Paddy will be on their heels. Close and fun to watch, but if I was a betting man I would have to go with the J 122.



Class D
Well Between the Sheets has to be the favorite. Although one of my best friends Dan Rossen is sailing his B32 Problem Child and he has to have breeze all the way to the finish to get between the sheets, no pun intended. Reliance will be hanging and if the crew fly’s the blooper when the breeze is up they should be at the pedestal.

27 Mexico Races & Counting

" THE 1985 CABO RACE ABOARD AMANTE"

Now that I have reached the age of forty something and survived the IOR 1980’s, The Fabulous 50’s in the 1990’s and now in the 2000’s the Cabo Sun is back. With NHYC revitalizing the Cabo race during Trans Pac years the race down the Mexican coast is back with a vengeance. It’s been wonderful for the local sailboat market with the return of the ULDB 70’s and 50’s and the increase in new boat sales. It’s terrific ocean racing that generates true yachtsman.
What I will do in this blurb is go through the years, highlight the good and difficult times down the racecourse.


CABO 1985

1980’s

Back in the day when IOR was king and the competition was keen. We raced three times a year down the Mexican coast with these big old rigs, small mains, big spinnakers and two types of staysails and bloopers. During this time keeping the mast dry was always a challenge. A Sat nav unit cost ten grand and it gave you a fix from time to time if you were lucky. We even carried our water and threw or trash overboard. The best part of the race was the numbers in competition with over 15 boats in each class with almost 60 boats competing in each race.
I started on the Peterson 48 AMANTE with three first overall wins in the March NHYC Cabo race in 83, 85, and 87 a couple middle of the pack finishes in the November LBYC to Cabo race. I sailed on the training ship ALETA a Peterson 45 a number of times to Cabo and Manzanillo.
The 1985 Cabo race was one to remember. At the start we had 15+ knots of true wind and it built to 30 that night. Lesson learned on this one was to go big early and hang on, not always the smart idea, but we made it through the night and had forty miles on competition. With a big breeze race it was easy to finish from there. The LBYC race on the even years was in November and that is just not the time of year for breeze. I recall going into the fourth day after having some breeze past Cedros and just hitting the wall. The little boats would sail up behind you and everyone would float in at once.
The finish is always a challenge at Falso. The best bet is to take the corner close and with one foot on the beach. One year on the mighty “ALETA” we took Falso a little to wide, maybe a half-mile off the beach. Roll call that mooring we were 1st in class and 1st overall. We sat out there all day and watched one boat after the other sail past us on the beach. That was the year BLONDIE was 1st to finish and the owners other boat RAGTIME won overall, what a party.


Craig Fletcher & Len Bose 1985

The raft up was always the challenge, sixty boats all lined up next to each other and you had to step from one boat to the other. I recall a number of friends falling through hatches, sleeping on the wrong boat, catching people at unusual moments or acts. One of the better stories was on a PV race when everyone just got the shit kicked out of them from cobo to PV going backward in a HUGE swell then finding a place out of the storm then finshing two days later. This Olson 30 made it to the finsh when most people hung in the towel. After the race, while cleaning, the owner was in the most forward part of the bow, in an Olson30, when he mistakenly engaged the emergency life raft. I guess you just had to be their after coming from the bar and seeing the owners face yelling for help and cutting his way through the raft. To complete the 80’s I did the NHYC Cabo race in 89 with Pete Heck on a Tartan 40 at the beginning of IMS. Not that a Tartan 40 is an IMS boat, anything but. The moment to remember was when we were coming into Falso and had to gybe to the finsh. The blooper had to come down and that met we were going to crash. Pete Heck was driving and we did this monster round down, water everywhere and everyone holding on. Pete just calmly looks up to the bowman and said trip. Fifty yards from the sand and we rolled our way to the finsh. After this race I was able to drive any boat, in any wind.




BAYWOLF AT FALSO 1999


1990’s

The 90’s were the years for the Fabulous Fifty’s Fleet. Boats like SC 50’s, JJ Flash a Davidson 50, Climax a Barnett 50, Andrews 56’s, a couple N/M 55’s, and a Farr 55 lead to good racing. Of course this was the time of the 70’s fleet for the big guys and to tell you the truth I still like driving a SC 50 more than a 70, call me crazy? GPS’s are now on the seen with water makers and the competitors are all staying closer to each other. I can still remember Steve Steiner aboard “BLACK SLIVER” the Farr 55 “ cracking up the whole fleet with his performance over the SSB. The Cabo race from NHYC lasted until 1997 and I was onboard BAYWOLF the SC 50 that year with one of the best finishes yet. JJ Flash and BAYWOLF were rated equal and we were in a tacking duel with JJ at Falso. Only about 10 miles from the finsh and JJ passed us going to weather. We threw in a quick tack back towards the beach and JJ’s Main splits in half and we win overall, Great race! One of the other races was the LBYC Cabo race around Guadalupe. Only thing to say about that race is I am glad that fell through the cracks. Although the classic was when the smaller sled CHEETA a Peterson 66 cleaned everyone clocks by sailing outside of San Clemente Island and stole the race from all the newer 70’s. The party after that race with the CHEETA crew would fill pages.


Buddy Richley & Len Bose 1993 NHYC WYLIE 46 HEARBEAT

A pattern started to develop; Cabo now had its marina, and wanted nothing to do with a bunch of cheap sailors. So the races started to finsh in Mazatlan, PV and Manzanillo. This was all good other than having to start in February and trying to make it across the gulf, which seems to never happen. During this time, I started to pay closer attentions to navigation and who was the person too beat. It always seems to come down to having to beat Tom Leweck or Pete Heck for overall. During this time we learned to take Cabo tight only for the Mazatlan race. If you took Cabo tight for the PV race you would end up at the Marias Island’s and your race is over. It pays to stay about 20 miles off Cabo and sail low of rum line and reach up in the light wind at the finsh. We leaned the hard way in 1999 watching the J 160 BUSHWACKER with Tom Leweck sailing low after the cape and just killing it. It’s been years since I sailed into Manzanillo and I was never at the chart table in the early 90’s although I remember light winds across the gulf and ending up at some airport just in a world of hurt. The idea was to sail low of rum line after the cape and reach up in the light winds just like PV.




"If you look close, the blue chute is BUSHWACKER in the 1999 PV off Cedros"




2000

In 2001 I was sailing with SC 50 “BAYWOLF”. The owner of the boat is Kirk Wilson
“ Captain Kirk” as we call him and the captain was on fire, we were sailing in the MDR to PV race and we were hitting every shift. We sailed low at the start and sailed through the lee of Catalina like we knew what we were doing, we had a five-mile lead on OCTAVIA the first night. We fell into the grove and were sailing away from shore at night and back to shore during the day. OCTAVIA is the best-sailed SC 50’s of the 90’s and the first part of 2000 and we had speed on her. We held our lead until we hit Cedros where she rolled us that night and put five miles on us. By the end of day four she had eight miles on us and increased her lead to twenty miles on us by day five. We were sailing lower than her and found ourselves thirty miles south of her and twenty behind to start day five. If you recall we learned a big lesson in 1999 and we kept clear of the cape and played or card the last day of the race. Of course the wind was light and we were sailing on a much closer reach than OCTAVIA. Because the two boats had been pushing each other we had sailed into the class ahead of us in PHRF A. Class A consisted of such boats as LOCOMOTION, WASABI, FALCON, ROSEBUD, and CANTATA just to name a few. Captain Kirk was let down by us being twenty miles behind OCTAVIA going into the last day. One thing you have to remember in a Mexico race and that is “the race is not over until it’s over”. We had been monitoring the VHF as we entered Banderas Bay. Kirk and I were coming off watch when we heard FALCON and LOCOMOTION give their five miles out report. You never saw two people come ripping out of their bunks any faster and head for the GPS. We were only ten miles out but where is OCTAVIA? Had they finished? With five miles to go, sailing through the fog, Caption Kirk reached for the VHF mic to report that we were five miles out and just then OCTAVIA reported their five-mile report. We had them because they owed us an hour. So we held on to our five-mile report until we were three miles out. Now, we were sailing in a fog and could not see shit! Keeping our ears to VHF we were a half-mile from the finish when the fog lifted and there was OCTAVIA on Starboard tack headed for the finsh line. As we got closer we found we could not cross her and wanted to do a lee bow on her but we had her on time and did not want to foul her by tacking to close so we elected to duck. To say the least, tension was high on the boat, as we had to dump the main to duck her and then tack over to starboard to finsh. Just as we tacked OCTAVIA finished we came in 30 seconds later. Great race and they were pissed because they owed us time, fuck it! WE WON and placed second overall to an Open 50 “ESTRANGER” that had her rating raised by over a minute a mile the next race. We had sailed a great race and beat some very good people. IT FELT GOOD!


" Captain Kirk" At THE START OF THE 2001 PV RACE"


October of 2002 came around and someone from NHYC and LBYC thought it was a good idea to sail to NAVIDAD in November. The ninety were still very clear in my head and I wanted nothing to-do with that race with only eleven boats showing up and absolutely no wind across the gulf. You might notice that NHYC and LBYC have dropped this race. At the time, I was sitting behind my desk, playing arm chair navigator and came up with the following:


In 2003 was the MDR to PV race with a total of 9 boats entered “wow” what fun again sailing through the gulf in February. BAYWOLF almost won it again but fell into a hole in Banderas and had HORION sail up behind her and held on to her time. Funny how things work.

Well its 2005 and NHYC starts the Cabo race back up in Trans Pac year and sailing in March. What a great race! Lots of wind, lots of boats and it feels like were back in the 80’s. Although this time I am on a Nordic 40 double handed. We’re the only double- handed entry and we were sailing in class C. AMERACAP loves the slow cruising boat and its blowing, perfect!
The only problem is we are double-handed and its blowing like shit. Day one after roll call and we are 3rd in class and forth overall. This goes on until day three and now the shit hits the fan as we hit over thirty knots of breeze and some of the best waves I have seen in years. Man I love sailing off shore past Cedros Island. We have to gybe and rap the chute and end up having to cut it away. We set the 1.5 and held on through the night. HUGE waves and I am driving for over 10 hours and pissing on the wheel. We finally take the 1.5 down and wing and wing it through the next night. Thinking we are out of the race we wake up the next morning to find ourselves still third in class and seventh overall, back up goes the 1.5 and if we can hold on with the breeze we might get back into 5th overall. Were sailing in 30 plus knots of breeze again and we hit the wall off Matancitas and come to a full stop. Working our way down the course about another 20 miles and were in the shit again and crash hard. Down comes the 1.5 and we have the 155% poled out in 30+ knots of breeze. The crash took about two hours to come out of and we finished 3rd in class and ninth overall out of sixty boats, not bad for a first try at off shore double-hand.
The key to double handed sailing is time with the autopilot!


" 2005 3rd PLACE IN CLASS C"


CONCLUSHION
Well were getting ready for the San Diego to PV race due to go off in the end of February. I hate racing in February and sailing through the gulf. The problem is, I love sailing this J 125. Great boat, shitty Harken bearing and rudder design. Fortunately we have Jon Shampain setting the boat up for us and he is the man! We have Craig Chamberlain going, Dan Rossen, and Jon Shampain along with the Shanner Family we should be tough.
The big question is, what is BYC thinking? By overlapping a race down to Cabo only three weeks after the PV race. At first glance one has to think that this is a bad idea to conflict the two races. This may lead to burn out? The bottom line is that racing to PV and across the gulf in February really sucks. So if San Diego Yacht Club thinks that’s what the people want, that’s fine. The truth to the matter is, Cabo is a much better race and it should play out to be the better for the sport and make better yachtsman of all of us. You can email me at boseyachts@mac.com during the race and tell us how were doing.

Thanks
Len Bose

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