The Summer Wind...

Think anyone has ever run into this ChannelMarker

Newport Harbor and it is summer time, it does not get a hotter than that. So assuming you have opened all your windows to let the sea breeze in this what you might be hearing in the wind.

The Flight of Newport Beach was held on Sunday, July 15 and was greeted with a cool light southerly breeze. Twenty-nine Lasers showed up on the starting line with Alex Curtiss taking the first overall. Two stand out skippers in the Laser fleet were Seymour Beek who placed 16 and Dave Tingler who finished 25. I feel it is safe to assume that both of these skippers have done this race before going back to the original Snowbirds. For the second year, the Harbor 20’s joined in “The Flight of Newport Beach”  which might be safe to say is the second longest tradition in the Harbor second only to the Christmas Boat Parade dating back to 1934. This year it was all about the two guys in a red boat with red hats on. Justin Law with the tiller in his hand while Bill Menninger passed out the cold beverages as crew. Without a doubt the two guys in red hats where the pre-race favorites then proved it after rounding the first mark and staying above the oncoming competitors while Argyle Campell and Phil Thompson decided to sail a little lower. The guys in the red hats crushed it around the course enjoying the warm breeze and cold beverages. I tanked it this time sailing my Harbor 20 and quickly getting rolled by the fleet that started on the high end of the line. For you racers out there the start was similar to a Sunkist start heading out the harbor towards channel marker # 6.

No excuses for me although I had just completed the South Shore Yacht Clubs 90 mile Two Around Catalina race that had started the day before and we had finished a little after 6:00 Am. South Shore Yacht Club had come up for a new idea for this year’s race by allowing competitors who’re age had added up to 120 to bring a third person. Buddy Richley and I took advantage of this new rule and brought our bowman from Horizon Andy Dippel. Most of you might know already Horizon is a Santa Cruz 50 and a bit of a handful for just two “Old Guys”. The day started all “Aces and eights” for use winning the start, taking the right-hand side of the course first, changing to our small jib just before the wind completely filled in. We were all smiles as the smaller boats disappeared behind us, the breeze headed us enough to go into the Long Beach gate and in the flat water, we gained substantially on the 70-foot boat that we were racing “Mr. Bill” has we popped back out the LA gate. One tack back towards Point Fermin before crossing the channel to get around Catalina everything going as planned. Short story the East end of Catalina would not let us go and the little boats sailed up to us where we restarted the race when the morning southerly wind filled in. Bad luck for us, the good luck is SSYC is doing everything to keep this event going.

Upper bay/ Backbay channel marker lights?

Talking about not giving up and it might just make a comeback. What I am referring too is an anchorage in the turning basin. The Coast Guard earlier this month denied an application to have a temporary anchorage in the turning basin. The turning basin is located on the west end of Lido Isle. Like all government agencies to achieve this goal will take more time while a study on the impact to the navigational channel is completed. The consensus is that the Coast Guard is looking for a smaller anchorage that was originally proposed. This has to be frustrating for our Harbor Commissioners who have been working on this concept for over five years. I have to wonder just how long it will take to remove those three old fixed channel markers that have been targeted for removal before this summer started. So much for asking for lights on our upper bay channel markers although I have heard that the new marine recycling center has been completed at the Basin Marina. I will have to check on that and report back to you later. So stay with me here as my mind slips athwartship, did anyone else wonder how the 216 foot INVICTUS was able to obtain a guest mooring permit on the week of the 4th of July? If you are still with me can you picture one of the harbor departments minions looking up from their little harbor catamarans and telling the skipper of INVICTUS to move it along as the megayacht camped out in front of the owners home at the end of the peninsula for hours at a time? If I am not mistaken that’s right in the middle of the Federal Channel entering our harbor. Well, that comment should do it for me no chance I would ever get the listing on INVICTUS LOL. One last thing if any one of my readers has a bayfront home I could really use a new slip to rent. The Irvine Company has raised my slip rent to $1,000 a month for my Harbor 20 and with a tear in my eye I am considering changing the name of my boat from “Only Child” to “Ugly Step Child”. There that should do it!

BREAKING NEWS: Just posted on the Citys web site:

The City of Newport Beach is seeking an innovative and solution-oriented individual to serve as its new  Harbor Master. With a permanent population of over 86,000 residents, Newport Beach is known for  its fine residential neighborhoods, strong business community, quality school system, vast recreational  opportunities, beautiful beaches, excellent dining, and world class shopping districts. This position requires  seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in harbor management or administration, including  experience related to commercial harbor leases, and at least three (3) years of responsible management  and supervisory experience. Education equivalent to complete of a Bachelor’s degree in a water-related  biological science, business or public administration or a closely related field and possession if a valid  California driver’s license is required. Possession of Basic First Aid, CPR, and PC 832 certifications  and a California boater’s license are required within six months of employment. The salary for the  Harbormaster is $98,016-$147,000 annually; placement within this range is dependent upon qualifications and experience.

What does this indicate, does our present Harbor Master meet these requirements, reads as if the City is looking for for a replacement?

Sea ya

On the Harbor: Award winners...who do you know?

Ryan Lawler, 2017 Outstanding Angler of the Year, with his bluefin tuna catch
where did he find a pair of those shoes?

By LEN BOSE

I am a bit of a history buff and one of the subjects that have intrigued me is the different achievements that can be won by our harbor users. In this column, I will go around the harbor and give a brief description of the different awards and who has won them over the years.

Let’s start with the Commodore Albert Soiland Perpetual Trophy, awarded to the winner of the “Flight of the Snowbirds” now referred to as “The Flight in Newport Beach.”

In 1957, 163 boats signed up to place their name on the trophy; Dick Ward crossed the finish line first and placed his name on the trophy that year. Other past winners that I recognize are Barton Beek in 1940 and Dick Deaver in 1949 with 138 boats that year, Burke Sawyer won in 1958 with 151 boats competing, Pat Scruggs won in 1968 and Jon Pinckney’s name is plastered all over the trophy. In fact, Pinckney was the first to win in a Harbor 20 last year. Participation has been down from the late ‘50s, but if you can get your name on this award you will be in the history books for a long time; the first race was sailed in 1936. This year’s race is on July 15 and is open to Harbor 20s and Lasers.

Len Bose receiving the Edward F Kennedy

My next stop was at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club’s trophy cases. You’ll find two very prominent awards. The first being the Edward F. Kennedy Memorial that is awarded to the Newport Harbor Yachtsman of the Year. This is one of two awards in our harbor that can be given to a non-club member of the presenting club. First awarded in 1984, names that jumped out at me are Lloyd “Swede” Johnson 1985, David Grant 1996, Nick Scandone 2006 and Mike Pinkney 2008. The other award is the Elmer Carey Memorial (formerly Balboa Bay Club Yachtsman of the Year until 1982) Award to the BCYC Yachtsman who most contributed to the organized yachting community. This award was first presented in 1959. Past recipients included Cooper Johnson in 1966, Jim Emmi in 1975, Lorin Weiss in 1988, Carolyn Hardy in 1998 and in 2012, Peter Haynes.

J.A. Beek Perpetual

For those of you that love our harbor but don’t happen to sail, I stopped by the Balboa Angling Club and talked with Mindy Martin, the club’s secretary. So, let’s see if a sailor can tell a good fishing story? One of the highest esteemed awards at the BAC is the “Outstanding Angler of the Year Award” which is scored on a point system based on line test used. Previous winners include Jim Duncan in 2002, Vick Sommers in 2011 and Ryan Lawler in 2017.

The J.A Beek Perpetual Trophy awarded for the First Tuna of the season has been restored by the Beek family and is displayed in the BAC’s trophy case. This award was first presented in 1979, and names on this award you might know are Jeff Jones 1983, Steve Crooke 2008 and Nate Dunham 2018. 

Harbor 20 Fleet One has one particular award that has always grabbed my attention and is presented at the end of the year holiday party. The Arthur B Strock Service Award is given to members who have performed outstanding service for the Harbor 20 Fleet One organization. This award was first presented to Arthur Strock in 2001 for his service and in 2006, it became an annual award. Names of admiration are Phil Ramser 2007, Peter Haynes 2009, John Whitney 2013, Shana Conzelman 2016 and Debra Haynes 2017.

NHYC Bergie of Merit

My next stop was at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club where two awards grabbed my attention the first time I ever walked in. The first is the Don Vaughn Award, which is bestowed annually to NHYC members’ “Crew of the Year.” This crew member has shown their positive influence and importance onboard racing sailboats. The recipient is chosen only by the previous winners. This award was first presented in 1981 to Gordo Johnson and other past winners included Bill Menninger in 1997, Marshall Duffield in 1998, Brad Avery in 1999, Craig Chamberlain in 2002, Tom Corkett in 2015 and Nick Madigan in 2016.

The next award is one of the most coveted trophies in our harbor and can be presented to any distinguished yachtsman that has brought unusual distinction or notice to West Coast yachting and the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, which was first awarded in 1936. This is not an annual award and is awarded upon the action of the NHYC board of directors. Names that grabbed my attention were Don Ayres, Grant Baldwin, Tom Blackaller, Tom Corkett, Dennis Conner, Bill Ficker, John Kilroy, Justin Law, Lowell North, Michael Menninger, Phil Ramser, Chris Raab and Nick Scandone.

Over at the Sea Scout Base, starting in 2007, they have presented the “Good Sea Scout Award” that honors local mariners for their contribution to the boating industry, from innovative yacht and sail designs, and improving youth access to boating and sailing, to sportsmanship at the highest level. Above all, those honored have shown the personal character traits that scouting embodies and promotes. Recipients include Duncan McIntosh 2007, Jim Warmington 2008, Dave Ullman 2009, Marshall Duffield 2010, David Janes 2011, Bill Ficker 2012, Gino Morrelli and Pete Melvin 2014, Timothy Hogan 2015, Gary Hill 2016 and Seymour Beek 2017.

My last stop was at the Balboa Yacht Club where two awards stand out above the rest in the large trophy cases you see as you enter the club. The first is the BYC Sportsman of the Year Award. It was first presented in 1939 and given to an active racing skipper who consistently displayed outstanding sportsmanship during the yachting season. Some of the names are Barton Beek 1940, Bill Ficker 1946, Bill Taylor 1966, Dave Ullman 1969, John Arens 1972, Lloyd “Swede” Johnson 1982, Paul Blank 1996, Nick Scandone 2003 and Alex Steele 2016. Another noteworthy area in the BYC is the “Wall of Recognition” that was created in 1980, and honors many of the members who have served as Distinguished Yachtsmen over a span of years in the world, yachting through excellence in racing, or have been a credit to the BYC. Names like Dave Ullman 1980, Lloyd “Swede” Johnson 1988 and Nick Scandone 2006 are just a few of the names that appear.

Unfortunately, I was not able to list every winner of these highly regarded awards and will leave that to you when you view these trophies, to decide where your name should be placed.

Sea ya

I'm Ready?

On the Harbor: My observations

BCYC TACO TUESDAYS

It has been a long time since I took a tour of the bay looking for a story, so I did just that this week. My first stop was at the 15th Street public pier next to the American Legion where I met a friendly couple who were starting their daily errands.

I am going to refer to this couple as Jane and Mike who have been living aboard their vessel in the mooring fields just in front of the public dock, a little over five years. I first asked Mike how was the rotation of the dinghies on the public dock? In other words, has he seen more than one dinghy tied up to the dock for weeks or months without moving? “No, it has been really good lately. In fact, the 72-hour zone has kept empty for the most part; harbor services have been doing a good job enforcing the time limits on the dock,” Mike said.

He wasn’t in a rush, so the conversation moved toward how is living aboard on a mooring. He replied that things have gotten much better, then commented that it used to be rather “rough” in the J & H mooring fields with drugs, people stealing dingy fuel and other late-night antics. “It’s really cleaned up out there over the last year since harbor services have taken over the mooring management,” Mike said. Jane and Mike have their own mooring permit and are permitted liveaboards. I asked if they have been inspected, as each year liveaboards are inspected by the city making sure their vessels are in good order and meeting the permit requirements. Jane replied, “Yes, we have been inspected twice this year.” She went on to explain how Harbor Services has been fair to them as well as others; they don’t pounce when things seem to be a little out of place. Both Jane and Mike are very pleased with the change in city codes to allow them to transfer their mooring permit should that day ever come. They also felt that a few things can be made better, such as a dinghy rack on the beach, or even a floating dock on a nearby mooring were people could tie up their dinghies for longer periods of time and just kayak out to them. I thought Mike had a great idea for the liveaboards, and that was to be given a card so they could slide the card to show when they’re using the pump out systems around the harbor. Either that or show their invoices from the mobile pump-out services.

There has been more discussion with council members regarding charter operations in Newport Harbor. I took a simple count around the harbor and found 21 large charter boats. Most of the docks where these charter companies work from are in good to very good condition with proper lighting, electric outlets, and firefighting equipment. Although, if city code enforcement took a closer look, then they’d notice what I saw: improper lighting, electric cords running over the water and very suspicious docks in three locations. I would have to assume that the Charter Boats have to log when and how they empty their holding tanks.

My observations around the harbor: I still notice more than one dinghy tied up to moorings, there are many derelict boats tied up to shore moorings, the fishing charter boats are very aggressive to other boaters that are whale watching, and I keep noticing one of the electric boat rental companies coming very close to overcapacity on their rentals. If that’s all I can complain about for now...we’re doing pretty good to start the summer!

• • •

The Balboa Angling Club (BAC) is sponsoring their 16th Annual YSH (Yellowtail, Seabass, Halibut) Tournament on Thursday, June 14 through Saturday, June 16. Anyone can enter, and no membership is required. Tournament hours are from 8 p.m. on Thursday through 5 p.m. on Saturday. Fish may be weighed in at any certified scale location, but weigh slips must be emailed, faxed or delivered to BAC before 5 p.m. Monday, June 18. Call to confirm that the club has received your weigh slip. One fish per angler, per species limit for the trophy awards.

Summer sailing has started with the American Legion’s Monday nights, BCYC Taco Tuesdays, SSYC Hibachi Wednesdays and the NHYC Twilight Series on Thursday...you can sail almost every night of the week!

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Let’s do our part to keep it clean

By LEN BOSE

While attending last month’s Harbor Commission meeting, John Kappler, Newport Beach’s Water Quality Manager, started his presentation of the quality of the water in our harbor. This is when I normally shut down when engineers start talking about parts per million and water flow. As Kappler continued, I sat up in my seat when he started talking about the tons of trash and organic materials that his team keeps out of the harbor annually. I quickly made a note that I needed to learn more from this guy.

When I called for the interview, Kappler returned my call quickly. I don’t speak engineer at all, and he made it easy for me to understand what we can do to make our harbor cleaner.

Kappler moved from Ohio, with an engineering degree, about 15 years ago to escape from the winters, and had family in Orange County. Soon after arriving, he got a job with the City of Newport Beach. He spends his leisure time surfing and stand up paddling, and engages in competitive ocean swimming, where he regularly competes in the local Ocean Swimming series and the Balboa to Newport Pier race.

Kappler’s job as Water Quality Manager is within Public Works, where he is tasked with environmental water quality, water testing, monitoring and placing systems to keep trash out of the bay, managing the different grants, public education, and inspecting shipyards and construction sites. The list went on and on, and I started to think...when does this guy sleep?

As you would guess, fall and winter are his busy seasons, making sure the underground CDS units are cleaned. The CDS is a hydrodynamic separator using swirl concentration and continuous deflective separation to screen, separate and trap trash, debris, sediment and hydrocarbons from stormwater runoff. I had never known that the city had this type of equipment. There are also Marina Trash Skimmers, catch basin screens and the different types of booms that gather trash.

“The city has done a good job of chasing money and implementing projects,” said Kappler, while describing all the different grants the city has obtained to manage the equipment costs each year.

The City is also working toward marine recycling centers, where boaters can dispose of used engine oil and absorbent bilge pads. There has been a center in place at Marina Basin that will be remodeled and expanded in the next couple of weeks to include transmission fluid and batteries. If it all works out, there might be two additional centers in the future at the Harbor Marina under the 55 bridge/and PCH and another near Marina Park.

So now the real question. How do we keep our harbor clean? We are going to have to want it...which is evident in the annual harbor clean up days. Starting with the Newport Harbor Underwater Clean-Up on Saturday, June 2 at the Balboa Bay Club. You can check this out at www.nhunderwatercleanup.com. Help Our Harbor is looking for certified SCUBA divers and land-based volunteers to help clean up and preserve Newport’s most precious resource – our harbor. Go to the Register page and provide your email address, and you will be contacted about the event. This is all good stuff. We also have Help your Harbor at www.helpyourharbor.com with clean up updates the first Saturday of every month from April through August.

Okay, so if you are like me and go sailing or boating every weekend and you just don’t make time for organized events, what can you do to make a difference? It’s the simple things that make your connection to the harbor important. If you drop trash or see trash in the streets, it’s going to end up in our harbor. It’s a lot easier to pick it up from the streets than when you see it flowing in the harbor, according to Kappler. When you are at a restaurant, keep in mind you might not need all those napkins, condiments or straws you grabbed. It would overwhelm you how many of these items end up in our bay.

This all seems rather simple to me. Before every race, I always look around for man-made flotsam. Balloons, plastics...whatever should not be in our harbor or the ocean. Then catch and dispose of the flotsam. Makes for good juju on BCYC Taco Tuesdays, if you take a photo of the item you picked out of the harbor. Rhonda Tolar, and her team will give you an extra opportunity drawing ticket...and you will be surprised how good it makes you feel.

I am headed back out to sea again this weekend aboard Horizon participating in this year’s California Ocean Racing Week starting in San Francisco with stops in Monterey, Santa Barbara, and San Diego. As always, wish us luck, and I could use a favor. Newport Shipyard is remodeling their marina and has evicted us from our slip for Horizon. We ended up having to leave the harbor and would prefer to stay in town. So, if you know of anyone that would like to rent us a slip, please contact me at boseyachts@mac.com.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: What’s happening in Spring?

By LEN BOSE

Spring has arrived, and the harbor is blooming. The removal of the mooring cans in front of Newport Harbor Yacht Club (NHYC) indicates that a swarm of Harbor 20s will soon be showing up to team race in two different events from April 9 - 14.

The first event on April 9 and 10 is the Palmer Grandmasters, followed by the main event – the Baldwin Cup taking place April 12 - 14. You might ask what is the difference between the two events? The simple answer is the old folks’ race is the Palmer and the kids’ race is the Baldwin. Which is kind of cool, because us old guys still like to have our day in the sun.

I won’t be competing in this event, because I have no clue how to team race, and frankly I have never reached the skill level these competitors have. I always defer to the NHYC website for its team racing definition: “Team racing, like most traditional team sports, involves strategy, advanced skill, and teamwork. However, unlike other fleet racing, team racing pits a team of four against another team of four boats. This added dimension forces players to have a tremendous amount of boat-handling ability and quick reactions.

 “The key to watching these races and understanding if your team is winning the race is counting the place of each of your team’s boats, and if that number is less than 18, your team is winning the race. This is why you’ll see leading boats turn around and try to slow down the opposing team’s boats, making an effort to have their teammate pass an opponent.”

I have written this before…the excitement level has increased tremendously. While attending these events, the umpires are “informed” of their bad calls. Yes, team racing has umpires on the water similar to an umpire on the baseball field. Quite often you will hear the gallery shouting, “Come on, ump! Make a call!”

If this peaks your interest, you can go to http://baldwincup.com/racing/web-cam to watch the action. I will be on the docks drinking one or two of the 25 cent beers, heckling the umpires and telling the old guys to pull their pants up and get back in the race. Always good times and I will buy you a beer if you see me and tell me you read my column. 

• • •

Other activities around the harbor include the 71st Newport to Ensenada yacht race scheduled April 27 - 29 along with the 55th Annual Lily Call Bay Fishing Tournament April 28 and 29 hosted by the Balboa Angling Club.

I know more about team racing than I do about fishing, and what I’ve noticed is the number of people fishing in the harbor with their game faces on. It’s rather obvious who is competing because there is no lawn chair or beverage cooler next to them. These fishermen are taking notes and climbing fences to find the right spots. Here are the details of the event: 4# Test Max in Newport Harbor for Croaker, Corbina, Halibut, and Bass. It is limited to the first 75 anglers and entries must be received by Wednesday, April 25. The cost is $40 per person with an awards banquet at the Chicken Coop on Sunday, April 29 at 4 p.m. I’m a huge fan of the Balboa Angling Club, so if you’re still looking for ways to get your kids involved with the harbor, this is the place at 200 A Street, right next to Hills Fuel Dock.

We’ll be sailing in the Ensenada race this year aboard the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon. This will be No. 33 for me, and I’ve never been more ready to get off the starting line. The owner of the boat can’t make it this year and threw me the keys. It’s the same feeling as my father throwing me the keys to the car for the first time. We’ll be flying the BCYC burgee and have put together a solid team of Doug Carey, Craig Chamberlain, Carson Reynolds, Max Moosman, and Kat and Andy Dibbel. 

Wish us wind and luck!

Sea ya

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Catching up with my good friend Mark Gaudio

Mark Gaudio while coaching.                                  All photos courtesy of Joysailing.com

By LEN BOSE

I picked up the phone this week and called my good friend Mark Gaudio for an interview. If you have ever raced a Sabot, Lido 14, Harbor 20 or Cal 20 the name should be familiar to you.

Gaudio was first introduced to the harbor in the ‘60s by his father, Ed, who first owned a 20-foot Glasspar powerboat. “I remember doing speed circles in the Back Bay with my dad,” Gaudio said. His father was an electrician and after working on a house on Lido Isle, the owner gave him the old Sabot on the side of the house. “I think I was six and my father had painted the boat with some sort of latex house paint in some ‘60s color. We rigged the boat up and went sailing. Just about the time we reached the Lido Isle Yacht Club, we gybed the boat, while dad was sitting on the main sheet, and we flipped the boat,” Gaudio explained.

The Gaudio family was very active in the Orange Coast Yacht Club, which had its clubhouse at the American Legion. Later, the club would merge with the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club and the Gaudios where there for the groundbreaking of the clubhouse now located on Bayside. “I have a photo of dad somewhere with him planting a shovel into the ground on the club grounds.”

Gaudio recalled fond memories on the harbor now lost in time. “We used to sail our boat over to Shark Island, now Linda Isle, and play Army. From there we would walk over the Pacific Coast Highway bridge to Will Wrights for ice cream. Summer days seemed to have the wind blowing 10 knots out of the west. We could pull our boats up onto a beach at the Fun Zone and goof around there, or we would sail up to the 19th Street beach and go to Tasty Freeze. Sometimes Phil Ramming and I would just fill our boats with water balloons and throw them at people on Balboa Island. You cannot do that now, but it sure was a lot of fun then,” Gaudio recalled.

Today, Gaudio spends most of his time on the harbor coaching sabot sailors. During the summer he has more requests for coaching than he can handle, while during the winter he coaches Friday afternoons for BCYC and gives private lessons on Saturdays. He is the go-to guy when it comes to finding the racing sabot our just tuning one up. “Tuning a sabot is all about mast rake, leeboard angle and a vertical rudder,” Gaudio said. Most sailors in the harbor who have been coached by him recall the words: “Get off your knees.”

I asked Gaudio what are the dos and don’ts for sabot parents? “Parents can be overly competitive, which can lead to performance anxiety at the wrong time. Sailing is a hard sport, with many variables, weather included, it can be frustrating…sometimes physical, but mostly mental. Once a kid starts moving up, stay away from move up itis,” Gaudio said.

Gaudio explained that one of his concerns today is that there is too much focus on racing, with not enough attention on just harbor exploring and having fun. There are some kids out there today that will not leave the dock without a coach. In the end game, he feels that this is hurting our sport.

So, before we ended the interview I asked for some simple bits of advice that I can write on my notepad. “Don’t pinch in light air, keep the boat moving, always look around to assess your competition. The wind in our harbor is the trickiest when it is coming out of the southwest with a bearing from 200 to 245 degrees when you should focus on connecting the dots. When the wind is left at 200 degrees, consider going left; when it is right of 240 degrees, consider the right side of the course. Remember that you have a lot of traffic in the harbor to stay away from, and he always reminds his students to anticipate the high odds maneuvers of competitors.

This Saturday, the Harbor 20 fleet will be racing in the Earl Corkett Regatta out of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. At BYC, the Lido 14s will be gathering on Sunday for the Harry Wood Regatta. And, the PHRF fleet will be sailing out of BCYC to Catalina on Saturday and returning on Sunday in the Bogart Race.

Keep it, fun everyone.

Sea ya! 

~~~~~~~~

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

Gaudio coaching me to BCYC Club Championships in 2017

On the Harbor: My sail from San Diego to Puerto Vallarta

Horizon & Lucky Duck after the start of the 2018 SD to PV Race

The clocks have moved forward and spring sailing season is underway. This last week I was sailing aboard the yacht “Horizon” in the 2018 San Diego to Puerto Vallarta Yacht Race.

The Newport Beach entries were John Raymont Andrews 40 “Fast Exit,” Steve Sellinger Santa Cruz 52 “Triumph,” John Shulze Santa Cruz 50 “Horizon,” Manouch Moshayedi Bakewell White 100 “RIO” and Tom Corkett Andrews 70 “Runaway.” “Horizon” started on Friday, March 2 in Division 5 with the other Santa Cruz 50’s & 52’s.

The forecast was for a light sea breeze out of the south and dying off as we reached Ensenada. This forecast left Friday starters with a bit of a hindrance because the smaller boats in Division 7 had started the day before with a clearing westerly and there were reports of 40-knot squalls and blown up spinnakers. Saturday starters are the big boats like the 100-footer “Rio,” Andrews 70 “Runaway” and Roy Disney Andrews 70 “Pyewacket.” Their forecast was for 15 knots out of the southwest.

With that aside and a 1,000 mile-race to Puerto Vallarta, we knew that there would be many opportunities for us to make that time up on the other boats for the overall standings. One thing that always comes to mind is that the race is never over until you cross the finish in a Mexico race. I first heard this saying from Newport Beach City Councilmember Brad Avery back in the ‘80s and have always remembered it. 

Out of the starting gate, it was our class favorites “Horizon” and “Lucky Duck” side by side reaching out of San Diego harbor and pointed for the Coronado Islands. At this point, on “Horizon” it officially became duck season. The two boats exchanged the lead at least five times down the Baja coast, always staying within eyesight of each, and crossing jibes under the light of the full moon at night. When two competitors meet up like this, they normally push their boats that much harder with the sail changes happening with each wind shift rather than giving it the old five-minute rule and waiting to see if the wind will shift back.

Crew of Horizon

Life aboard “Horizon” goes into a four-hour off, three-hour on watch system after the first dinner with three people staying on deck, unless we have to make maneuvers and everyone is called on deck. With each maneuver, be it sail changes or gybing each crew member, the assigned position throughout the race never changes. For example, the same person will drive the boat, just like the same person will be in charge of pulling up and letting down the halyards that lift the sails up and down.

I am also listed as the chef aboard the boat and by today’s race boat standards that is not too far from the truth. In an effort to save weight, most competitors are chocking down freeze dried foods which I hear are not that bad if you can add your favorite hot sauce. Aboard “Horizon,” breakfast consists of yogurt and granola or cereal with fresh fruit. Every other day I will warm up some Jimmy Dean breakfast sandwiches, which are always well received. There is nothing more appreciated than a warm meal while you are out to sea. For lunch, I’ll fix deli meat sandwiches with avocado, onion, and lettuce, and on odd days serve up hot dogs, which have seemed to be the crew’s favorite. For dinner, we ask for volunteers to provide the boat with dinner casseroles with favorites being beef stroganoff, pasta bake, and enchilada pie. Each dinner is served with a fresh salad and choice of dressing. After the galley is cleaned up, I’ll fill a container with candy bars, trail mix and or some dried fruit along with leaving the Starbucks instant coffee and hot chocolate packets out for the crew. Now that might not seem as much of an effort on my part, but have you ever tried boiling water for hot dogs while tight reaching with the 3A spinnaker up and the boat leaned over in a mixed sea? It is rather challenging just serving the meals to the crew.

One of the largest obstacles of this race is navigating past Cabo hole, which can block the wind as much as 30 miles away, before entering the Baja Gulf on your way to Puerto Vallarta. So, there we are with the Duck just close enough that we can talk to them. As night falls and the full moon has not yet risen, the two boats split so that we can’t make out our running lights. This is when our navigator, Alex Steele, puts his plan into effect on how to work our way through the Cabo hole as fast as possible. Steel put in a ton of time studying this part of the course and just crushed it. The next morning, the Duck was more than 30 miles behind us in four knots of wind, while we were close reaching in at 15 knots headed straight for the finish line.

Like I mentioned before, a Mexico race is never over until it’s over, and we kept the throttle down until we crossed the line with a first in our class and seventh overall. Another great race with a solid group of sailors from our harbor! This years’ crew was John Shulze, Len Bose, Alex Steele, Justin Law, Tom Okeefe, Craig Chamberlain, Andrew Dippel, Doug Cary and Greg Newman. Now we have to get the boat home and start getting ready for the upcoming Ensenada race.

Sea ya!

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

On the Harbor: Keeping you updated on the winter series races and more…

The mighty AMANTE dominates winter series

By LEN BOSE

To say that things around the harbor are “heating up” is a bit of pun with the weather we have been having.

I was in Basin Shipyard this last week and they are working hard with the yard at full capacity. While walking by the outside of the shipyard it reminded me of a busy Sunday morning at the Galley restaurant with all the customers wrapped out around the corner waiting for their table.

Over at Newport Harbor Shipyard, things seem to be just as busy with a number of large racing sailboats getting ready for the upcoming season. Two new race boats, to our harbor, have been recently added with Newport Harbor Yacht Club members Jim Bailey having purchased the Trans Pac 52 “Destroyer” and David Team recently purchased  the Trans Pac 52 “Vesper”. Destroyer will be making her Southern California sailing debut in the Islands Race on February 16. Vesper has been seen heading out of the harbor looking for wind to start practicing for the upcoming season. They are headed to San Diego February 10 - 11 to compete in the TP 52 Mid-Winters event that promises to have nine TP 52 boats attending. ( Update: Vesper dominated the first day of races during the Mid-Winters and broke a spreader during a spinnaker set and had to withdraw from remained of the regatta.)

If you are wondering about the outcome of our winter series races across the harbor…here are the results. In the BYC Sunkist Series, in PHRF class A with no throwout – James Dealings’ “Carbon Footprint” took first and held off team “It’s OK. In B class, The Richley family aboard “Amante” kept rolling for the win and in class C “Doubletime” swept the series with straight bullets. The real race in class C was for second with Bill McKeever’s “Reliance” holding off Brian Dougherty’s “Legacy.” Class D came down to a tiebreaker for first with Ray Booth sailing “Altheris” just nipping out John Szalay’s “Pussycat.”

Over at the BCYC Hot Rum Series, in PHRF C, Bob Wine sailing “Carioca” won the class. “Pussycat” took class B and “Amante” won class A. In the Harbor 20 NHYC Winter series, Ann and Kurt Wiese won class A, Doug Rastello brought home the class B trophy and Kathryn Reed held on to her lead to win class C.

Nate Dunham 17.97 Halibut

The Balboa Angling Club is off to a fast start this year. Harbor 20 sailor and past Balboa Angling Club President Chris Allen took off on New Year’s Eve with crewmember Nate Dunham aboard his boat “Taravana.” Dunham caught a 16.71 lb. BFT (I hope that means bluefin tuna) and a 5.42 lb. yellowtail, which allows Allen to bring home the first two flags of the year. Allen described the weather as perfect with flat seas and a whole lot of fish. He still had a rather large smile when telling me about his trip a month later. Another big day at the Angling center is receiving the 1,700 juvenile sea bass on January 19, 2018. I assume most of you are familiar with the sea bass cages in the mooring fields just in front on the Balboa Angling Club. The sea bass are released later in the year, with the volunteers from the center talking care of them in the meantime.

Upper Bay

Upper Newport Bay channel markers

News around the harbor: A number of topics have been brought up during the Harbor Commission meetings, and I have heard some rumors around the harbor. It has been indicated that three old channel markers 6, 10 & 12 will be removed and replaced with new floating markers. This is long overdue, and we can only hope this task is completed this year. Another topic broke the surface at the last meeting, and that is marine recycling so that all you boaters will now have a place to dispose of your hazardous waste without driving miles inland to do so properly. I’ve heard these centers will be around the harbor sooner rather than later. My little harbor birds also informed me that the upper bay channel markers have a very good chance of being lit up at night, so you can make your way through the upper bay much easier when it’s dark. The word around the harbor, during the recent Blue Moon high tides, is that the amount of flotsam that was collected was overwhelming. One boatsman from the NHYC reported that he scooped up a whole drowned chicken. The good news is that with the large water flush, people are telling they have never seen the water so clear. This is very good news for the harbor, because when you add the amount of sunlight we have been having, the chance of a good crop of eelgrass might follow for this year’s surveys. Remember eelgrass is our friend!

Wish us wind and luck as we will be competing in the Islands race on “Horizon” in preparation for this year’s Puerto Vallarta race.

Sea ya!

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