On the Harbor: Harbor 20 Midwinter regatta

Harbor 20 on the bay

This is my first entry to what will be a long-lasting relationship with StuNewsNewport. My name is Len Bose and I have been writing a harbor column for the last eight years.

You might have noticed my name selling yachts for the last 30 years, and I am a very active Harbor 20 sailor and manage the sailing team Horizon, a Santa Cruz 50, berthed here in Newport Harbor. In between my time on the water, you will find me attending Harbor Commission meetings and walking the docks looking for my next story, or helping out at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

This last weekend BCYC hosted the Harbor 20 Midwinter regatta that is the un-official start of the 2017 sailing season. Twenty-nine boats showed up on the starting line as the clouds broke up and a healthy cold 10-knot breeze rolled across the harbor on both Saturday and Sunday. The fleet consisted of 10 boats in C fleet, seven in B’s and 12 in A’s. Team Boomerang with Jessica Newman at the helm and crew Max Moosman were just able to keep Matt Campbell, sailing his boat Chloe, two points behind them after an eight-race regatta. B fleet was also a very close battle with Steve Schupak just edging Richard Loufek by one point to win the regatta and moved up to A fleet. I should mention that Jessica Newman also qualified to sail in B fleet in her next regatta by winning C fleet.

In A fleet it was quickly recognized that Zephyr skippered by Greg Hellas and crewed by Justin Law, undoubtedly two of the best sailors on Newport Harbor, were the favorites to win this weekend. In A fleet most anyone can have a good day although Bill Menninger always seems to have a few more good days than the rest of us. Greg Newman showed up with Alex Steele aboard Lady Luck and the three boats battled it out for the top three places in the fleet. Team Hellas and Law “Got ‘er done” with all first and second places with team Menninger taking second just three points ahead of team Newman and Steele.

Cocktails and awards were at BCYC after the racing and it’s always a great way to tell your sea stories and how one could have placed better over the two-day event.

On Sunday, the American Legion sponsored the PHRF Midwinters with 10 boats tackling the large swell that was running outside the harbor. The wind filled outside the harbor at about 10 knots out of the south. In PHRF A fleet the Brain Dougherty team aboard his J 105 Legacy won two of the three races and placed second in the other. Tim Harmon sailing his J 124 Cirrus came in second while the Sea Scouts Olson 30, skippered by Jasper Freedman, finished in third place.

In PHRF B fleet John Risvold Maiden split races with the Rosene Family’s Radical Departure and tired for first.

This coming weekend is the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Clubs Islands race which starts in Long Beach goes around both Catalina and San Clemente Islands and finishes in San Diego just outside the harbor entrance. Newport Beach entries included the Newport Sea Base “Apprentice” an IMX 38, Paul Stemler will be aboard his J 44 “Patriot”, Steve Sellinger will be sailing his Santa Cruz 52 named “Triumph”, watch for Chris Heman’s well-sailed Rogers 46 “Varuna” and I will be skippering the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon.

Twenty-nine teams have entered this cold and demanding race as a practice race for this year’s Cabo and Trans Pac races. You can follow the race at http://yb.tl/islandsrace2016

Wish us luck and not to much wind.

Boat name of the week: Lucky Duck

Sea ya!

~~~~~~~~

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

The Harbor Report: An exciting NHYC Winter Series

Only Child racing in the Harbor

 BY: Len Bose

It always seems this time of year I write my column without heading out onto the harbor first. With all the rain over the last week the only time I have been on my Harbor 20 is to pump out all the rain water.

That's not necessarily true, I have been attending the Newport Harbor Yacht Club's Winter Series and for the second year in a row I am getting beat up on the race course during this series.

With all the light or just fluky winds, along with huge currents running, I am having a hard time connecting the dots around the race course. People that seem to have a better idea on how to get around the course this time of year are Team Bissell and Team Sellinger. They are tied for first place in the C fleet and it will come down to the final day of the series on Feb. 5th.

In B fleet, Chris Hill and Nina Manning hold a small lead over Team Reed and Team Haynes. This will be a close series and everyone will have their game faces on for the last day of racing.

In A fleet, Argyle Campbell sailing "No Travel Required" has been sailing the most consistently this winter although Team Wise and Mark Conzelman sailing with Phil Thompson are staying within striking distance.

Speaking of striking distance you no longer need to concern yourself with running into the old No. 11 range marker. It has finally been removed after a year with dealing with the Coast Guard.

# 11 Channel Marker REMOVED!

I had to go look for myself to believe it and yes it is finally gone. The removal of the three remaining old telephone pole range markers remains a task for our City Council this year.

If you have ever run into one of these range markers you know what I am talking about. Remember to remind your city council members along with harbor commissioners that it is time to remove these ancient beasts from our harbor.

While making my rounds around the harbor, in my warm car, I noticed that the NHYC has a large three-story ship they are chartering from Hornblower as their clubhouse for the next year as they build a new clubhouse.

Racing ahead

It appears everything is going to plan from the outside and the club has a full racing calendar set for the upcoming season. It starts with the Islands race that starts in L.A. Harbor and goes around Catalina and San Clemente then finishes in San Diego. It's the perfect warm-up for the Newport Beach-to-Cabo race schedule to start March 10. We are hopefully attending both of these races ourselves aboard the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon to start our racing season.

Temp NHYC

News about a couple of other prominent racing boats have grabbed my attention this winter. The Santa Cruz 50 Flaca has been sold and will now live in Long Beach.

The Andrews 39 Bien Roulee has to my understanding been sold to a local Newport Beach racer, which is very good news.

On rather surprising news, the Andrews 49 It's OK and the Peterson 50 Checkmate have been donated to Orange Coast College. Let's hope these two boats stay in town and still show up on the local race course.

Basins New Ride

I went by Basin Shipyard recently and got a glimpse at Dave and Derek New's brand new wheels. The shipyard traded in their old Travel Lift for a brand new one with all the bells and whistles. Remote control, taller and much quieter, I never have been able to figure out the miles per gallon and I might have gone with some different rims but it looks really sharp.

 

Marine Recycling Center Dana Point

Harbor Commission meeting

I made it past the Harbor Commission meeting this month and was very glad to hear commissioner Kenny request to place on next month's agenda the idea of having a Marine Recycling Center in town. I have written about this idea a couple of times over the last seven years. I have noticed Marine Recycling Centers in Dana Point and up in L.A. Harbor. I feel having one our two centers in town will solve part of the problem of boaters using our pump-out stations incorrectly.

At the end of the meeting I had a chance to talk to Lt. Mark Alsobrook. Have I ever told you how tremendous it is to have our harbor master attend these meetings?

The subject quickly went to the weather. I brought up the fact that I have pumped out over 200 gallons of water this winter from my Harbor 20. Alsobrook quickly responded that's what his team has been doing a lot of this winter, pumping out water from the different moored boats.

Boat name of the week: "Just add Ice"

Sea ya!

--

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist for the Daily Pilot

Jim Dasturs recommendation regarding the Balboa Island seawall.

The following is a letter sent to the Tidelands Management Committee from Jim Dastur.  When Jim talks I listen:

Dear Tidelands Management Committee:

Ever since the news broke, almost 3 years ago, about a plan to possibly spend upwards of $70,000,000 for new sea walls for Balboa Island, I have been trying to understand the need for and the details behind this evolving proposal. To the extent that I have knowledge of and experience in marine construction and engineering cost estimates, I have tried to put in my two cents worth. I am truly thankful to City Council members for having given me the opportunity to participate through my appointment to the Citizen's Advisory Panel to the Tidelands Management Committee.(TMC)

A lot of new, useful information has been provided by City staff during the last 3 meetings of TMC. I find it difficult to respond to facts and figures presented at the meeting without taking the time to understand and digest them over a period of time. My current understanding of the situation, along with my personal/professional opinion, for what it is worth, is as follows:

1. Balboa Island is protected from sea erosion and tidal flooding by a concrete wall, owned and maintained by the City. The total length of the wall is approximately 13,200 feet (+/-). The elevation of the top of the wall varies from a high of 9.1' to a low of 7.7'. 

2. Of the 13,200 feet of wall, about 3,800 feet (along the Grand Canal and the West end of the big island) has

deteriorated to the extent that it would be prudent to replace it within the next 5 to 7 years. There is no impending emergency to replace this section of the wall immediately, although planning, engineering and permitting needs to be addressed and is being addressed currently. The remaining 9,400 feet of wall has at least 20 to 25 years of useful life left, with normal routine maintenance. (This conclusion was supported by the City's consultant at one of the TMC meetings) With competing claims for scarce tax dollars, it would be a non-starter to consider any replacement of this section of the wall, any time soon.

3. There is general consensus that the sea level has risen in the past 20 years and is continuing to rise. The top elevation of 7.7' for a significant portion of the existing sea wall poses a present and imminent danger of swamping the island during a king tide combined with an ocean surge and a heavy rain storm. The probability of this happening may be small, but the consequences would be catastrophic. This issue needs to be addressed on an expedited basis.

4. The political football as to who should pay for any or all of the costs associated with these issues is finally being kicked around. The suggestion that Balboa Island property owners be required to pick up a substantial portion of the costs associated with sea walls, further muddies the already murky waters.

5. Current thinking and planning is for the City to put all issues - the entire 13,200 feet of the sea walls, ferry terminal & fuel dock, bridge retrofits, etc. - into one package for permitting and financing; this leads to the daunting $72,000,000 number. It also forces a design decision for 75% of the wall that does not need to be made for the next 25 years.

Based on the above premises, I would like to put forth these ideas for your consideration.

A.  As a first order of business, engineer and construct a cap addition to the 9,400 feet of wall that has a remaining life expectancy of 25 years, so that the top elevation is 9'. This can be accomplished along the lines of the cap addition done to the Little Island's South Bay Front. This would not entail any extraneous issues such as access to private docks and the beach, permitting for encroachment, ADA issues, home-owner views, etc. The total cost associated with this, per the City's estimate of $250 - $300 per foot would be $2.4 to $2.8 million. The cost for this should be borne by the City. Do not have this issue tied up with planning or permitting for a new wall.

     The reason for opting for a height limit of elevation 9.0 is that this 9,400 feet long wall will be replaced at some date in the distant future. At that time, we will have a better understanding of how fast the sea is rising as well as what is being done holistically about rising sea level for the rest of the inner harbor.

B.  Proceed cautiously with the planning, engineering and permitting of the 3,400 feet of new wall. The total cost associated with this, per the City's estimate of $3,800 - $4,000 per foot (I believe this number already has contingencies built into it and does not need additional contingency on top of that) would be $14.4 to $15.2 million. Since this is a new wall and expected to serve for the next 75 to 100 years, the preferred top elevation should be 10'. The City should be able to find the money, from the tidelands fund and supplemented by the General Fund, to get this done over the next 5 to 7 years.

C. Its is premature and counter-productive to reconfigure the entire ferry landing for future high tides. Re-grading the sidewalk and Agate street to provide protection up to elevation 9' can be accomplished at minimal cost out of the General Fund. The same applies to retrofitting of bridges.

The above course of action reduces the monumental $72,000,000 problem to a more manageable $15,000,000 to $20,000,000 problem that addresses issues for the next 20 to 25 years while we continue to look for holistic solutions for the entire harbor, for the future beyond.

I am available to meet with anyone of you if you are so inclined, to discuss my views in detail.

Thank you for your indulgence in reading this presentation.

Jim Dastur

Last Harbor Commission meeting of the year.

Harbor Commissioner and Cruiser director Paul Blank  “Eel Grass, the more we have the more we can disturb” 

About fifty people attended the last Harbor Commission meeting of the year that was convened on Saturday, December 10th at 8:30AM aboard Seymour Beek’s car ferry “Admiral.”
Harbor Commissioner Paul Blank was assigned the task of cruise director and outlined the cruise around the harbor. Our first topic was derelict vessels on the different offshore mooring around the harbor. Commissioner Joe Stapleton took over the mic and defined what a derelict boat is, according to Stapleton, a vessel must propel itself too and from the Harbor Department docks. By completing this task the vessels owner is proving the boat is operational. Other definitions I have heard over the years also included that the vessel is not taking on water and or in disrepair. Stapleton went on to praise Harbor Resources Analyst Shannon Levin on all her hard work she has done maintaining the Vessel Turn In Program (VTIP) which is a grant from the state of California with a value of $120,000 per year. This grant allows boat owners to relinquish their vessels title to the city for demolition and to date the City of Newport Beach has removed twenty-eight boats over the last two years. It is my understanding that the City has applied again for the VTIP program for next year. Mooring permit holders by now should all know that they do not have to keep a vessel on their moorings any longer. 

Next topic up was our harbors ten waste pump out stations. Commissioner David Girling explained that the problem the city is having is that boats operators are using the waste pumps to pump out their bilge’s. Quite often these bilges have toxic waste in them along with shape  objects. The shape objects are breaking down the pump systems and is the number one cause for their malfunction. Please note that while operating the pump system to note and follow the written instructions. My opinion is that we should have marine recycling centers around town so that boat operators have a place to dispose of types of hazardous waste rather than using our waste pump out stations. 

About this time the ferry was approaching channel marker 11 off of Bay Island. When City Council member elect Brad Avery was asked to talk about the navigational markers around the harbor. Avery was quick to point out that the Coast Guard is responsible for the maintenance of these channel markers and are the only ones that have permission to remove them when damaged. We have seen this problem twice now over the last ten years with the Coast Guard taking over a year to remove these damaged markers. These oversized commercial markers truly are a threat to our local boaters and need to be replaced with a smaller buoys around our harbor Avery explained. 

Recycling center

As we made the turn heading west around the number 11 channel marker Commissioner West was asked to review the new RGP 54 and Eel grass mitigation plan. “ This project has been done with no little expense with as many as six or seven state agencies involved. “ said West. Today Harbor Resources has received fifty applications with only a hand full of residents able to complete the process. “ There is still some red tape in the process and more work to be done, the devil is always in the details.” said West. Because of the RGP and the Eel Grass Medication plan dredging companies are willing to return to our harbor, at this time there are only two companies working our harbor. What now needs to be remembered is that Eel Grass is now our friend and as Commissioner Blank asked the crowd to repeat a number of times during the cruise “ Eel Grass, the more we have, the more we can disturb!” I am tempted to make some T- shirts with this saying on them and give a couple to Blank.

Why are these boats in our Harbor?

Alternative Anchorages was the next topic on the agenda and of course we are referring to the temporary anchorage in front of Lido Village or Z Mark. Over the last two years it has been very successful and with the addition of a public dock off of Central Ave, right next to the Elks Club, I am going to assume it will not be temporary much longer. Please note that this anchorage will not have raft ups and the noise levels will be closely monitored.

Other topics that where discussed was the public walk way starting from the previous Ardell property heading west rapping around the harbor and ending up by the Cannery. Harbor speed limits, boat overhang and all the different harbor users meeting together and reviewing their individual needs with each other was also discussed on the cruise.

Why are these boats in our Harbor?

Next up was the four acre Lower Castaways property that is designated as a Marine Protected Area by our States Department of Fish and Wildlife and will most likely be turned into a park. The only access to the harbor will be for manual propelled crafts. You might not know it, there is access to the harbor now on this site and from what I have heard one of the hottest fishing spots in the harbor.

Our last topic was Launch Ramps and where can the city place another one in our harbor. Commissioner McIntosh is chairing this task and said “ I have no clue, we have been talking about this for years. The problem is not only the ramp it is the parking. If you have any ideas please let me know.” The need for a second launch ramp in town is tremendous and the only way I see it happening is we are going to have to want it. The only place that I have found is next to Newport Aquatic Center. Told you we are going to have to want it! On a side note, the launch ramp at the Dunes was a night mare the first night of the boat parade this year. With the low tide at an extreme many people where not able to launch their vessels. I feel we need to do better at this matter.

Boat name of the week “Admiral.”

Sea ya

2016 Harbor 20 Fleet One Photo's

One photo is worth a thousand words? Well then, Fleet One has a lot to say in 2016:

For Sale : Perry 56 Stealth Chicken

Designed to be a performance cruising sailing yacht this thoroughbred has the lines of a blue water grand prix racing vessel. Prospects need to be reminded that this vessel was not built on a production line. Rather by a group of craftsmen taking great pride in their work and a clear understanding of the worlds oceans and demanding conditions. Only the elite yachtsmen will notice the quality in the design and build of this fine sailing vessel. This is the type of yacht that will stay in ones family for generations.

The Harbor Report: Councilman with a nautical background

Newport Beach Council Member Brad Avery

By Len Bose

I had a chance this week to talk to one of our newest Newport Beach City Council members, Brad Avery.

I first met Avery in 1979, when he started at the Orange Coast College Sailing Base, and I was attending a big boat sailing class aboard the boat Scandalous.

As we set sail and headed out into the harbor, the boat was greeted by a rather big puff of wind. As it leaned over in the breeze, I and most of the crew put two hands onto the boat. Its Genoa sail needed to be skirted and lifted over the boat's lifelines.

As the call from the helmsmen to skirt the sail was requested, most of us sat tight and looked around for who would be the first to stand up and walk out on the pitching foredeck. Just then, a flash went by me, and the Genoa was skirted.

Avery returned to the cockpit and was also attending to the mainsail. I thought to myself, OK, that's how it's done.

Avery had been doing the big boat thing from the time he was a kid on his father's 8-meter racing sailboat. Avery's father Chuck was one of the first yacht brokers with David Fraser in 1965 in the Lido Village area. Another yacht broker, Ed Cox, was also working in the same office.

Cox opened one of the first sailing clubs in the harbor, and Brad Avery was 14 at the time, washing boats as a part-time job.

"That's how I got into teaching sailing," Avery said. "The sailing instructor did not show up one day, and Cox walked down the dock and said, 'Drop that brush, kid. You are the new sailing instructor.'

"As a kid I would hang out at Richard's Market; they used to have a huge bulletin boat with a chart of the Pacific with pins with boats names that where competing in the TransPac. This is only way we could follow the race at that time.”

Sailing Ship Ticonderoga is one of the vessels Avery sails in the Caribbean

After graduating from Newport Harbor High School at the age of 17, Avery packed his sea bag and flew down to Panama, where he signed up as a crew member and sailed through the canal and cruised the Caribbean. On his return to Newport Beach, he immediately stepped on another boat headed back through the Panama Canal and across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.

Avery spent some time backpacking around Europe and then sailed back. The next season he returned to the Caribbean and once again to Europe to sail in the Mediterranean. After about three years, Avery returned home and attended school at USC.

After graduating, Avery started working as the director of sailing at the OCC Sailing Base, where he has been working ever since.

I knew Avery had a strong interest in the history of our harbor, so I asked about his favorite stories about the harbor.

"When I got out of journalism school, I had a chance to interview Hans Dickman, who immigrated from Germany after WWI," he said. "Dickman told me a story of riveting submarines during the war before he came over to the U.S.

"Because of the Great Depression, Dickman was able to purchase some waterfront property next to the Cannery, where he opened up his shipyard to repair wooden fishing boats. Another great part of this story is after the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, Dickman found an old market's archway that he placed on a custom trailer and towed it down Pacific Coast Highway.

"The archway was attached to a building already in place, and a Newport Beach icon was born. That whole area was very commercial in those days, and it was a small town at that time."

When asked about some of the changes he's liked around the harbor over the years, Avery said, "That's what I like best about the harbor; the city has done very well to keep the character of the harbor. The iconic buildings, like the Cannery and Pavilion.

"Iconic institutions like the ferry are still there. The mooring fields are the same. Major components of the harbor are still the same, which is really nice."

Avery addressed any concerns about the harbor's future. again pointing out the importance of keeping the harbor's character.

"It's the constant erosion of that character, with the pressure to build maximum square footage of the building next to the water, that is the concern," he said. "We will always have to manage that in the degree that we can. Access to the harbor is of importance with public docks, anchorages, water quality and to find a way that a couple of dredging firms can exist in the harbor so that dredging can be ongoing."

—

A reminder that at 9 a.m. Dec. 10, the Harbor Commission will be taking other civic leaders and interested members of the public on a two-hour harbor tour aboard one of Balboa Island car ferries.

—

Boat name of the week: “Galatea."

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist for the Daily Pilot.

The Harbor Report: Plenty of highlights this year

Rhonda Tolar accepting BCYC Woman of The Year Award

It’s that time of year again when I start taking the covers off my Christmas Reyn Spooner collection and preparing the house and boat for the fast approaching holidays. By now I would hope you all know that means it is time for my review of the best of 2016 on our harbor.

Earlier this month I attended the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club awards banquet and as always my heart always goes out to the junior members winning awards for the first time. There is always a 

fresh glimmer in their eyes, with  a very small amount of apprehension coming from their smiles, has they hurry back to the table to receive praise from their parents. It is one of those feel good moments that is pure to our sport of yachting.

I have to give a well done to BCYC Sailing Director Cameron MacLaren, his presentation was one of the best I have ever attend. With each junior award came a heart felt story of the recipients achievements. This years winners were Morgan Burton taking home the Rowland Perpetual for most improvement in sailing for the year. Chris O’ Rourke came up on stage with one of the brightest smiles I had ever seen to accept the Steven Winner Perpetual for the most selfless junior. Jake Johansson, won the award I wish I had one as a junior, The Jon Pinckney Award for the most outstanding racing record. Laurel Foster rolled into the Montgomery Perpetual for outstanding crew member in a CFJ while the one and only Max Mayol stood next to the Byrne Perpetual trophy as the outstanding CFJ skipper of the year. Cameron Wood won the Grand Poobah for junior sailors awards and had his photo taken next to the  BCYC Junior Yachtsman of the year award trophy.

With all the smiles flashing around the room brighter than the photographers flashes it was time for big the kids to take home their pickle dishes.  First up was Mark Gaudio taking home the James Berkshire for obtaining the Lido 14 Fleet One Championships. My good friend Dan Rossen won the Racing Member Crew Hi-Point and also the First BCYC member with the best corrected time to Ensenada. I was fortunate to have my photo taken next to the Gaudio Family One Design trophy for sailing Harbor 20’s and the Directors of 1983 for winning the Puerto Vallarta aboard Horizon. 

The big award at Bahia Corinthian is the Elmer Carvey Memorial — until 1982 the Balboa Bay Club Yachtsman of the Year — awarded to the yachtsman who most contributed to the organized yachting community. Past winners have been Cooper Johnson, Jim Emmi, Ted Kerr, Hobie Deny, Lorin Weiss and Peter Haynes. The list reads on and on and includes Newport's best yachtsmen. This year's recipient was , my good friend, Jerry Moulton for all his race committee work this season.

There was another moment that stood out and grabbed me this year. Rhonda Tolar has done more for yachting than anyone else I have meet over the last ten years. She created Taco Tuesdays which has become one of the best attended sailing series of the year. She has spent endless hours working with the BCYC anglers group and raised more money for BCYC sailors than anyone has ever done in the past. Tolar was overwhelmed with emotion when she received this years BCYC Woman of the year award.

I feel its time to start the Newport Beach Yachtsperson of the year award and bring back the Daily Pilots Harbor Hall of Fame. I recall past winners included Chuck Avery, David Fraser, Chuck Ullman, Bill Ficker, Dave Ullman and the list went on. If it was up to me I would add the name Rhonda Tolar she is making a difference on the harbor and there is no better recipient.

Huge shout out to Joysailing.com again this year for all the photos.

*****

Remember that Dec 10th at 9:00 AM the Harbor Commission  will be taking other civic leaders and interested members of the public on a two hour harbor tour aboard one of Balboa Island car ferries. Topics will included Current Harbor Commission Objectives, Derelict Vessels, Fixed Marker Replacement, RGP 54 Implementation, SUP Safety, Alternative Anchorages, Central Ave. Pier, Charter Fleet Vision 2020,Mariners Mile Redevelopment, Speed Limit, Lower Castaways, Launch Ramps, Cruising Guide, Fishing on Public Piers and Anti-fouling Bottom Paints. Everyone is welcome, capacity on the ferry is limited and will be available on a first come first served basis. The meeting will take place at 8:30 AM in the conference room of the Harbor Department at 1901 Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar. Attending this meeting reminds me of voting and you have to vote to count.

Boat name of the week:  Happy Time

Sea ya

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist for the Daily Pilot.

The Harbor Report: How RGP 54 is helping the harbor

Allyson & Ron Presta

We have been talking about an improved Regional General Permit 54 (RGP54) for well over five years now. This improved permit, which has been in place for close to a year now, streamlines permitting for residents and marinas to dredge under their docks by combining the permits required by the Army Corps of Engineers, California Coastal Commission and State Water Resources Control Board. Without this city permit, this type of dredging is extremely complex and expensive for the individual and marina operators.

I thought it would be interesting to meet with one of the first people to use the improved RGP 54 permit and see how the process of dredging a small marina in Newport Harbor is going. Last week I sat down with Allyson and Ron Presta the owners of the Newport Marina and Bayshore Apartments along with their contractor Paul Gillen from Associated Pacific Constructors. For my readers that have been around the harbor for as long as I have thats the old Swales Apartments and Marina next to the Bayshores entrance.

Because of a close outfall or storm drain that deposits 1,000 cubic yards of sedimentary materials a year, next to their marina, the Presta’s have to dredge every two or three years. Allyson went on to describe the dredging process three years ago, before the new RGP 54 was in place. It took her eighteen months to obtain the five different government agencies permits at that time and removed close to 8,700 cubic yards of materials. At that same time the County of Orange, that maintains the piece of the harbor just in front of the marina took out 26,000 cubic yards. “It was a huge bonus to us that the city cleaned up the upper bay catch basin a few years ago.” Allyson said.

So when I asked, is the process any easier for you?  The Presta’s replied “ It’s become a little bit easier.” Now if I understood the Presta’s clearly it should get a little easier every year as the City and the different contractors gain credibility with the different government agencies. “ There are a lot of documents that are involved to comply with all the conditions. Such as a highly detailed hydrographic surveys before and after dredging, water samples are also taken before and after. We document the depth of the scow, its route and speed to the offshore disposal area. We have to follow the same standards as if were dredging contaminated materials out of the Port of Los Angeles.” Said Paul Gillen the contractor of the Presta’s dredging project.

There are two types of dredging, one that allows the sand to be relocated to the beach and the other is to transport the materials to an offshore disposal site. Even I understood that the offshore option costs more money.

“The process is more than filling out an application, dredging is specialized business, not only do you have to consider if the material is needed to be taken offshore or can replenish the beach we have to take into consideration the docks configuration, their relationship with the seawall and if it can structurally handle dredging, if the pilings are deep enough to support their dock. That’s why the need for a knowledgeable contractor, it’s not like just going online and filling out an application and hoping for the best. These are the type of considerations that the homeowner needs to understand.” Gillian said.

In my forty minute meeting with the Presta’s and Gillen I pretend to understand all the different terms and conditions that are required to complete the dredging process in our harbor. I also heard the idea of finding an area in the harbor to stock pile good sand rather than having to take it offshore and dispose of it. 

So it sounds like that the city did an outstanding job by obtaining an RFP with an Eelgrass mitigation plan attached to it. Along with the understanding on how to keep the RFP in place, but like many so many big projects there are many more pieces to this puzzle before it is completed.

If you have more interest on this topic be sure to save the date Thursday November 10th at Marina Park the City along with Coast Keepers will be sponsoring a workshop on how to dredge with eel grass. I would not forget the date you will save cubic yards of money by attending.

I am just rubbing my face and looking at the next big puzzle that has been placed on the harbor and thats the California Regional Water Quality Control Board and its attempt to force local agencies to ban copper anti-fouling paint. Make sure you go to www.newportbeachca.gov/copperTMDL  to read the City comment letter.

Boat name of the week: Watts Next     

Sea ya