2020 Harbor 20 Fleet One Championships Review

    Anne and Kurt Wiese 2020 Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Champions

                 

September 26 & 27 Newport Beach Five points area of the harbor. After over 100 races this season 31 participants attend the 23rd annual Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Championships. Racers were greeted by a light south-westerly breeze ranging from 4-8 knots with plenty of sunshine

Being the Fleet Championships there was an abundance of new “freshies” sails up and a lot more focus on the surrounding conditions. On Saturday we were faced with a tide change and spotty wind conditions which most everyone felt was rather challenging. It seemed the top contenders finished in the bottom half of the fleet at least once of the six races sailed that day. We started the day with two of our good friends Debra and Peter Haynes wishing one of our competitors good luck “Good luck guys, I hope you guys win!” Debra Haynes said to team Thompson/Conzelman. Jennifer and I replied “Hey! We heard that?” we caught Debra a little off guard in which Jennifer and I had a good laugh before the event started. Looking up the course I just could not come up with a clear game plan for the first beat and elected to start on the favored end of the line then look for a clear lane over to the right. As normal the first mark rounding was congested and the first race was won 2/3 of the way down the run when the wind shifted to the right and the inside boat was able to gybe first to the leeward gate. Gybing at the weather mark was not paying because of the current, or that’s what I was seeing. After the weather mark staying on the starboard parade was paying at first then the tide changed and the pressure in the middle of the course was non-existent. The quote on our boat was “You are really going to try the middle again?” tough day on the water yet it appeared everyone was challenged equally.

In A fleet Anne & Kurt Wiese sailing “Ping” stayed in the top 5 all six races and had a two-point lead on Diane and Bill Menninger aboard “Dart” at the end of day one. Followed by Team Thompson/Conzelman who struggled in races 2 & 3. 

  Team MacDonald 2020 Harbor 20 B Fleet Champion

Over in B fleet was a battle of HUGE proportion with three of the top five competitors new to the fleet, all taking wins throughout the season keeping anyone from moving up into A fleet. To move to A fleet, a competitor has to win a two-day race or two one day races. Team Allen/Helias aboard “Zephyr” at first appeared to have everything  going their way with three first’s. Yet, the father/son team MacDonald sailing” Arrowhead” stayed in reach with a 2,2,4 and kept their consistency in the spotty breeze. C fleet was started with B fleet and scored separately with Team Bubb/Vandervort sailing the most consistently in that division with Team Hurlimann/Fishbacher pushing them around the course while finishing in second.

Team Bubb/Vandervort 2020 Harbor 20 C Fleet Champions

Wrapping Saturday up, after 6 races in a light breeze with an overabundance of sun I was fried and a little discouraged. Team Wiese is docked next to us and their energy was contagious so Jennifer and I rallied and went to NHYC for the daily awards and after race party. Something that most people have avoided this year, on our arrival I was immediately excited and infused with the complementary Daou wines and sliders. I never realized how much I had missed the camaraderie of the fleet this year along with NHYC going the extra mile for us along with the hard work from John Whitney putting it all together. I do not know how Whitney does it and he sure does “A hard job well!” A strong attendance also showed up for Sunday Awards presentation with good times had by all attending.

Sundays racing was a little lighter yet more consistent with the breeze. Going into race 9 Team Weise had a 1 point lead on Team Menninger while Weise rounding last at the first weather mark caught half the fleet on the last lap of race 7 to finish is 6th place. Team Weise kept the pedal down on their yellow boat and never let up finishing with a strong 1,3 in the last two races. After Saturday’s races, most people were keeping out of the middle of the course and playing one side or the other while hoping for the best at the weather mark rounding or finish. The traffic played a big role and if you were unlucky with a Duffy, SUP, or someone new to boating one could easily lose a couple of places. After many years of finishing 2nd in three different classes, Lehman 12’s, Lido 14’s and Harbor 20 Team Weise are now Fleet 1 Harbor 20 Champions and never need to be concerned about staying qualified for A fleet any longer.  This win was LONG overdue and felt really good to see. In B fleet Jeff Gordon found all the JuJu in the first 3 races of the day with a 1,2,3 but stepped on his tiller extension in the last race finishing third in the regatta. Jon Novak had a strong finish with a 1,3 and grabbed 2nd place while team MacDonald staying in the top five the last four races and winning the last race gave him an invite into A fleet next season. This was long overdue for Team MacDonald because they were just crushing it in the seasons unofficial “Nuts Series” at the beginning of the year winning most of the days in A fleet.

A couple of things to notice and acknowledge is how lucky the fleet has been this year being able to compete while most of all other sailing events had been canceled due to the virus. It goes without saying while reviewing the results 13 out of 30 participants were either 

husband-wife teams or father-son teams. I would not be surprised to see a couple of

mother-daughter teams soon?

Can’t tell you how lucky we all are and thank you for coming out and playing in this difficult year!

Sea Ya

All photos courtesy of Tom Walker

A Division 

B Divison 

C Divison

2020 A Divison Champions Anne & Kurt Weise

B Division Champions Peter & Tyler Macdonald

 

By LEN BOSE

“WHOW!” A lot is happening on the harbor over the next several weeks. For me, it is the 23rd Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Championships this Saturday and Sunday. On October 1-4, it is the War Heroes on the Water veterans reunion event – “WHOW” – and in between all this I was able to get 20 minutes with the city’s Harbormaster Kurt Borsting regarding the Day-Use Mooring Sub-Permit Trial.

I left off a couple of weeks ago that I would touch base with Newport Beach Harbormaster regarding the proposed “Day-Use Mooring Sub-Permit Trial.” Let’s say it is a perfect day to take your boat out and you would like to spend some time peaceably on the harbor. Rather than heading over to our only anchorage area, that you already know is full of extraordinarily loud sound systems, you can now call the city harbor department and request a mooring in the field of your choosing anywhere it is available.

Borsting referred to the day moorings as “a pressure relief valve.” A boat owner only needs to register with the city beforehand by providing boat documentation or a DMV registration along with proof of insurance and credit card information. For six hours at roughly .30 a foot, you will be assigned a mooring for six hours, and the availability will range from 8:30 a.m. to sunset. This is a fantastic idea that will promote boating activity while keeping proper social distancing. The size of your vessel will not matter as long as there is a mooring available that fits your boat. You will need your own mooring gear, therefore if you are over 25’ the odds are good you will need at least two lines. I would recommend going over to West Marine and asking the rigging department to splice carabiners to your mooring lines and the next time you are out on the harbor start looking for mooring fields that would work best for you. Borsting has targeted mid-October as a starting date. To learn more about availability and reservations, contact the harbor department at 949.270.8159, or email dockmaster@newportbeachca.gov. By the way, if you have not made your Marina Park slip reservations for the Christmas Boat Parade by now you could be too late. I just got off the phone with David Beek and he said: “It is 100 percent on!”

Next up is the Harbor 20 Fleet 1 Championships this weekend. After 100 races this season, we are down to our last eight to 10 races for the season title. Over the last 10 years, I have yet to reach my goal of finishing in the upper half of the fleet. Confidence is high this year with my wife Jennifer crewing that we will obtain our goal. As always, Newport Harbor Yacht Club is hosting the event on the water and is providing us with their best race management team. At this point, it appears we will have close to 30 entries and we will be in the Five Points area of the harbor between 1-4 p.m. both days. In C fleet the favorite appears to be Team Hurlimann/Fischbacher aboard Whatever. They have been the most active in this division all summer. In B Fleet, there are 12 entries at this time with more than half of these entries having a chance to win. Based on the entries at this time, the top five could end up being Team MacDonald, who was on fire early this season, Team Haynes because they always sail well in the championships, and Team Kimball can easily show up with blistering speed along with Team Gordon. Team Novak has been putting in the extra effort and will also be in the hunt. B fleet has been extraordinarily competitive this season and I have to wonder if there will still be five more top competitors signing up still. At this time, I have to go with Team MacDonald; knowing Peter, he will bring some extra effort and lovin’ to the boat this week. In A fleet, you always have to look at Team Menninger to take away the big pickle dish, yet it will not be that easy for them this season. Odds are good that Teams Thompson, Campbell and Wiese will be nipping at his heels throughout the weekend. I’m going to go out on a flyer here and place my bet on Team Campbell. They have been the bridesmaid the last couple of years and Argyle has not smiled in the last two events, so he appears to have his game face on. Jennifer and I plan on being at one with the harbor, which means I promised not to stomp my feet should I blunder this weekend. Wish us luck!

• • •

Let’s get back to the “WHOW” War Heroes on the Water starting at 1630 (4:30 p.m.) on Thursday, Oct. 1 with a patriotic boat parade. The inaugural parade will be traveling the same route as the Christmas Boat Parade. Go here for the parade route: https://prn.to/2GjPoei.

This is their 3rd annual sportfishing event, and I cannot think of a better time or way to show your Newport lovin’ to our veterans and share our collective appreciation for their dedication, sacrifice and service. The tournament takes place through October 4. All the information regarding this reunion event can be found at https://warheroesonwater.com/about/. I picture coming on the water dipping the ensign and yelling out, “I love ya man” as a sign of victory over the virus, similar to raising the flag on Mount Suribachi (Iwo Jima).

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

Video of "FOLLOWING SEA" 56 Bertram

Specifications on Following Sea

After 32 years as a yacht broker I now understand what perfection looks like.  

On the Harbor: Focusing on the Harbor Commission’s objectives for 2020-21

                                                                                                                Photo by Don Logan
 By LEN BOSE

I attended this month’s Harbor Commission meeting via Zoom this week. Of course, I missed the small print on the agenda indicating it was a Zoom meeting and drove to the council chambers beforehand. Fortunately for me, the Harbor Commission had a study session before the meeting that ran late and I was able to sign into the meeting just as the Pledge of Allegiance was being said.

Just in case you’ve lost track, our Harbor Commissioners are Bill Kenney chairman, Scott Cunningham vice-chair, Ira Beer, Gary Williams, Don Yahn, Marie Marston and Steve Scully. Simply put, the Harbor Commission is in place to advise the City Council on harbor-related matters. Each year, the Commission submits its objectives to the council for their approval.

The following objectives, 2020/2021, are intended to support the mission of the Harbor Area Management Plan and the two most essential responsibilities of the Harbor Commission: 1. Ensuring the long‐term welfare of Newport Harbor for all residential, recreational, and commercial users; 2. Promoting Newport Harbor as a preferred and welcoming destination for visitors and residents alike.

Functional Area No. 1 Harbor Operations chaired by Bill Kenney regarding matters about the Management, Policies, Codes, Regulations and Enforcement.

The objectives of this function are:

1. Complete the current version of Title 17 while maintaining suggestions for future revisions. (Commissioner Yahn is tasked with the chair on this objective.)

2. Study and make recommendations for changes on Marine Activities permits. Identify all stakeholders within the Harbor who will require a Marine Activities permit. (Williams, Yahn) 

3. Help identify derelict vessels in the harbor including recommendations for limiting the inflow of derelict vessels into the harbor. (Beer) 

4. Study and provide recommendations for shore moorings including transfer permit policy. (Beer, Cunningham)

Functional Area No. 2 Harbor Viability chaired by Beer regarding matters about Assets, Amenities and Access.

The objectives of this function are:

1. Evaluate potential enhancements to city amenities provided to mooring permittees, residents and visitors. (Scully)

2. Support Staff with a permanent anchorage at the west end of Lido Island. (Williams) 

3. Evaluate options to consolidate and reduce the footprint of the mooring fields. (Yahn) 

4. Continue pursuit of a second public launch ramp. (Kenney) 

5. Complete evaluation for establishing day moorings off Big Corona beach. (Williams)

Functional Area No. 3 Harbor Infrastructure regarding matters pertaining to Sea Walls, Sea Level Rise, Dredging, Docks and Beaches.

The objectives of this function are:

1. Secure timely closure of RGP54 permit renewal with emphasis on a more streamlined process.

2. Establish a sustainable program that consistently re-nourishes our harbor beaches. (Marston)

3. Support Staff to obtain funding and approval to dredge the federal navigational channels to its authorized design depth.

4. Study various dredging methodologies that provide consistent maintenance dredging and could help combat sea-level rise and coastal erosion. (Marston)

Functional Area No. 4 Harbor Stakeholders regarding matters pertaining to Residential, Recreational and Commercial Users.

The objectives of this function are:

1. Develop a plan to communicate and assist Stakeholders required to complete and meet the newly defined Marine Activities Permit program. (Marston/Scully) 

2. Assist Staff in developing a communication outreach to the stakeholders similar to the program in place with the Mooring Association. (Marston/Scully) 

3. Continue dialogue with representatives of the Harbor Charter Fleet industry, other commercial vessel operators, and rental concessionaires to promote best practices for charter, and commercial boat operations in Newport Harbor with particular attention to vessel specifications, noise and pollution control/compliance and long-range plans for berthing. (Williams) 

4. Support Staff in the Harbor Attendance Study. (Yahn) 

Functional Area No. 5 Harbor Vision regarding matters pertaining to Community Outreach and the General Plan update.

The objectives of this function are:

1. Draft a Harbor Plan that can be used independently or in conjunction with an update to the General Plan. Special attention should be made to the preservation of marine-related activities and businesses in Newport Harbor. (Williams) 

2. Evaluate and make recommendations for Lower Castaways. (Marston) 

This is all pretty boring information, right? Yet this format works and produces results, and was introduced years ago by then Harbor Commissioner Doug West. So why do I bore you with this information? Because should any of these topics concern you, these are the commissioners you need to reach out to who can lend a hand. Don’t just complain on the sidelines: Step up and “Show your Newport Lov’n.”

Now for some fantastic news! Back on April 5th, I sent an email to two City Councilmembers and three Harbor Commissioners. I wrote: “If there was ever a time to push for a second anchorage, the time is now, or take a closer look at the idea of day moorings in Big Corona. Another idea would be to allow local boaters to just go and tie up to an open mooring for the day. This will spread out everyone interested throughout the harbor. To me, this is an easy answer to giving something back to our local boaters.” Well, I guess there was more than just me with this idea because last night the city Harbormaster Kurt Borsting proposed a six-month “Day-Use Mooring Sub-Permit Trial” which will allow boaters to tie up to an empty mooring for six hours for little to no cost. This will allow boaters to find their own spot in the harbor, away from their slips, and just chill. No pun intended, If we are lucky, this idea will be up and running sometime between the end of the month to mid-October. We are moving forward so more to come on this topic after I have a chance to talk to our harbormaster and update you on the process to sign up for a Day-Use Mooring. Send your ideas in to improve the harbor and who knows...one might just float to the surface.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

JUST LISTED: 56' Bertram "Following Sea" ASKING $ 459,000

Below is a link to the vessel "Following Sea"

JUST LISTED 56' Bertram "Following Sea"

The boat has been berthed in Newport Beach, CA for the last Twenty-Five years. It is owned by the local inventor of the Duffy Electric Boat. He is an avid yachtsman both in racing offshore sailboats, fishing for Tuna and Marlin in local waters. As a builder of custom yachts and the largest maker of electric boats in the world Marshall "Duffy" Duffield has the-worked and re-placed every piece of this yacht using his talented boatbuilding experts of wood, metal, glass, electrical, mechanical, and canvas. "The boat is sound in every category and ready for immediate cruising and fishing. The boat is a perfect example of the genius of the designer Ray Hunt. The original "Moppy" 31 footer because the most famous advancements in hull shape in my lifetime. There is nothing like being on a Bertram going straight into a sea. The ride is very comfortable and extraordinarily dry. 

This is a one of a kind vessel, built for the discriminating yachtsman.  

On the Harbor: Experiencing the end of summer sailing

By LEN BOSE

Have you ever noticed the professional athlete after losing the big game? They are sitting on the bench looking into the crowd in disbelief that their season is over. That’s the feeling that rushed over me this week while on the harbor and noticing the signs of summer dissipating over the horizon. Time to step up, brush the dirt off and get ready for the fall season.

One of the first sounds of fall I picked up on was the barking of the sea lions, yes...“Who let the dogs out?” They have returned as they always do this time of year. My annual reminder is mostly focused on the boat owners who are new to the offshore moorings. Sea lions barking is the only notice of the upcoming wave, and yes, if proper deterrence is not put in place, they will invade and conquer. I would encourage you to plan ahead and spend the extra money on the proper tools to detour them. One such piece of equipment is produced by Seal Stop, 

www.sealstop.com/products.html. It’s clean, effective and acceptable by all the seal huggers. This with a layer of canvas covering your cockpit and swim step should do the trick, rather than receiving notice from the harbor department informing you that you will be fined unless you solve the problem. Reacting to such an urgent manner usually leads to a panic run to Home Depot for large orange buckets and plastic fencing which makes the harbor look like it’s trash pick-up day. Not to forget about all the repair bills and the day of a high-pressure wash you will have to complete before returning to your mooring. While you are out on your boats, remember to check your mooring gear; the Santa Ana winds normally return by mid-October.

• • •

This is when I normally step over the line and try to give you a fishing report. The only one I can give you is that the selection at Santa Monica Seafood has been discouraging since the virus outbreak. What I have noticed is the fishermen that do know what they are talking about seem rather excited over the last month and a half. The Balboa Angling Club Facebook page is full of members holding their catches high, or better yet having their catch on the crane. Balboa Angling Club has the Master Angler Billfish Tournament coming up on September 11-12. For those of you that are not familiar with the Balboa Angling Club and have a kid that is showing an interest in fishing, send them that way. Visit www.balboaanglingclub.org. Like I say every year, Balboa Angling Club is the best value in town with a long history in our harbor.

                                                                     *****

Just when you think you are headed out to the last of the Twilight Series, word comes down that the Newport Harbor Yacht Club is extending the Thursday night races through the end of September. The race will have an earlier start time of 5:30 p.m., but hey, I have four more races before calling it a Summer. BCYC wrapped up their Taco Tuesday this week with 37 entries in the Harbor 20 fleet and 23 PHRF boats. The top overall PHRF boats in C Fleet were Bob Kafka sailing his Catalina 30 Halcyon in third place, Caleb Everett aboard Tortuga in second and Scott Jones, who entered the BCYC Club-owned J-22, with many of the club’s best sailors onboard. In B fleet, we had Steve Fink sailing his beautiful Capri 30 Shadow in third, Joe Degenhardt’s Catalina 38 Lickity Split placed second, while Roger Gooding sailing his Evelyn 32 Rhythm was the boat to beat this year. In A fleet it was all about Jim Try Hard Bailey in first with Amante sailed by Tim Richley in second. This was the most competitive Harbor 20 fleet I have ever seen with nine competitors having a perfect attendance over 13 weeks. Participating in A fleet this year were four Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Famers: Jim Buckingham, Ann & Kurt Wiese and Argyle Campbell. Campbell took home the pickle dish this year in first place, followed closely by Team Rastello/Curtiss in second with team Conzelman/Thompson in third. In Harbor 20 B fleet, it was Chris Hill’s year with perfect attendance. C fleet Matt Hurlimann sailing Whatever to third place and a close battle for first with Debra Haynes sailing Spirit to second and John Bubb aboard Tiger ringing the bell in first place.

• • •

Word on the street is that there will soon be a Marine Recycling Station located at Veterans Memorial Park. I need to check in with Harbormaster Borsting before committing and can only hope it is more than an oil and bilge pads recycling station. “Slowly I turned and step by step, inch by inch.” Let’s hope that someday we might even be able to remove the old channel markers 10 and 12. Go to my website at http://lenboseyachts.blogspot.com for a look at Channel marker 12 two years ago and today, to notice how many times boaters run into these deadly obstacles.

Sea ya!

~~~~~~~~

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

2019 Ladder is bent

2020 Ladder straight 5 MPH looks damaged 

On the Harbor: Harbor Commission’s Paul Blank watch is completed.

By LEN BOSE

Because of the virus, I stayed away from June’s Harbor Commission meeting. This was a big mistake on my part, because a good friend of mine was terming out of his seat on the Harbor Commission after eight years.

Flashback! I wrote on June 26, 2012 the City Council selected Paul Blank as the new harbor commissioner, who will be filling “Duffy” Duffield’s topsiders. He’s very responsive, truly loves our harbor, and will make a great harbor commissioner. I first noticed Paul back in 1985, when he was sailing for UCLA and I was coaching the Orange Coast College sailing team. It was the last event of the season, and we were trying to qualify for the Pacific Coast Championships when Nick Scandone (sailing for OCC) told me he could win this event if he could stay in front of Paul.

At this month’s meeting while the commissioners were reassigning objectives, Commissioner Cunningham said, “Looks like we have to fill in all the Blanks.” That pretty much describes it. Over his eight years, Paul took on more than his share of objectives and has been one of the very few commissioners who completed their tasks. Now, please don’t take me wrong. We all understand that government moves at the same speed as a Duffy with 10-year-old batteries. Yet Blank was able to accomplish many of his assigned tasks.

I am going to go out on a limb and try to remember them all. The first that comes to mind is the public docks. Blank presented a lengthy report on the size range of boats that needed dock space and then applied this information toward the best use of the public docks. He also worked with staff on maintaining the docks, as well as creating new ones. One of the best ideas that Paul implemented was the meeting/harbor tour on the Balboa Ferry reviewing the commissioner’s objectives. He was also very involved with giving permitted harbor users the ability to exceed the speed limit. For example, sailboat races and crew races. This was a very time-consuming permit that involved several government agencies. He spent hours updating Title 17 of the City’s Municipal Codes and was extremely receptive to many of the different harbor users’ needs.

Paul has worked diligently on long-range planning and public outreach. I recall personally meeting him at least four times with many quick responses to my phone calls and emails. Over the last 12 years as the harbor reporter, no one has run a better meeting than Paul while serving as the chairman. His attendance, percentage-wise, matched Lou Gehrig’s record for consecutive games played. Let us just say there are very few people who love and care for our harbor as much as Paul Blank does, and to that I give him a “Well Done.”

• • •

While attending July’s Harbor Commission meeting, I learned that dredging will start this fall in the harbor entrance with most of the sediment being placed along our beaches out about a half mile. The last channel dredging took place in 2003. This project will include rebuilding the boardwalk on the east jetty by raising the wall and widening it. The funding was acquired from the Army Corps of Engineers for stage 1 of the low bay dredging project. Council members, staff and harbor commissioners are all working hard to find the big pot of gold to complete the low bay dredging.

If I heard it right, progress has been made to open the proposed second anchorage in the turning basin off Lido Village. The last update I had was that a new Coast Guard Commander gave it the thumbs down along with changing those three remaining channel markers made of telephone poles that many people still run into. City Harbormaster Kurt Borsting has made contact with the Commander and reports a promising line of communication.

• • •

We had two big sailing events this past weekend with 64 boats attending the Lido Isle Midsummer Jr. Sabot Regatta. The top three finishers in division C3 was Caitie Karle from Long Beach Yacht Club in 3rd; was Olivia Corbin from BCYC in 2nd, and the person taking home the big pickle dish was Mesa Uliasz from BCYC. In Sabot C2’s, it was all Jack Bengfort from, in 2nd was Sophia Corzine from LBYC and in 3rd Kathleen Keller from NHYC. Next in Sabots C1 we had Zarrin Harvey in third from BCYC, Matt Andrews from NHYC and Victoria Messano from LBYC bringing home the gold jersey. In Sabots A/B BCYC Isaac Stone stole the show with six 1st place finishes out of nine races, in second was Caleb Everett from BCYC, and in third was Walter McFarland from LBYC. 

• • •

NHYC revived its Club Championships with a marathon event over three days. The first two days was a Harbor 20 2v2 Team Race followed by a fleet race with two divisions of Harbor 20’s and One division of Lehman 12’s. I was helping out with mark set on Saturday and Sunday and the competition was intense, to say the least. In the Harbor 20 fleet racing it had 14 boats in two divisions. With three fleet champions and eight Newport Beach Hall of Fame sailors, there was no room for blunders. I am not clear on how the scoring worked, but the turnout was amazing.

Alex/Jake/Doug/Robert/Carolyn/Clare - 67 points

Jon/Gale/Brian/Perry/Michael/ Lauren - 74 points

Justin/Andrew/Bill/Maddie/Bob/Haley - 82 points

Sea ya!

On the Harbor: The strength of the BCYC Jr. sailing program

(L-R) BCYC’s Aubrey Mayer, Steve Hunt and Christophe Killian

By LEN BOSE

There are only a few times in my life where I have used the term “Dream Team” or witnessed it. For me, it was our 2017 Trans Pac Team aboard Horizon, others have included the Miracle on Ice, the 1992 Men’s Olympic Basketball team, Team Oracle 2013 America’s Cup comeback, while in other sports the term dynasty is used. It’s been in the making, over the last couple of years, that the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (BCYC) has now produced a “Dream Team/Dynasty” in Junior Sailing programs within our harbor.

Christophe Killian

This week I had a chance to interview BCYC junior director Aubrey Mayer. Mayer grew up sailing at the end of Long Island at the Orient Yacht Club and Shelter Island Yacht Club sailing Optimist dinghies, lasers & 420s. In high school, he attended the Milton Academy where he met his mentor Charlie Enright, skipper of TP 52 Morning Light in the 2007 Trans Pac, Volvo Ocean Race skipper on Team Alvimedica and Vestas 11th hour Racing. At Milton, they won the High School Team Racing Championships and World Team Racing Championships in 2002 in England. Mayer attended St. Mary’s College where he competed on the sailing team. He then moved on to the 2005 US Sailing team sailing a 470.

The BCYC Jr. sailing program offers instruction for kids ages 5-17. The Starfish program for youth ages 5-7 includes three accredited teachers, two sailing coaches and a lifeguard. “The teachers provide positive stimulation on land followed up with two sailing coaches that take them on the water while fostering that early love for the harbor and the sport while being around the yacht club,” Mayer said

Steve Hunt

The Novice program is next for ages 8+ with coaches taking care of the kids while teaching them the nuts and bolts of sailing, building confidence for sailing a boat alone.

As the students improve their skills, they move to the Sabot C3 program with lead coach Max Mayol who has achieved many Sabot, Optimist and Laser Radial titles along with High School Keelboat National Championships. Mayol is now sailing at the University of Charleston and has proven to be the perfect person for this job.

Once the students have placed in a C3 Sabot regatta they start moving up into new divisions from C2 through A fleet. BCYC coaching in these divisions includes head coach, Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame sailor Mark Gaudio, who won the Jr. Sabot Nationals along with 17 senior sabot nationals; Jake Mayol who is a two-time Sabot Jr. National champion; and Jack Flores, Ryan Simpson and Jack Blackman – all outstanding sailors.

Newport Beach Sailing Hall of Fame sailor Mark Gaudio

BCYC also offers a 420 racing program with coaches Christophe Killian who grew up near the harbor and was the last local sailor to win the Governor’s Cup and sailed for the College of Charleston. While attending Charleston, Killian won two team racing national championships and two match racing national championships. Teaming up with Killian is Steve Hunt. In 2012, Hunt was named the Sail1 Design Coach of the Year where he highlighted his “Family first, school second, sailing third philosophy,” that he learned at the College of Charleston. Hunt has achieved 11 sailing National Championships and has participated at the highest caliber the sport has to offer.

Thinking about my son, as a parent I asked what can you do for my kid who doesn’t want to compete, yet still wants to go sailing. That’s where the Junior Mariner program fits in with lead coach Berkeley Green and assistant Max Kleha, who is currently the Team Captain on the Mater Dei Sailing Team. The Junior Mariners are focused on seamanship and the love of being on the water. They do destination-type sailing where they will sail to a beach while learning about currents and wind direction.

The quality of the BCYC staff is what separates their programs from the other clubs. “Our staff really cares and makes the extra effort every day,” Mayer shared. Racing results are proving the strength of the staff with very strong results dating back to last season. This year’s Gold Cup BCYC was 1, 2 and 3 in A fleet, 1 and 2 in C2s, 1st and 2nd in C3 and 3rd in C1.

Max Mayol 

When I asked Mayer where he would like to see the BCYC Jr. program in five years he said, “Just be really effective, all our programs thrive and feed the others. The BCYC program will be noticed around the country for going the extra mile for our students. Our goal is to have people, out of the area, even at their peak want to come to us because we offer the strongest program. We are working hard every day creating a program that people want to take part in and so far, so good...it appears to be working.”

I have to reply “copy to that,” smiling ear to ear while watching my home team grow.

Sea ya!

On the Harbor: Meet Matt Cosylion, Harbor Department Code Enforcement Supervisor

Matthew Cosylion, Harbor Dept. Code Enforcement Supervisor

By LEN BOSE

I need to apologize for missing my last harbor column and am happy to report that the marine industry is booming at this time. Just after the first week of May the phone started ringing, knock on wood, and has not stopped. I feel we have a captivated audience similar to the RV market reports. With that being said, I wondered how all this increased activity within our harbor is being monitored and regulated per the city municipal city codes IE Title 17 “Harbor Codes.” You can view them here.

The good news is that the harbor has a full-time code enforcement supervisor by the name of Matt Cosylion who has been on the job since July 2018. You can reach Harbor Department Code Enforcement at 949.2708159 or MCosylion@newportbeachca.gov. You will know you have reached the Harbor Code Enforcement Supervisor when you hear an enthusiastic voice: “Harbor Department Cosylion here” – that’s how I felt when I contacted Cosylion for a phone interview.

Cosylion started in code enforcement when he was 19 with an internship with the City of La Puente. He has now been with the City of Newport Beach for 18 years and is very enthusiastic about his work. My first take on Cosylion is that he is focused, easy to approach and takes great pride in his work. Code enforcement is tasked with enforcing the city’s municipal codes all related to health and safety. The Newport Beach Harbor Department is located at Marina Park, although most of Cosylion’s time is spent with staff out on the harbor monitoring sea lions taking possession of mooring permit holders’ vessels, inoperable vessels, responding to complaints and pro-actively addressing Title 17 – issues that have an impact on the health and safety of our harbor community. He keeps an eye on the different businesses on the harbor, making sure they are complying with the terms and conditions of their permits. When asked what is the best way for the public to reach you, Cosylion replied: “Emails are the easiest way for me to respond quickly, yet I do encourage people to call me with any of their concerns about the harbor and Title 17, and anything related to the municipal codes. One of my most important roles is to be an educator to the community regarding municipal codes.”

When I asked him about the recent changes to Title 17, he shared: “Regarding water quality, live aboards now need to log the waste pump out use and services, harbor guests are required to have a dye tab placed in their heads and show proof of a holding tank. Mooring permits holders, if suspected, can be requested to have a dye tab placed in the head. (For my few non-boating readers, a toilet is referred to as a “head” on a boat.) There is also an ongoing update to the Marine Actives permits program. We are looking at the rules and standards for businesses that are conducting businesses in the harbor. Because the harbor is such a shared asset, it is important all the different stakeholders need to participate in the informational meetings to provide input to the proposed changes to this program. This will help the city develop regulations that address impacts to the community that may be caused by commercial operation in the harbor.” My response was, “It kind of sounds like a traffic cop?” In which Cosylion’s response was with a very deep laugh...“Good way to put it.”

He went on to explain the education first/enforcement second model. “We feel that education leads to voluntary compliance. That’s why we focus on educating, educating, educating,” Cosylion said. “We are all about relationship building. I have worked in other jurisdictions where you are just a name on the city’s website with a phone number and email and there is no real connection. Here in Newport Beach we build relationships with people, so they know who we are and put a face to the name. That goes a long way, because they know you and feel comfortable with you and are more receptive to the message,” he said.

My next question was, What code violations concern you the most? “We have a wide range of harbor users; for our visitors we want them to focus on safety, water quality and noise. Making sure when they rent a kayak or paddleboard, they have a life jacket and pay attention to their surroundings, as we have a lot of vessel traffic in the harbor,” Cosylion said. “Be aware of where you are and don’t leave trash around the harbor. With our permittees and community, we are looking at vessel maintenance, making sure the vessels are seaworthy and operable, while owners are complying with their mooring permits. From a shared use perspective, we are looking when people tie their dinghies up to public docks. We go out every day and monitor the use on these docks and leave notices on dinghies that are not adhering to the posted time limits,” he said.

In my opinion, the process seems to be working overall. With the continued focus on harbor codes and education, there is less confrontation between harbor users themselves and code enforcement officers. As for Cosylion, I like the guy. Anytime I see a person go to task with enthusiasm, who is focused, along with the ability to listen and is comfortable to approach, then we have the right person on the job. I look forward to seeing him here for a long time to come, and believe we are extremely lucky to have him.

Sea ya!

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