Getting Geared Up For The Corona Del Mar To Cabo Race

By Len Bose

LIMIT from New Zealand, owned by Alan Briety, will be racing in Class A for first to finish. The big boats start on Saturday. It’s difficult to write about anything other than Friday’s Corona del Mar to Cabo Sailboat Race. Two days before the start of the race, weather information is becoming much more personal. What I can share with you is some of the dock talk I picked up Wednesday morning.

It appears there will be 35 boats on the starting line. As I informed you last week, the new Pendragon V had to withdraw because of some rudder issues. Last report, the Antrim 40 XL, the Far 40 White Knight and the Catalina 38 Hooligan have also withdrawn from the race.

These are my final bets: Class A, The R/P 45 Criminal Mischief. With the wind forecast showing the wind lighting up at the finish I have to wonder if the larger boat will water line this little speedster. But after inspecting the boats today and seeing the Hoag Hospital ID band on Elvis’ wrist today, the boys on Criminal Mischief are ready! Class B, Grand Illusion (and I will be pulling for Mirage). Class C, I still have to go with Morpheus. She was looking just too fast today sitting on the dock ready to go. No one was doing any last minute changes or repairs. Just three people aboard with big smiles on their faces. Talk about intimidating ... Class D, I’ll go with one of the J 125s, but I’m just not sure which one. So, I’ve got to go with the current champ Reinrag2. One of my favorite J 125 film clips is Reinrag2 in the last Corona del Mar to Cabo race atwww.youtube.com/watch?v=XlbrrAt7Ktc. Watch this a couple of times and I bet I see you on the starting line next year.

Now, for the small boat in Class D, I don’ see the breeze holding up to give the Ross 40 Paddy Wagon the pressure she needs to correct out. Like I’ve said before, there will be 11 boats in the 40-foot class D, and this is a very good sign for the sport of yacht racing.

When talking to entry chairman Chris Hemans yesterday, he was very excited about the turnout in this class, in which he will be skippering his boat the Trip 41 Entropy. “The way the weather is looking Len, we’ll have something for everyone. With some wind behind us, on our nose and possible light wind at the end.” I didn’t agree with his forecast, but kept it to myself.

I asked Chris if there was anything else he could tell me. “We’ve purchased some very nice trophies, and will be trying a new daily check-in system with satellite phones. Of course we’ll have plenty of cold beer at the finish line, a photographer on site for crew photos and a great trophy presentation.” Thanks Chris. Have a good race. “Yea thanks, Len. So, what do you think the weather will be doing?” Probably a little something for everybody, Chris.

I’m in my typical frantic mode of taking care of work, family and gathering all the last minute information for the big race this weekend. If our email gets up and running on the boat I will try to send in daily reports of our progress. Please remember to keep your eyes tuned to the Iboat tracking system athttp://cloud.iboattrack.com/r/start.php?r=2010_corona_cabo and should you wish to get a little more of the taste of the race, please come on down to the send off party tonight at Balboa Yacht Club, 5:30 p.m.

Sea ya’
Len Bose

Len Bose is a contributing writer to The Daily Voice and owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

Yacht Racing Is Just Around The Corner

By Len Bose

The warning signal for the 2010 boating season is about to be raised. With the daylight savings time change just three weeks away, the shipyards are in full swing with the yachts preparing for the upcoming season. The Rhine Wharf Guest Dock is under construction, the racing starts this weekend, fishermen are still chasing the giant squid and the local yacht clubs' cruising schedules have been posted. Its time to go yachting!

While cruising the shipyards today, the Balboa Boat Yard and South Cost Shipyard seemed a little slow, while in the Newport Shipyard the bay's comical fleet was filling the yard. Over at Basin Shipyard, the yard was packed, and I could barely walk through it. Normally within the next couple of weeks, the yards start filling up with the yachting season approaching fast. If you have not scheduled your haul-out yet, you better get on it, because if you don't do it now you might be waiting until July before there is an opening.

The racing season really starts this weekend with the 81st Annual 2010 Midwinter Regatta. Most of the racing in Newport this weekend will be limited to Sabots and Harbor 20’s. This is only a wake-up call, because once March starts its “Sheet in and Max Out.” One of my favorite events is the WD Schock Memorial Regatta coming March 6-7, that brings in a big fleet of Lido 14’s and Harbor 20’s. Last year, we had 24 Lido 14’s and 28 Harbor 20’s, and this is always a good way to start out this bay's March madness.

The following weekend, Newport Harbor Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club have put their heads together to come up with one of the better ideas for a yacht race that I've seen in years – The Islands Race. It starts March 12 in Long Beach, heads around Catalina and San Clemente Islands to port and finishes in San Diego. In its inaugural run, this race has attracted 47 of the West Coast's best ocean racers with four Santa Cruz 70, four Trans Pac 52, and Dennis Conner and his Farr 60 “Stars & Stripes.” Other boats to watch will be Magnitude 80 and three new boats to the race course this year: “Yippee Kai Yay” the new Antrim Open 40, “Rapid Transit” an Antrim Open 49 and the Kernan 44 “Wasabi.” And of course everyone's favorite – “Ragtime." Most of the people entered in this race will be returning to Newport the next weekend for the CdM to Cabo Yacht race on March 26-27. Because I will be racing in this year's Cabo race, I will miss the “Harry Wood” Lido 14 regatta that the Balboa Yacht Club is running on the March 28. Last year, this event had 15 A Fleet boats and five B fleet boats attending. This is always a well-run event with some of the best racing the bay has to offer. Also with the time change, the second Sunday of the month, means the Lido 14’s will be returning to M mark on Wednesday nights starting on March 17 at 5:30 p.m.and going through August.

While making my way around the harbor today, one can't miss the work going on in the Rhine Channel. Between The Cannery restarant and Blue Water Grille, the city has started construction on the 100-foot guest dock, and it appears the work will be done before summer starts. The bay is in desperate need for more guest docks, so this will be a big relief when the project is completed.

From what I hear at the Island Marine Fuel dock (the only mini-market on the bay), everyone is still chasing the giant squid. With a quick look at Newport Landing's website www.newportlanding.com/fishcount.htm, the fishing boats are leaving at 5:30 nightly. It seems that everyone I showed a boat to these last two weeks is going giant squid fishing.

While sitting in on the Balboa Yacht Club's fleet meeting, our cruising chairmen reviewed this year's schedule. One of my favorite events we have each year is our club's raft up in the turning basin. This year, the raft up is scheduled on March 27-28, and Newport Harbor's raft up will be on May 22-24. I can’t think of a better way or better value than attending a raft up in Newport Bay.

So get ready to start your watches. This season's preparatory signals are about to be raised!

Sea ya'
Len Bose

Len Bose is a contributing writer to the Daily Voice and owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

Events On The Water

By Len Bose

Islands Race

I wanted to recap some of the racing that went on last weekend, and talk a little about what is coming up this week and the following week.

My understanding that local yachtsman Jim Madden, owner of “Stark Raving Mad V” came up with the concept (or retro idea depending how long you've been around), of retuning to a local overnight race a couple of years ago. The idea was then picked up again by Paul Stemler who then went down to the San Diego Yacht Club and looked up Staff Commodore Fred Delaney, and the two of them chaired the inaugural “Islands Race” this past weekend. The race started on Friday in Los Angles Harbor and proceeded by taking Catalina and San Clemente Islands to port and finishing in San Diego. Then Paul and Fred came up with some outstanding foresight by starting this race in the month of March, to invert the starting order, and make it a part of the Ullman Offshore Series.

Blend all these ingredients and BAM you have 50 boats entered into the inaugural race. The weather was perfect with sunny skies and 15 to 20 knots of breeze with most of the fleet finishing before 7 a.m. on Saturday morning. I talked to chairman Paul Stemmler over the phone on Monday and thanked him for coming up with one of the better ideas I have seen in a long time on our racing scene. His response was, "Thanks Len, the whole idea was to attract everybody,“ and they did that with 41 boats making it to the starting line. I then asked Paul what were some of the stories from the race?

“Well we had one boat run into a whale, someone fell overboard and was quickly retrieved, a tremendous amount of sea life around us, with the inverted starts everyone was racing side by side the down backside of Catalina and we had more than 300 people stay for the awards ceremony on Saturday Night. "Wow! I said. How lucky are you? I have to think you will be doing the same event next year?" “Oh yes, you can count on it," Paul replied.

I then asked, since next year is the Newport to Cabo race, if there was any chance if the participants who are doing the Islands Race and the Cabo Race can have IBoat transmitters placed on their boats early so everyone can watch both races?“ "That’s a great idea Len, I will have to check into that.” If you would like to find the results, video and photos of the fantastic event go to www.islandsrace.com.

Wednesday started the spring twilights with absolutely perfect conditions – sunny and warm with an eight to 10 knot westerly coming down the bay. The fleet gathers off M Mark around 5:30 p.m. every Wednesday, and our Pro Jeff Keenan goes straight to work setting up the race course and passing out cold beverages. Last night we got in five windward leewards and some of the most fun I had in my Lido in a long time. This year’s mascot is “Buddha in a Boat,” and should you make a large blunder on the racecourse or take things a little too seriously, the “Buddha in the Boat” is awarded to you and pulled behind your boat. It also becomes part of your boat during the next race. After each race “The Buddha” is passed over to the next offender. Some of the better comments last night were “Love the Buddha” and “That Buddha has duck lips.” This event is open to everyone, just come on down, grab a cold beverage and “Love the Buddha.”

A week from this Friday starts the 2010 CdM to Cabo race, although it's too early to tell, the weather just might cooperate again this year! The entries should start showing up at BYC this weekend. It reads as if the R/P 63 “Limit” has arrived and is measuring the boat now. Here are my bets on the Race for today: Class A, The P/P 45 Criminal Mischief; Class B, Grand Illusion (and I will be pulling for Mirage); Class C, I still have to go with Morpheus although FLACA won “The Island Race.” I will be aboard FLACA this year, and of course, I had to miss last weekend's race because of work. Being a superstitious sailor, it's never good to win the race before the big event. The only way I know how to counter my superstition is to ask the question, “Do you know why FLACA won last weekend's race? Because we can!”

Now that that’s out of the way, it's time to party ... a send-off party, that is. Balboa Yacht Club's send off party starts Thursday night at 5 p.m. with $2 Cabo Wabo Margs and $2 Coronas. The “Ricky Lewis Band” will be performing, and of course, the club will have the Mexican Buffet out. Parking will be a pain so come by boat if you can. Do you ever wonder why the clubs serve Mexican food before you go to Mexico? So if you are listening Newport Harbor, next year serve hamburgers, hot dogs and Sam Adams?

Sea ya'
Len Bose

Len Bose is a contributing writer to the Daily Voice and owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

Twice Around

By Len Bose

Last night I attended the Harbor Commission meeting with my normal reluctance to leave the house just before dinner as my family gathered around the dinner table. Taking my usual seat in the back of the chambers my routine is to look to see who is in attendance in the audience. I only started attending the meeting last November when I started writing this column and I am starting to recognize the regulars. Last night while scanning the room, I noticed a face, but it took me a little while to notice who it was. I thought to myself, “Cool, that’s our harbormaster Lieutenant Mark Long in his civvies rather than in full uniform. Wow, this guy is going the extra mile.” I don’t know about you, but it's a lot easier to talk to a person that is not in full uniform, wearing a bulletproof vest, radio and gun. I am starting to like this guy approach.

Tonight, Lieutenant Long will be speaking at the Balboa Yacht Club in regards to the ongoing challenges of the proper Harbor Operations staffing and the Harbor Patrol’s role in homeland security. I highly recommend you attend tonight’s program. I am quite confident you will be glad you did. The buffer dinner starts at 1800 hours [6 p.m] and 1930 [7:30] for the harbormaster Long presentation. BYC is Located at 1801 Bayside Drive in Corona del Mar and their phone number is (949) 673-3515.

There are three wind shifts coming down the course that need your attention. The first shift is the sealion citation time frame, shift No. 2 is the Marina Park Phase III plan and shift No. 3 is the Proposed Statewide Coastal Marina Permit. Last night the Harbor Commission requested City Council to tighten the time frame of one warning letter to remove the sealions and place the proper deterrents on your vessel, or move your boat to a new location within seven days. If you cannot complete this task, the city will send you a citation. Overall this is a good idea. To me it would make more sense to call the boat owners, and send out the notice. If the boat owner is out of town, the city should have three phone numbers of clean-up crews that can help the out-of-town boat owners. Something to remember as a boat owner is to leave a second phone number with Sally at the mooring office. Nothing would be worse than returning home from vacation and having thousands of dollars of damage to your boat from the sealions and a ticket from the city. Now, wouldn’t that be special!

Wind shift No. 2 – Marina Park Phase III. This story reminds me of the time when a couple of yacht clubs in town had the opportunity to purchase the marina next to them. One club followed through and took the chance of purchasing the property in hard times. The other club felt it was not wise to spend the money in those times. I’ll give you one guess on who made the right decision? This is how I see the Marina Park plan Phase I, II & III. If we don't show our support at the city council meeting on May 11 for Phase III of the Marina Park Plan, I can see us standing in the sand with our tillers in our hands 10 years from now thinking of how it could have been. This one goes right along side of dredging the lower bay; we need everyone to show up at this council meeting.

Wind Shift No. 3. This one concerns the Proposed Statewide Coastal Marina Permit. I'm not sure which example fits best, although two things come to mind when this subject is brought to my attention. One example is there is a clearing westerly breeze coming down the course and I had better shorten sail and place everyone on the rail to make it around the weather mark in good shape. My other example would be if my wife notified me that my mother-in-law was moving into the house! This one I would just get the ditch bag and deploy the life raft and it would be too late for the flares. I could write pages about what this proposal is from the water board. If you have no idea what I am talking about and you fear the fact that your mother in-law is moving in you better go read the information on the RBOC web site at www.rboc.org/call_to_arms.html. Contact your local reps. The harbor commission is forwarding a position letter to council for review, which the council will forward to the state. You might just get thrown out of the boat if you don't act on this one.

It looks like there is a long hard weather beat in front of us and we better start changing gears if we want the long downwind run to the finish!

Sea ya'
Len Bose

Len Bose is a contributing writer to the Daily Voice and owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

“Who Dat,” “Who Dat” Sailing To Cabo?

By Len Bose

The entry deadline for the 2010 Corona del Mar to Cabo San Lucas International Yacht Race is today, Monday, Feb. 1. With the entry list almost doubling last year’s 2009 Cabo race you can’t help saying to yourself, “Who dat” and “Who Dat” when looking down this year’s entry list.

This being my 29th yacht race to Cabo, I do happen to recognize most of the entries, but I’m just amazed at the amount of entries the Balboa Yacht Club has gathered to attended this event. HATS OFF to General Chairman Paul Loubet and Entry Chairman Chris Hemans, well done GUYS and good luck Becky and Don!

So “Who Dat” going to the winner circle this year? Or who are this year’s favorites? It isn’t going to be easy to guess who is going to be the first to finish, or who the elapsed time winner will be. In one corner you have the boys from “Magnitude 80” and owner Doug Baker. Baker donated “Mag 80” to Orange Coast College last year and has elected to charter the R/P 78 “Akela” this year. In the other corner you have Alan Briety Reichel-Pugh 63 “Limit” who finished in fifth place in this year’s Sydney to Hobart race. Now, if we are lucky, the long awaited 72’ PendragonV might even be attending. Blend this altogether with the “Iboat Tracker” http://www.iboattrack.com/racetracking.html and this race will be better to watch than the upcoming America’s Cup. Of course one rule of thumb in a Mexico race is, “the race is never over until the fat lady sings.”

Let’s have a look at the seven 70 raters entered this year. The 70 raters are the old Santa Cruz 70, Andrews 68 and Peterson 68 that are going and we haven’t had these entries since the late ‘80s. This will be an extremely fun class to watch and should be a very close race, as any one of them could win it. Peter Tong’s OEX has to be the favorite in this class because of its win in last year’s Transpac. The OEX crew has been sailing together for as long has I can remember which makes it that much more fun to watch. Not knowing exactly where the class splits will maker it even more interesting. I will have to assume the Transpac 52s will be mixed in with the 70s, and one very fast and well-sailed Reichel-Pugh 45 Criminal Mischief can easily be the giant killer. I’m assuming Elvis will be onboard! This alone will be some of the best yacht racing on this coast in years.

I’ll be sailing on the Santa Cruz 50 Flaca this year, and we’ll have our hands full with the seven other 50-footers in our class. I’m going to stick my neck out on this one and say that the yacht Morpheus Schumacher 50 from the Bay Area will be the boat to beat. I have raced this boat down the cost a number of times and this crew is not known to make many mistakes.

Now the real money maker of this entire event is the amount of entrees in the 40-foot class. Thirteen boats will be racing in this class, and I don’t recall ever seeing a healthier aspect for local sailing. This is absolutely fantastic, and in my option, this is a very positive sign for our sport. With 13 very closely rated boats, this will be the class to keep your eyes on. I would have to guess the J 125 Reinrag2 is the favorite, and if the Garniers can pull a win off in this fleet they should get a front row parking place at their yacht club. This fleet is “locked and loaded” with Tim Fuller and his new J 125 “Resolute.” Rumor has it the boat has been out of the water in Marina Del Rey getting the twice over. Dr. Laura Schlessinger will have her J 125 “Warrior” ready and the old J 125 I used to sail on “Derivative” Ex Lucky Dog will be on the starting line. I heard Peter Heck would be on the Far 40 “Temptress,” along with the giant killer of this class – Richard Mainland Ross on 40 “Paddy Wagon.”

I plan on reporting back a couple of times before the event. You have to mark your calendars for this one. For those of you not going, well that’s too bad, because you’ll be missing one epic race.

Sea ya’
Len Bose

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

Sharing Some Helpful, Local Boating Websites

By Len Bose

I am not going to lie! I had no interest in going onto the Harbor this last week. With the wind reaching over 40 knots, sheets of rain coming down, waterspouts coming off the ocean, and boats falling over in shipyards and all those red flags flying over the Harbor department, I had no desire to head out into the bay.

But there I was, still having to venture out a couple of times this week to help clients retrieve loose dinghy, re-tie boat covers, inspect mooring lines and just make sure their boats were safe. I have been very fortunate by watching the web-based radar maps and then picking my times to head out onto the bay. With these tasks completed it was a good time to go over this year's marketing plan and stay inside until these El Nino winter weather systems passed over.

Therefore, I spent a lot of time behind my computer this week and thought it might be a good time to point out some of the better local boating websites. On the top of my list is the Newport Mooring Association websitehttp://www.newportmooringassociation.org/. This is obviously going to give you all the information you want regarding Newport Harbor moorings, but the site goes the extra mile and provides you with one of the better links pages I have seen. From Newport’s Boating guide to my favorite “Marine Traffic” report, this site has links to all of Newport’s Harbor Web Cams from Balboa Yacht Club, Newport Harbor Yacht Club, Balboa Ferry, City of Newport Beach Cams and the Croul Family Cams. With these links you have the harbor almost covered. This is a great site and deserves a daily visit to see if your boat is okay on its mooring, and to read up on what the Harbor Commission is up to.

Now, if you have a maritime legal problem or if you were wondering how to place a lien on the boat you are renting your slip to, check out The Log's, “Ask A Maritime Attorney” by David Weil, Esq. http://thelog.com/askattorney/askAttorney.aspx?x=353. All of Weil's pieces are to the point and very informative. After reviewing through most of his archives I found myself agreeing with his opinion 100% of the time. It’s not a column just for the marine industry, but rather more for the average yachtsman. For example: “What’s my liability of getting bumped at a mooring.” His work is easy to read and understand, so you should bookmark this site. My last site of interest is the city of Newport's Television Station – "NBTV” http://www.newportbeachca.gov/index.aspx?page=487. Within the city’s video archive is a piece called “Heart of the Harbor.” Now this VOD is not particularly well done, but it's free and full of local information. I find it very interesting and fun to watch when it’s blowing 50 knots outside.

I will be back next week reporting on our local fleets, providing information on lessons learned from placing a claim with your boat insurance agent, and a review of the upcoming Corona del Mar to Cabo yacht race.

Sea ya'

Len Bose

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

Slips Available!

By Len Bose

It only seemed like yesterday when I would receive a sales call and the prospect would request, “If you can find me a slip, I will buy a boat from you.” I didn’t hear that request in 2009 and I don’t think I would hear it in 2010. This down cycle, for the demand of yacht storage, was last seen in 1990-95, when it seemed most of our inventory was shipped to the Pacific Northwest. Today, our boats are being purchased from people all around the world and placed on yacht transport ships, trucks, or they’re leaving on their own bottom.

We have slips again! Is that a good thing for me? I am not sure yet and I squeeze my pennies a lot tighter than I did in 2005 in anticipation for the market upturn.
As I drove around town I noticed the “Slips Available” signs starting to appear in August of last year. Dock Masters, Port Captains and Commodores are calling me reminding me they have Open Slips. By November, I started receiving color brochures from the California Recreation Company/Cal Rec. (Irvine Company) and Bellport Marinas. Dock masters were making follow up calls to me and offering incentives, such as: Sign up for a year and receive a month free, and I even had a Port Captain tell me to “Make him an offer,”

Yesterday, I made a cold call to Cal Rec. to ask a couple of questions on the slip status and was introduced to Greg Sinks, general manager of Cal Rec. in Newport Beach. Sinks is a corporate guy with The Irvine Company and can’t answer questions regarding the percentage of occupation in slips. So, let’s look between the lines of the company that drives the market in slip rentals. Cal Rec. has four marinas in town and if you look at their rate sheets a 40 foot+ boat will be charged a monthly rate between $32 and $39 per foot and, yes, they do have slips available. If you have a yacht in the 50 foot+ range, the demand is still high and the market is holding at the $ 50 to $ 55 per foot range, although the waiting list is thinner than ever, and it’s very possible you will find a slip within six months. If you have a sailboat in this size range with enough water under her for you to store your yacht in a slip, you’re one of the lucky 20 people in Newport Beach with a slip, so you should be grateful and not say a word.

If you own a boat under 35 feet in length, you’re in the size range with the lowest demand for slips. The brochure tells me you’ll pay $ 27 to $ 33 per foot. Take a simple look around town and you will find more than 20 slips that are open in this size range and that’s not even looking in the Back Bay.

Do, what you want with this information. What I would do is buy a high quality boat under 42 feet and I would find a mooring. Rent the mooring and go work the system for the best slip. If you look back over the last decade, it’s a very good value/time to be yachting now.

Sea ya’
Len Bose

Len’s Lesson for the Week: Looks like there will be motor vehicle safety inspections this Saturday night between Newport Boulevard and Finley from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

2009 Harbor Awards

By Len Bose

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

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

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

BALBOA YACHT CLUB

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

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

Belly Trophy “Best Yacht Club results” Recipient: BYC

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

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

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

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

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

High Angler - Female recipient: Ali Johnson

High Angler - Male recipient: Eric Noyes

High Angler Junior recipient: Samuel Bigelow & Nick Johnson

Angler Event Chair of the Year recipient: Chris Webb

Race Committee Member of the Year recipient: John Minor

Race Manager of the Year recipient: Pinky Greene

Ocean Racing Sailor of the Year recipient: Bill McKeever

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

Blue Water Sailor of the Year recipient: Erik Berzins

Franklin Angler Award recipient: Harvey Wills

Race Council Member of the Year recipient: Jeff Keenan

Event Chair of the Year recipient: Judy Gorski

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NEWPORT HARBOR YACHT CLUB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BAHIA CORINTHIAN YACHT CLUB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Skipper Hi-Point recipient: Mike Dwight

Crew Hi-Point recipient: Erik Shampain

Gaudio Family One Design recipient: Erik Shampain

Wayne Gary for Power Fleet recipient: Mike Dwight

James Berkshire for Lido 14 Sailing recipient: Ellen Collins

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

Lorin Weiss Perpetual for Ensenada Cruising Class recipient: Dan Redding

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

Leukemia Cup recipient: Jeff Burch

Commodore Bussey for Most Active BCYC Family recipient: The Caulfields

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

Most Active Angler recipient Bob Kircher

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

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

LIDO ISLE YACHT CLUB

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sea ya’

Len Bose

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales

SHORT TACKS: Help NOAA Help You

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sea ya',

Len Bose

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

SHORT TACKS: Come Sail Away With Me!

By Len Bose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Here are some race results:

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

Lido 14

1^st place: The Bose Family

2^nd place: The Foster Family

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

Fin Class

1^st place: Henry Sprague, 9 Points

2^nd place: Bill Bissell, 12 Points

3^rd place: Erik Bissell, 13 Points

Harbor 20 A Fleet

1^st place: Bill Menninger, 10 Points

2^nd place: Terry Gloege, 12 Points

3^rd place: Bob Yates, 16 Points

4^th place: Chris Allen, 17 Points

Harbor 20 B Fleet

1^st place: Peter Haynes, 14 Points

2^nd place: Andy Binkerd, 17 Points

3^rd place: Rolly Pulaski, 19 Points

Lehman 12

1^st place: Nick Madigan, 15 Points

2^nd place: Garth Reynolds, 16 Points

3^rd place: Brian Bissell, 16 Points

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

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

Sea ya’ next week.

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales

SHORT TACKS: Harbor Busy With Sailboat Races And Sea Lions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sea ya

Len Bose

The Perfect First Boat Costs Next To Nothing By Len Bose

By Len Bose

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

I asked, “Do you know how to sail?”

"No."

“Have you owned a power boat before?”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OK, time for Len's Lessons.

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

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

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

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

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

Sea ya.

Len Bose is the owner of Len Bose Yacht Sales.

SHORT TACKS: Getting A Charge Out Of Electric Boats

By Len Bose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sea ya.

Len Bose

NEW LISTINGS!

NEW LISTING





2003 Beneteau 47.7 First

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




NEW LISTING



1975 Santana 30

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

LIDO 14 2008 Wednesday Night & Season Reports

( Team Mueller/Strang returns?)

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


Team Kent "Leading The Way!"

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


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

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


Team Killian


From the "Sea Lawyer"

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

So with no further ado, The humble sea lawyer:

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

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

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

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

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

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




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

"At Sunset"

"Good Times"

"Paps training our youth"

"Where is Waldo"


"Jeff just taking more photos of my head"


"Yea Steve you won another race!"


"The fleet posser"


"Jess closing the spring out"

SEA YA!

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



4-24-08



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

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



Lens Lesson # 18 ; Haste and speed are not synonymous

4-16-08





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



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

Sea Ya!


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


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

SEA YA


Lens Lesson # 8

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


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

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

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

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


SEA YA!

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


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

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





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



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



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

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

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

I want to write more but I am late again.





SEA YA



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


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


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

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

SEA YA


Len Bose



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

Hey Ryan,

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

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

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

Your "thankful' friend