The Harbor Report: How RGP 54 is helping the harbor

Allyson & Ron Presta

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Boat name of the week: Watts Next     

Sea ya

Connecting the dots around the harbor.

Line drawing of NHYC

I feel it is time to update on whats going on around the harbor now that fall has arrived and it’s 101 degrees today.

It is official the Newport Harbor Yacht Club will begin demolition of the club house the first part of January 2017. The news should make for a rather interesting New Years Party to start the new year off with a boom rather than a bang. The process has been drawn out for a long time, first applying for city permits in 2012. Part of the final terms with the Coastal Commission requires the club to fund $350,000 toward public-access improvements. These funds have been directed to build a public pier at the Central Ave bridge, next to The Elks Club in Lido Village. From my sidelines chair it all seems good to me. Although I kind of feel for now Vice Commodore Dwight Belden who will be the Commodore next year with first reports indicating that the construction of the club house will take up to eighteen months. I hope he can keep his parking place.

Next I heard that, during this last week of September 2016, that my very good friend Jim Warner is getting some new wheels. No Warner is not getting a new Jeep, Warner is the Travel Lift operator at the Newport Harbor Shipyard which will be receiving and building a new 85 BFMII Marine Travelift this week. This is the newest model from the Travelift company and comes with all the bells and whistles like a sound suppression system, all wheel electronic steering to maximize maneuverability, spreader bars to lift a wider variety of hull designs. While on the phone this last week with yard manager Jesse Salemen informed me that they do not plan on naming the Travelift or christening it although you can hear the excitement in his voice about the shipyard newest purchase. Should be interesting watching it all put together this week and you thought that Ikea furnishings came with difficult assembly instructions.

I learned a few new things this week while attending this months Harbor Commission meeting. I have reported in the past that it is always good to see our Harbor Master Lt Mark Alsobrook

along with Deputy Kevin Webster giving their reports to the Harbor Commissioners. In regards to the use of the temporary anchorage in the turning basin, just in front of Lido Village. Lt. Alsobrook reported that from June 6th to August 28 sixty-one different vessels used the anchorage. Of this sixty-one many were repeat customers, with thirteen vessels spending the night. The Harbor Patrol made two hundred and thirty-one patrols of this area during this time. 

Regarding our moorings there where one hundred and thirty-one rentals, nine transfers and three derelict boats removed during the same time period. It is my understanding that the temporary anchorage will stay open until Oct 15. I feel that this anchorage has been a great success and should be continued in the future. I still do have concerns with the Jet Pack  companies being allowed to use this same area, my personal opinion is that the Jet Pack  should be moved outside the harbor in the Big Corona area. Next there will be drone’s pulling board riders and I hope that also get placed outside the harbor.

2014's Route on the ferry

There is a big save the date that I recommend you place on your calendars now! December 10th at 9:00 AM the Harbor Commission will be touring the harbor aboard one of the Balboa Island car ferry’s. This idea was done a couple of years ago and was a big success with all the Harbor Commissioners attending and reviewing their objectives. Attending this event will be the harbor department, harbor resources department and city council members. Topics may include if the Jet Pac should stay in the turning basin, what is a derelict boat, should we have more than one launch ramp, acceptable noise levels on the harbor, best use of The Castaways property, public piers, harbor standards that will blend into the City’s sustainability plan and so much more. I personally enjoy standing behind council members trying to ease drop into their conversations, there could also be three new council members attending this event. Mark your calendars now. For more information contact Harbor Commissioner Joe Stapleton at joems55@gmail.com who is chairing this event.

For me its all about the Harbor 20 fleet one championships on October 8th and 9th. All our harbors best sailors will be competing to be champ, my wife Jennifer and I will be sailing our boat Only Child hull number 108 this year.  Wish us luck.

Boat name of the week: Hum Babe

Sea ya

The Harbor Report: Breathtaking boats and a busy bay

“The “Piano Man” himself Billy Joel ’s previous vessel “Vendetta” has just arrived to Newport Harbor.
Photo courtesy of Doug Zorn Yacht design and photographer Billy Black

I have been walking around with my head down this week trying not jam my foot into a dock cleat’s looking for a story. Finally I lifted my head up and the harbor is full of activity this week.

I started my rounds at the Newport Harbor Shipyard and before my eyes was one of my all time dream boats. The “Piano Man” himself Billy Joel ’s previous vessel “Vendetta” had just arrived into the shipyard and will soon grace our harbor. This 57’ Gatsby-era commuter yacht designed by Doug Zurn and built by Director in 2005 is absolutely stunning and will make you stop in your tracks.

Interior

I am a huge fan of commuter style yachts and had noticed “ Vendetta” as soon as she was listed and thought to myself how perfect she would be over at Catalina. With a reported speed of 47 knots the new owner can make it over to the island in less than an hour and accommodate up to six guests.

She is guaranteed to be on the Newport Beach’s most interesting power boat list this year, rumor has it that the boat will be placed in the water for the rest of summer and then hauled for a refit. Which is like saying Julianne Hough needs a make over, I am not going to lie they are both pretty hot just the way there are now and is a perfect example on why we refer to boats as females. Yea I know thats a rather chauvinistic statement, but “what are you going to do?”

After taking a couple of deep breathes and regaining my composure I looked across the bay and noticed that The New Port Marina and Office buildings, near the Crab Cooker on Balboa Peninsula, is almost completed. From across the bay it appears that this marina will have will have over sixteen slips that will be able to hold 55’ foot boats.

From the shipyard I normally take a look at how many big boats there are on Lido Peninsula in the BellPort Marina. Right now the big slips are full to capacity and I counted nine boats over 70’ feet.  My next stop is next to the Lido Sailing Club to get an idea how many big charter boat are in town. The number of 14 stays rather consistent throughout the year for the charter boats.

Continuing around the harbor to Basin Shipyard where the Stan Miller Invitational fishing tournament is under way. The word was that close to forty boats will be competing for Tuna, Yellowtail, Dorado, Swordfish and Marlin release categories. The tournament kicked off on Friday Sept 9th at Basin Marine Shipyard and fishing starts immediately after Captains Party. Awards will be on the 11th at 18:00 at the shipyard. So if you see a lot of good looking sport fishers in the harbor this weekend the reason is because Viking, MagBay and Hatteras yachts are sponsoring the event.

*****

I also had a chance Noel Plutchak this week, some of you might recall that Plutchak repairs our pump out stations around the harbor. Plutchak reports that he is still having problems with boaters using the pump outs as a bilge pump. When boaters do this the pumps suck up loose metal and screws which interns cut the vacuum hoses inside the pumps at a replacement cost of $1,000 apiece. What is bound to happen is that the pump out hoses will get smaller and smaller so that the boaters cannot take the nozzles down below there boats and into their bilge’s. Not to make a pun, but that that really sucks, because some of us have our deck flanges in the bow or in the stern of our boats. So if you see someone coming up from down below with the pump out nozzle you can always take the make and the name of the boat and drop me a note at boseyachts@mac.com. I will discreetly pass the boat names on to the proper authorities and marina operators.

I am starting to look around the harbor for boats to place in Newport Beaches 20 Most Interesting Boats this November. If you see anything I should mention please droop me a note.

Boat name of the week: “Lido Isle Watt Club”

Sea ya

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

The Harbor Report: The season ends in paradise: Whites Cove

Horizon at Long Point race week. (Daily Pilot / Courtesy Joysailing.com.)

Len Bose

Summer is starting its final leg, so that means it must be time to return to my happy place: Whites Cove, Catalina.

Aug. 23 marked the start of Long Point Race Week to Catalina, and this year's event is filled with Southern California's top racing sailboats.

The first of this three-race regatta is from Newport Beach to Long Point, Catalina. Saturday's leg is from Long Point up to and around Bird Rock, at the Isthmus, then back to Long Point. We return to Newport Sunday.

The weather is looking rather sporty with Friday's race the most difficult, as the wind is forecast to start in the south with a late-afternoon westerly finally filling in at about 4 p.m.

With winds forecast between 8 to 14 knots, if we are lucky, it could turn out to be a good weekend for us on the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon. With 40 of Southern California's best boats entered most anyone, if they are on our game, can win the regatta.

There is a new boat owned by Victor Wild out of San Diego. Fox, a Pacific 52, is easy to look at. Roy Disney plans to bring his Andrews 70 Pyewacket and Hasso Plattner. His Swan 60 Claude will also be on the starting line. Plattner has a crew that can compete on one of today's Americas Cup boats. Another two favorites to win the event is Viggo Torbensen's J 125 Timeshaver and Molly and Alan Andrews' Doubletime.

An unofficial way of scoring this event is not just sailing well on the course but by the type of escort boat is waiting for you upon arrival. The boys on It's Ok are always a favorite when it comes to style points and should be mentioned as a race favorite.

I have to bring up the fact to the It's OK crew that I have recently seen Invictus, a 217-foot mega yacht in our local waters. Don't worry, guys, by the time everyone is reading this the marine layer still will not have lifted from Friday night party, and I doubt anyone had thought of chartering Invictus.

After our arrival on Friday, the crew of Horizon will head to the beach and set up Camp Ada, named for Horizon crew member Ada Thornton. The end night cap, looking up at the stars and following their reflection onto the water, is a favorite of mine. You can hear crews returning to their boats and the ensuing laughter. While camping, just up from the beach, you also have to keep in mind that when you wake up in the middle of the night, to water the closest tree, that there might be a buffalo, deer or other wild life near by.

Saturday's is one of my favorite races of the regatta. I am always looking for those secluded little coves to return to. . The down-wind run is a challenge on whether to sail close to the island. It always makes it easier if you have one or two larger boats just in front of you so you do not sail into the unexpected "hole," where there's a lack of wind.

Saturday's party is as difficult to survive as Friday's, and it is normally rather subdued around the Sunday breakfast tables. With a big, good sigh, I get up from the breakfast table, break down the camp and bring everything back to our escort boat.

Sunday's race is normally a run home, with the wind behind our back, and the larger boats in the fleet eventually passing you after later starts. A third of the way home Catalina starts to disappear, and one gets the feeling that summer is doing the same.

Boat name of the week: "Wild Thing"

Sea ya

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

2900 Tiara Coronet Newport Harbor Edition

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The Harbor Report: Taco Tuesday at Bahia Corinthian YC is the place to be

Ronda, left, and Natalie Tolar at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club

By: Len Bose

Each summer I look forward to sailing in the weekday night races around the harbor.

One night seems to stand out above the rest during this summer, and it is not on the race course. It is after the race.

Rhonda Tolar has put a team together that is setting the bar to new heights for after-the-race social gatherings. "We wanted to capture the crews of each boat and keep them coming back." Solar said.

Harbor 20 Fleet

 Tolar had noticed that most nights on the harbor the owner of the boat that wins the race receives their pickle dish and the crew seems to be forgotten. But not on Taco Tuesday nights at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club with Tolar's group.

The post-race activities normally start with racers looking for their favorite beverage and then joining their sailing teams or fleets at a table that has their name cards on them.

As the different teams arrive the energy fills the room. Before sitting down participants are looking for the Taco Tuesday girls to get their raffle tickets. The swag from the raffle always appears to be never ending with shirts, hats, photos, hot tamales, rum, tequila and just plain good, old-fashioned fun.

This recipe is catching on with close to 225 people showing up each week to see who will be this week's Taco Tuesday girl or Tequila guy, not to be outdone by the Hot Tamale guy and gal.

Tolar was born and raised in Orange County and started boating from Day One.

"My parents enjoyed fresh-water boating where I leaned to fish and water ski," Tolar said. "I also wanted to take up sailing someday, so I started asking boat owners if I could crew for them on the weeknight races."

She then got the racing bug and purchased a Mumm 30 and joined one of the most competitive fleets in the world. She put together a strong team from BCYC and competed in the San Francisco Big Boat Series and the Mumm 30 Worlds.

She also sailed in the bay, where her sailing team finished fifth overall and first in the Corinthian, amateur non-pros class. Not an easy goal to achieve.

During this time her friends would tell her she was crazy and wild spirited to try to compete at this high skill level. So she started naming her boats Wild Thing. If you look around the harbor you will notice two very good looking boats with that name.

Tolar felt there needed to be a change to improve the participation at BCYC summer weeknight races. She has been no stranger to volunteering at the club chairing events like Showboat, The Anglers and an upcoming BCYC Sailing Foundation event.

So, when she asked BCYC management to tune up weeknight racing, the club said: "Here, it's all yours."

Tolar and her daughter Natalie have put together a group that spends more than eight hours getting ready for 16 Tuesday nights every summer. They are going on their sixth year.

Tolar's group has planned a blowout party for BCYC's last Taco Tuesday of the summer on Aug. 30. With a grand finale raffle planned, a DJ with dancing, everyone is welcome to come see how it's done.

The party starts at about 7 p.m. There is a $13 buffet.

I am going for the hot tamales myself.

—

I will be speaking at Newport Harbor Yacht Club's Yachtsman luncheon on Wednesday on my observations around the harbor.

—

This week's boat name: "Baby got back."

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

Find the Golden Ticket and stay Grounded .

Sailing Classes at Marina Park

While working at Marina Park I have noticed an extremely good value for anyone who is interested in leaning how to sail or paddle. I have to assume that while looking out over the harbor every summer that you have noticed all the junior sailing programs offered by the different yacht clubs. Lets say you our maybe just one of your kids are looking for a way to learn how to sail or paddle this summer? The University of California, Irvine operates the sailing base at Marina Park. Look up the Marina Parks web site then notice all the boats, SUP and kayaks that you can take and lean how to boat safely. The highlighted words to look for are education, safety, access and fun. All the equipment is brand new and UCI has put together a staff that can be compared to any sports dream team. I have personal watched the staff and they are very good at what they do. Class to look for when you get to the web page are Parent & Me sailing, Family Fun Night at Marina Park and Ladies Who Launch. You have to check this program out, I have never seen a greater value or opportunity to access our harbor. When you get down to the docks say Len Bose sent you and ask about the sailing association. If you do this you will be shocked to have earned a golden ticket to the harbor and everyone will ask how you did it.

Speaking of being shocked, I attend the Marine Recreation Association seminar last week on Corrosion, Electrolysis and Shock Hazards in the Marina. I am still trying to figure out why I always babble about the topic I have just attended but this information is important and I have to share it with you.

Now I am really stepping out on a wire here trying to explain electrical systems and stray current to you because I have no clue what I am talking about. But while at this seminar the first item that caught my attention was the National Fire Protection Association codes and standards. I sat up in my chair when I heard it is recommended to complete an annual inspection of all electrical wiring, grounds, connections, conduits and hangers. One of these items is “splicing of flexible cord/cable shall be prohibited.”

What does this mean to you and I? All those household extension cords, that you see on every dock you walk on, should not be used for charging the batteries on you Duffy or Harbor 20. One of my very good friends Harbor 20 caught on fire from an electrical fire and damaged the boat and they used a household extension cord. I recall our instructor stating that these cords will not hold up to the weather and are not strong enough to throw circuit breaker.

As the seminar continued we talked about a strict no swimming policy near boats especially in fresh water. This is when I started to understand that salt water conducts electricity and fresh water does not. That means the odds of drowning from electric shock is much greater in fresh water. So after hearing this, I am all charged up, and called my electrician to come and inspect my pool at home.

So in keeping everything simple and reviewing my notes these are some of the other things I am going to try and remember. If you have a sail drive on your sailboat or your boat is built of carbon ask you marine electrician how an isolation transformer works and find out why it is a good idea to install one on your boat.

When walking the docks notice that all the electrical connections should be one foot above the dock. Large pig tail connections should be strapped to the dock, we have all stepped on a line on a boat and understand how easy it is to slip when stepping on line. Note how power is supplied to the docks and were. It is a good idea to look for chafing in the electrical lines. Talk to your boat bottom cleaning divers they know when there is loss current around your docks. If your tripping your docks power circuit the odds are good it could be your relay in your inverter is probably failing.

When to call for help: Anytime an AC ground fault condition is suspected. Anytime DC stray current damage is observed. Anytime your diver or others report shock or tingle. Anytime you suspect problems with dock wiring. www.electricshockdrowning.org

Boat name of the week “ Knot for Sail”

Sea ya

Harbor Report: Racing on the high seas

By: Len Bose

I just returned from the first two legs of the California Offshore Race Week, from San Francisco to Monterey and Monterey to Santa Barbara, aboard the Santa Cruz 50 Horizon.

This Friday is the start of the final leg from Santa Barbara to San Diego.

The first thing you notice while sailing in Northern California, especially in San Francisco Bay, is that it is cold, picturesque and horribly intimidating. The wind is always blowing in the 20-knot range and local sailors always show up to the boat with their foul-weather gear pants on.

Once the butterflies go away, normally after the first or second tack, the scenery starts to get your attention. The city's shoreline, Alcatraz and of course the Golden Gate Bridge, just leave you in awe until the next 30-knot wind hits you and the boat tries to wobble out from under you while sailing downwind with a spinnaker up.

We started the first leg one of the race in good shape in relation to our competition and sailed under the gate and out into a body of water referred to as the "potato patch." The wind was blowing in the high teens and we were in race, rather than survival, mode.

As we started to head south near Lands End Point the breeze dropped to around 10 knots and we saw our first pod of whales traveling north. We altered our course to miss the pod.

Just as we thought we were well clear of the pod, two whales breached the water just below us. We bumped into the first one and rode up on the back of the second. I was sitting on the weather rail in all my foul-weather gear and life harness, looking similar to the Michelin Man, when the whales came up from beneath us.

I could barely spit out the word "whale" before we bumped into them. By the time we rode on the second whale I was still trapped under the lifeline looking straight down the whale's spout and I got slimed when the whale spouted.

There was lots going on in this race other than just the sailing. While leaving Monterey, on leg two, we witnessed a great white shark leap out of the water and grab hold of a large seal lion. We were close enough to see the expression on the sea lion's face and it was not having a good day.

While approaching Santa Barbara we noticed another pod and started joking that the whales were looking for us after running into their friends. We made a substantial change in course and yet we came extremely close to running into another whale. We had to have startled this one because it made a quick dive and the tail fin came well out of the water and threw a wave over the boat.

We are doing well in the race. On leg one we finished first in class and fourth overall. Leg two we finished second in class and fourth overall.

We are looking strong going into the final leg to San Diego this weekend. Wish us luck again.

While working around the harbor this last week I noticed the sea lions are making their presence know again, as they do every summer.

If you have a boat on a mooring you had better go check on your boat and place sea lion deterrents on your boat and docks.

***

New idea I am staring this week — boat name of the week. Call me if you have any ideas.

Let's start with "Good Ju Ju."

Sea ya.

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

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