On the Harbor: Dredging the Wedge and the upcoming Harbor 20 Championships

Graphic shows near-shore disposal area and sand dollar beds. CAD not to scale

By LEN BOSE

I am sure that most of the Stu News Newport readers picked up Tom Johnson’s story, “Don’t look now, but major problems are brewing at The Wedge and it’s not good! Reader Kathy Frazer brought to Johnson’s attention the severe sand erosion there. Caused by the recent storm coming up the Baja coast. At the end of the story Johnson writes: “Hopefully, we can get this message to some folks who may be able to help.”

Well done, Johnson – you pulled on the right finger. That morning when the story was released, I received a call from my favorite Harbor Commissioner which led to me following up with Public Works Administrative Manager Chris Miller. It just so happens that the City of Newport Beach is hoping to start dredging soon and the native material from digging the Confined Aquatic Disposal (CAD) construction project will provide 270,000 cubic yards of native material to you and me, which refers to clean compatible sand that can be placed just to the west of the Wedge in the near-shore zone. This zone is called a disposal zone with three cells that stretches from the Wedge to Newport Pier. 

According to Miller, “We will be replenishing our ocean beaches in that same region with our project. Even though there is never any one catchall solution for sand management along any coastline, this project will significantly contribute to our ocean beaches in the Wedge area.”

What Miller can’t say is that this is guaranteed to solve all of the Wedge’s beach erosion problems. What he did enlighten me on was that sand, when deposited in a near-shore zone, will naturally flush onto the surrounding beaches.

For example, the Surfside Sunset Project which has been going on since the 1960s, places sand in a near-shore zone and along the beach to protect the homes in Sunset Beach. Eventually, this sand deposited off of Sunset Beach will work its way down to the Wedge. “The current CAD project is a one-time project of significant quantity. This will directly contribute to the Wedge beach area,” Miller said.

This won’t be the first time the city has disposed/replaced beach quality sand in the Newport near-shore side zone. Smaller deposits have been made during the Upper Bay dredging and when Marina Park was built. Going back in history to 1935 when the harbor was first dredged, the ocean waves were only 100 feet from the boardwalk, but now the beach extends out 300-400 feet. This accounts for the wide beach we see today on the oceanfront side of the Peninsula. During this first dredging project, more than 8.5 million tons of sand were dredged onto our beaches.

I’d like to quote Albert Soiland who worked long and hard to obtain the funding, who wrote at the conclusion of his book, The Saga of Newport Bay and The Newport Harbor Yacht Club, written in 1936 to coincide with the official dedication of the improved Harbor. Soiland paid tribute to the many who deserved so much credit for turning what had seemed impossible into a reality: “The whole story of the fight by citizens of Newport Beach and its city officers to achieve a harbor could never be fully written nor appreciated. Keeping everlastingly at it with determination and steadfast purpose has accomplished what once seemed impossible. The City of Newport Beach through its mayor and council donated liberally to the cause as did private citizens and the yachting fraternity provided the means for the fruition of our lifetime ambitions.”

I am going to step out on a plank here, because I have many friends (and I hope they will remain friends) when I say – let’s do this! The CAD construction project is a means to a solution to dredging our harbor to its designed depth. The replenishment of sand to the Wedge beach is just another reason for taking the ball over the goal line at this time. To my friends and readers who don’t agree with me on this topic and would like to have their opinions read in my column, send your comments to boseyachts@mac.com. I can’t guarantee that your sand will make it into my column, yet it will significantly contribute to me understanding your opinions.

• • •

This weekend is the Harbor 20 Fleet Championships and the weather forecast is for 82 degrees with the wind out of the west at 8-11 knots. We will all be out on the harbor doing our best to take the title in our divisions. Don’t tell of my wife, Jennifer, but I purchased a new main sail just for this event. At the time of this writing, it looks like Debra & Peter Haynes are the favorites in B Fleet. This team has always sailed consistently during the championships. They will have to keep teams Corkett and Fuller behind them to reach this goal. In A fleet, the odds are with Shana’s Secret skipper Philip Thompson along with crew Mark Conzelman. This team has dominated this summer’s sailing season. Yet, you never know how Ping will sail; Anne and Kurt Wiese are known for their consistency with the light breeze forecast and that’s what its going to take to win this event. Then there is sheer boat speed that can take the event and that’s Zephyr sailed by two of our harbor’s best sailors – Skipper Greg Helias and crew Justin Law. This will be a great series because you shouldn’t count out the rest of the fleet. Any of the remaining participants, me included, can put the dots together, surprising everyone.

Wish me luck!

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Recapping Long Point Race Week

All photos provided by Joysailing.com

By LEN BOSE

As we sail into September, I wanted to recap Long Point Race Week before it all fades away into the Summer of 2022.

I did get one of my predictions correct: It was a struggle to make it to and through the Saturday party. We had way too much fun on Friday night; one would think I would pace myself after all these years. I am never going into Avalon again after the party just to see how old I am now at the different bars. This year, I returned to where offshore sailing all started for me aboard the 1982 Choate 48 Amante with the Richley family. Buddy Richley was at the helm this weekend and had picture-perfect starts in all three races. On Friday’s race, sailing to Catalina, we noticed the wind was consistent across the course out of the southwest, the forecast was for 10 to 12 knots of breeze possibly reaching 14 knots as we approached the island. One of the four weather forecast models had an eddy, wind circling off the island, right at the finish line off of Long Point.

We sailed out to sea off the starting line and then tacked to port to head west up the coast. We hit the first shift and were sailing faster and higher than the boats that tacked to head up the coast before we did. Odds are favored to sail up the coast sooner rather than later, so we were fortunate for the time being. As we sailed up the coast and passed the Huntington Beach Pier, Buddy and I talked about heading back out to sea and leading the boats that had tacked earlier than us. We also noticed two of our three boats that headed out to sea, toward Catalina straight off the starting line. The boats that had tacked to go up the beach before us were starting to tack off the beach with Buddy Richley deciding to tack before we crossed them and head out to sea. The wind shifted more to the west and at this time we were looking golden heading straight for the finish line. About two-thirds of the way to the island we had already engraved our names into the pickle dishes. Buddy and I both know that 6 times out of 10 in this race you can run into a dead zone about three miles before you reach the island. We elected to sail west of the finish line and lost big. The boats that sailed straight to the island caught the southerly breeze and crushed us along with most of the fleet. Tough way to lose after having a huge lead.

On day two, we started further up the island then we normally do, rounded bird rock than headed back down to Long Point…without a doubt my favorite race of the year. Buddy crushed the start by ducking all the starboard boats on port and punching out from the fleet. After rounding bird rock, the wind slowly came from behind us and the spinnakers started appearing. The wind dissipated along the island with most of the fleet staying inside and closest to the island. Ten to 15 of the 40 boats entered, Amante included, and went outside hoping for more breeze. We were with all the top big boats who took that route and were already engraving our names on the pickle dish again. As we were working our way in from the outside back into Long Point, the breeze vanished. We had left most of the fleet that went in closest to the island, three miles behind us. Right then the breeze filled in from the west along the inside which brought in the whole fleet in one large hairball. I can’t imagine what was said on the race committee boat as the whole fleet approached in the same breath. Again, we sailed very well and coughed up hairballs at the finish.

On day three, during the run home from Long Point to Newport Pier, Buddy had another good start by staying out of the traffic in the light breeze and we were one of the first boats to tack over to port and head for home. Not anyone on the boat brought up the chance of winning the race, yet again it looked very good for us two-thirds of the way home. The wind then filled in from the west with reaching sails being traded for downwind spinnakers. Long story short, the younger lighter boats sailed away from us.

With this all being said, I was sunburnt, not at the top of my game and feeling my age. Two days later, I had noticed Amante had its best overall finish in the history of the event, finishing in 10th place out of 40 boats. After recognizing this I started feeling much better; I might even sail in this race again next year. Top Newport Beach finishers Molly Lynch and Alan Andrews aboard Doubletime finished in 2nd overall; Bryan Nickel aboard Blitz finished in 8th, Buddy Richley in 10th and Jim Baily finished in 13th aboard Destroyer.

Time to get serious with the Harbor 20s over the next three weeks as we will have our warm-up regattas before the grand finale of the season – our Fleet Championships.

Wish me luck!

Sea Ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: From BCYC Taco Tuesdays winners to Long Point Race Week

(L-R) BCYC’s Wendy Kerr, Linda Buchanan, Commodore Rhonda Tolar and Tammy Boivin

By LEN BOSE

With 28 days left of summer left, I have started reflecting back to May 10 when we started BCYC Taco Tuesdays. This series runs for 16 weeks and it seems to slip by faster than my last commission check. What always seems to stay constant is Commodore Rhonda Tolar and her crew of volunteers that make the after-sailing festivities memorable. This and the thought of another trip to paradise allows me to feel I still have a good hold of summer sailing.

During the 16 weeks of Taco Tuesdays, the Tolar crew goes out to find 50+ items each week to give away as raffle prizes. The big catch this year was the fleece vests with the club burgee embroidered. I just so happened to have been one of the few who won a vest. Giveaways can be anything from Ullman Sails bags or T-shirts to a box of Hot Tamales. The raffle starts to become a competition between tables. Sitting at the different tables are the crews from the different boats with one table for the Harbor 20s.

I recall one evening this summer that the Choate 48 Amante, which is the best attended table in the room, must have received more than 75% of the raffled items. “This has never happened before, this is hilarious,” Tolar said as her eyes watered from laughter. There was the cute little girl that won the bottle of expensive tequila and traded it for two cupcakes. I recall her father wiping his tears away when he realized he could not keep the tequila. This raffle keeps the after-party energized along with an increased attendance throughout the night. This week’s party must have had more than 200 people staying for the raffle after the awards.

I am reflecting back to the start of summer and just how important these parties are to our sport along with just how memorable they are to me each year. These events mean something when you can meet with your fellow competitors who understand you just completed another summer while giving you something to look forward to next summer.

This summer’s winners were: Best in PHRF A – Destroyer; Best in PHRF B – Rhythm; Best in PHRF C – Ventus; Best in H20 A – Shana’s Secret; Best in H20 B – Spirit and Best in H20 C – Dragon Lady. Best Overall PHRF – Ventus and Best Overall H20 – Shana’s Secret.

Now, let’s talk about this weekend’s Long Point Race week with 40 boats entered. Noteworthy boats include: Dave Clark’ Santa Cruz 70 Grand Illusion; Craig Reynolds’ N/M 68 Bolt and Roy Disney’s Andrews 68 Pyewacket. This event always brings in the West Coast’s best boats. I’ve heard some prominent boats were declined entry, because they had not signed up for the event by the cut-off date. Bet they won’t forget next year. After two years without racing, along with last year’s event without the parties, this event will be wound up tighter than a Code 0 halyard. That’s rather tight for my none-sailing readers.

This season, I have decided to circle back to where offshore sailing began for me aboard the Choate 48 Amante. Hanging out with this crew I will have to work hard to make sure I make the Saturday night party. There have been many years that I was done after the Friday night parties, hence why the saying, “Start like a thoroughbred, finish like a mule” has been best to explain my weekend.

The Long Point Race week consists of a three-race series. Friday’s race to the island. Saturday’s race along the face of the island and Sundays’ return race. Saturday’s sail is without a doubt my favorite of the year. It typically starts from Long Point around Ship Rock, at the Isthmus and ends up back at Ship Rock. Sailing up to Ship Rock always has its challenges, although the real fun does not start until we have rounded the rock and all the colorful spinnakers start to pop open like a late summer flower bloom.

The backdrop of the island and all the colorful spinnakers remind me of a quote, “Life is not measured by the moments of breath you take but by the breathtaking moments.”

Over the past 15 years, much attention has been focused on the competitors’ escort boats. Boats reaching the status of megayachts await the racing teams with a full staff, five-course meals and a three-page wine list, and let’s not leave out the hot freshwater showers for all the crew members. Less than a dozen of the teams go to that extravagance, yet many of us – the little guys – still seem to be having just as much fun as the one-percenters. The event is quickly becoming who has found this season’s most unique inflatable pool toys rather than being on a megayacht. We have started the tradition of a parade route starting within the smaller moorings and tow our inflatables in a parade route that takes us outside to where the larger boats are kept after Saturday’s race. Here we come with our inflatable docks, ducks, islands and flamingos with cold beverages in hand, along with infectious laughter. We’re all tied up together, being pulled by a small powerboat. Another part of this race I am looking forward to.

Where is that lady?

Sunday’s race can be difficult because of two days in the sun, along with that mule finish thing I do. It’s a great time for a nap on the deck of the boat, but that’s not always the fastest way home.

At the time of this writing, the forecast is for a lighter breeze under 15 knots; which if I was a betting man I would place my money on Roy Disney’s Andrews 68 Pyewacket taking the overall win.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

WHO WANTS TO GO SAILING!

 

WHO WANTS TO GO SAILING!

Only 3 Vol 70 Wednesday Twilights are left this summer starting at 5:30 at Mason Park! Weather forecast is 78 degrees with 6-8 knots of breeze. Elliot, Shoe, Cowasjee & Bose will be attending again. If you have not participated in a twilight race, “Try it you will like it” I mean, Shoe likes it!

We get 8 to 10 races in along with tuning our boats.

Speaking of participation Ford, Shoe, Elliot and, Bose brought their boats to the H20 summer party at the Lido Isle Yacht Club this last weekend. Turn out from the Harbor 20 people was greater than expected. Hopes are high we found one or two people considering our fleet. I thought it was fun to introduce the fleet to RC sailors. The attached photo tells the story better than I can.

For Sale: Horizon ASKING $ 280,000

Over the last 12 years, the name Horizon is recognized as the odds on favorite in winning the Santa Cruz 50 & 52 divisions in any of the down wind races on the west coast of the United States.

There are many variables in the consistent performance of Horizon, in my opinion, the largest factor is the performance optimization by Tim Kernan along with the boat’s rudder designed by Alan Andrew. In 2009 she underwent an extensive refit at Dennis Choate’s LB yard. At this time it was discovered that the Andrews designed “Lokomotion” was making a rudder design change with Team Horizon purchasing the replaced rudder. This rudder was the magic to Horizon consistency on the racecourse. 

Horizon Race record: Transpac’s division wins (2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 & 2021) in 2021 Horizon set a new course record of 8 days 23 hours & 23 minutes. Which was held by Allure in 1987. Horizon’s Mexico race record has also been exceptional with podium finishes in all attempts along with a class win in the SDYC’s PV Race in 2010, an overall win in the Cabo 2009 race, along with an overall win in the PV 2014 race. She also has two overall wins in the Ensenada Race, and 2016 CORW. In 2009 the engine went through a top to bottom rebuild. The list goes on and on with the addition of a completely new B&G electronics  package, TracVision satellite communication, and satellite phone communications. Horizon is the boat to beat in the Santa Cruz 50 & 52 division which attracts up to 12 boats in most offshore races.

We selected this division because we felt that this was the highest skill level of Corinthian participants. The idea of sailing submerged in water, eating dry food, and using a bucket as a head did not apply to us. Horizon met our use perfectly and we have always felt privileged to sail aboard her.  For more information click the link Horizon

 

On the Harbor: Hank Thayer, Baxter & Cicero sailmakers

Bill Ficker trophies from winning the Star Worlds with Baxter & Cicero sails in 1958

By LEN BOSE

For my last column, I picked up the phone and called an old friend of mine Hank Thayer from Baxter & Cicero sailmakers regarding remote control sailing and his time with Swede Johnson at the sail loft. As the phone was ringing the idea came to me that I should be interviewing Thayer regarding the history of Baxter & Cicero.

I first met Thayer in the late ‘80s. He would come into Reubens restaurant for lunch from time to time with some of the people that worked with him and sat at the bar where I was the daytime bartender. Of course, we always talked about sailing, and at that time he was the helmsman for John Arens Frers 50 Tomahawk, the biggest, baddest boat on the harbor.

In 1937, Bud Gardiner and Bill Baxter opened up Gardiner & Baxter Sails – the idea was to start a sailmaking facility on the West Coast. Just at the end of WWII, Saint Cicero joined the loft. Cicero was an active Star sailor who also crewed on the schooner Goodwill and other local big boats. Shortly after Cicero joined the team, Gardiner split away with the name of the loft changing to Baxter & Cicero, which is still the name today some 85 years later. I believe it is the longest continuously operated sailmaking/canvas company in the U.S. Baxter passed away in the 1950s leaving the business to Cicero who then passed the baton over to Hank Thayer in the late 1970s. 

From the beginning back in 1937, the loft focused on our local fleets of Stars, Rhodes 33, Lehmans and Snipes. It gained international attention with Bill Ficker in 1958, when Ficker won the Star Worlds with Baxter & Cicero sails followed up by Don Elder winning the Star Worlds in 1964. Baxter was also an active Star sailor at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, where they still hold the Baxter Bowl annually. Notable is that Dave Ullman got his start at Baxter & Cicero making Snipe and Lido 14 sails. Henry Sprague was also one of the local sailors who would work at the loft. “Most of best harbor sailors would work at the loft during the summer months. There was sailboat designer Carl Schumacher, who worked at the loft along with other sailmakers that started their own lofts – John Staff, Kevin Conley and Cal Preston,” Thayer said.

Baxter & Cicero has a long history dating back to the 1940s for their canvas work from boat & sail covers, embroidery, soft luggage and outdoor covers for the home – always known for quality work with Warren Blinn getting his start at the loft along with J Miller. In the 1980s, Thayer gave me a Baxter & Cicero canvas duffel bag, which today I still pull out of the closet to impress when I arrive on the boats that “remember” when these bags were built.

Over the years Baxter and Cicero have moved around, first starting their loft off of 31st Street in Newport Beach, then up to Costa Mesa in the 1980s off of Farad Street, then up to 20th Street and Newport Boulevard. For the last 15 years they have been located at 1760 Monrovia St. You can also view their website at www.baxterandcicero.com.

There is a lot of history when you walk through their doors. For me it’s like walking into an old-style sailing club where your go for advice on the race course or find out which materials work best for the tasks at hand. The personal service and attention along with being greeted by your first name, along with a “well done” from the local weekend race results give me that at-home feeling when calling. 

• • •

Breaking News! For years I have been searching for ways to properly dispose of all my expired marine flares. Harbormaster Paul Blank was notified of a press release from the California Boating and Waterways. On Saturday, Aug. 27 from 7 a.m.-1 p.m., head to Dana Point Harbor, 34555 Casitas Place, Dana Point. Bring your unwanted or expired marine flares and smoke signals. Accepted: Hand-held flares aerial flares smoke signals. Not accepted: Electronic flares, military flares, or any other hazardous waste such as paint, oil, e-waste, or batteries. Participants will receive free boater kit and flare discount coupons, courtesy of the California State Parks and California Coastal Commission.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: RC sailboat racing

                                                                                                                                    Photo by Steve Ford

By LEN BOSE

So where do offshore sailors go when they retire from heading out to sea? I still fill most of my sailing calendar with Harbor 20 sailing, but I still wanted to fill the void from not heading out to sea any longer. Enter remote control (RC) sailboat racing which is perfect for me by finding a fleet that I feel I can be competitive in.

Now that I am head deep into the Volvo 70 RC boat, I am noticing the past and the long history of our harbor with RC sailboat racing. The first name that comes to mind is Lloyd “Swede” Johnson. I first recognized Swede’s name while I was a member of the Balboa Yacht Club on the Hall of Fame Wall. Swede was known for his sail making skills with Baxter & Cicero along with all the time he spent on the water as a volunteer with the race committee setting the marks on the race course. Swede also was known as a model boat maker and RC boat designer with more than five well-known RC boat designs.

Another person I had watched for many years sail RC boats was Rod Swift best known for the time he worked for Willard Marine in Costa Mesa. If I recall Swift and about five or six of his friends would sail off the docks at Viking Port on Friday mornings in the Mini RC boat class.

Swift also sailed Harbor 20s for a long period of time. I would ask him about the RC boats, and he would always smile and tell me to come on down.

While doing some research, I learned that there used to be a very active class of RC boats that raced off the docks of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club on Tuesday nights. The class was called the Newport 12 Meter and became very popular. I checked in with Skip Elliott, from Elliott Patterson sails. He told me the main person promoting the fleet was Jeff Farwell. “It was back in the 1960s Farwell got me to finish my boat. We used to have six boats show up every Tuesday night. The thing I remember about the 12s is that they sailed well in light and heavy breeze. One had to practice their depth perception and avoid missing the marks or running into someone. The RC sailing is a unique thing, it’s fun!,” Elliott said.

There is a long history of RC sailboat classes sailing at the William R. Mason Regional Park in Irvine. For more information, go to www.ocmsc.org for the different types of boats and when they are sailing. I have joined up with the Volvo 70 class, a Volvo 70 RC sailboat is a scaled-down model of the Volvo Open 70 designed for the Volvo Ocean Race. In 2012, Steve Ford found this class and started making the boats in Huntington Beach. The fleet has jumped around from Long Beach and Newport Dunes to Mason Regional Park.

I jumped into the fleet without even testing the waters when I heard people like Steve Beck, Chuck Simmons, Brad Wheeler, Kerry Deaver, Jim Sears plus many other sailors from Newport Beach are active racers. When I purchased my boat, Chris Killian and Gene Elliot had also recently joined. 

The learning curve has been most challenging, but like my father always told me “you don’t get something for nothing.” My first two times on the water I felt like taking a Louisville slugger to the boat after a day of racing. I sent this note to the fleet captain to be posted on the fleet’s Facebook page. “Hull #71 is Sponsored by Bose, after an excruciating update, the new owner has goals of finishing all 10 races this Sunday?” After the update, I have continued the learning curve with an understanding of why we secure the battery pack, and how to bind the transmitter and receiver together. I spent a lot of time walking around the lake, along with doing the two-step boogie getting my feet out of the water to avoid the snapping turtles and telling the participants that Boat #71 is out of control. “Confidence is high that we will achieve our goals this weekend,” I said. With two Wednesday night practices between high point regattas, I am now concerned that the booms topping lift will wrap around a spreader this Sunday. After this last month’s sailing, I have slowly been able to work my way up the ladder by finishing all 10 races last Sunday. Now I need to focus on my driving skills, along with judging distance from a ways away. I had four good races going in the top part of the race, then undershot the mark or hit the mark sending me to the back of the fleet.

The fleet sails at Mason Park on the second Sunday of every month. Anyone is welcome to watch, but don’t be surprised if participants hand you the controls. I am enjoying the competition and even more so the people I am sailing against. I will be at the lake practicing every chance I can get. Please contact me if you are interested in the RC Volvo 70 RC boats at boseyachts@mac.com.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Remembering Phillip Ramser

By LEN BOSE

A lighthouse is a structure (such as a tower) with a powerful light that gives a continuous or intermittent signal to navigators. Within the lighthouse is a keeper –a lighthouse keeper is a maritime professional who helps guide boaters on the water and prevents shipwrecks. How do I relate Phillip Ramser to a lighthouse keeper? Something in my gut tells me he was the go-to person for yachtsmen seeking guidance and preventing many shipwrecks during his watch.

I attended Phil’s memorial service this past Tuesday, June 28. The late morning service was filled with family and friends. The attendance was a who’s who of our harbor’s yachtsmen. Phil passed away on June 18 at the age of 91, leaving his wife of 68 years, Trish. It was always more than obvious that Trish was always his No. 1 priority, followed closely by his four children and 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

During the memorial service, there was a photo slideshow of Phil’s life…each photo of his presence drawing me in to him, as I wanted to say hello to this gentleman, whose guidance and friendship I sought often. 

At the service I learned many interesting things about Phil, such as he was prone to misplace his wallet. Two family members spoke about their stories with him about when he misplaced his wallet; one finding his wallet a year later in the back seat of the car. One topic we can’t misplace is Phil’s influence and support for our sport of sailing. His first race, at the age of 9, was aboard his father’s boat – a Kettenburg 46-foot PCC named Antigua. Hal Ramser, Phil’s father, had gathered some of the better keelboat sailors from the harbor to win the Lipton Cup that year. Phil told me one time he was tasked with running the pit and controlling the boat’s halyards. When he told me this story I can still recall his chuckle describing the last beat against the San Diego Yacht Club’s skipper Mr. Kettenburg. “We must have tacked 24 times on that final leg to cross the finish line for the win,” Phil said.

From there, Phil sailed the Snipes circuit, while still sailing aboard his father’s boat Antigua. He later moved on into the competitive Etchells fleet where he competed internationally – jumping into the 5.5-meter boat to compete in Europe with none other than Harry “Buddy” Melges and Tom Omohundro. In the ‘80s, Phil raced his New York 36 Vidiot in our harbor’s local club events. One of Phil’s many achievements in promoting our sport was devolving the Harbor 20 fleet which is still the most active one-design fleet in our harbor.

Phil had other sports he was interested in too – skiing, polo, hunting for birds and foxes, along with gardening, music and dance. During the eulogy, his son Scott told a story about how his father preferred to stay busy and had convinced himself he was a handyman. While trying to fix a pool heater during a family gathering, everyone attending heard a loud kaboom! Phil came around the corner with his hair and eyebrows singed and was lucky not to be seriously injured.

Scott went on to tell another story. Given a task, Phil could be relied on to get the job done. There was nothing he couldn’t accomplish on behalf of the YC with his roster and a phone. How could anyone say no to a guy like Phil when called upon for help? He always managed to create his own army of volunteers.

“There is a great story about my Dad’s presence at the club,” shared Scott. “Charlie Buckingham was about 6 years old, hanging out with his dad on the front dock. My Dad walked by them and Charlie turned to his dad and asked seriously, “Is that the captain of the yacht club?”

Each time we sail past the lighthouse at Marina Park, I am going to feel that Phillip Ramser is the keeper…always asking him for his guidance and the awareness not to run into anything that day. It’s also very heartwarming that somehow both Phil and I picked up saying goodbye to our friends the same way.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

The Harbor Report: The nicest guy on Newport Harbor

By Len Bose

November 15, 2013 | 4:45 p.m.

If ever there was a person who should be our harbor's ambassador, it is Phillip Ramser. I have never met a more congenial person in this harbor. This is why I write this column — I get to pick up the phone and ask people like Phil if we could talk.

Phil was born in West Los Angeles, attended the local schools, went to college at USC and later served in the Air Force.

Phil's father, Hal Ramser, purchased a Kettenburg 46-foot PCC hull No. 5 by the name of Antigua. When Phil was 15, one of our harbor's local sailors, George Strong, asked Hal if he would like to put a group of sailors together and race in the San Diego Yacht Club's Lipton Cup. The crew included Darby Metcalf, Harry Bourgeois, Kenny Watts and Hilyard Brown.

"This was the very first race I had ever sailed in," Phil said with excitement in his voice, as if it was only yesterday. "I was assigned to the pit and was allowed to come on deck, to hold out the main out, on the downwind runs. We came into the last race at the leeward mark with inside overlap on Mr. Kettenburg and headed toward the finish. We tacked 24 times on that final leg to beat the San Diego Yacht Club."

The Lipton Cup has always been the most sought-after sailing trophy in Southern California, and Phil was on the winning crew in his very first sailboat race.

Phil was next introduced to the Snipe fleet by Metcalf. For most of the 1950s, he sailed locally and around the country following the Snipe fleet.

"We had a great time," he said.

In the '50s, Phil served in the Air Force, and upon his return home sailed Antigua for a number of years and did very well in our local offshore races.

After he sold Antigua, he moved into the Etchells 22-foot fleet and helped develop the fleet in Newport Beach and Europe.

"We sailed Etchells all around the world — Australia, England, Hong Kong and Scotland," he explained. "We would have boats built in Scotland and race these boats, then sell them, and we did this for about three years in a row. That's how the Etchells fleet started in Europe."

Somewhere, Phil found time to sail 5.5 meters in Europe with Tom Omohundro and Harry "Buddy" Melges before becoming commodore of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Just about this time, he purchased a New York 36 by the name of Vidiot and campaigned that through most of the '80s in our local PHRF fleet.

Taking a short break from owning his own boat in the early '90s, Phil played a role in developing the concept of the Harbor 20.

"We needed to find five people who wanted a boat, so we did, and now the fleet has over 30 boats racing in most of the events," he said.

I asked Phil what he thinks are the biggest challenges facing the harbor in the next 40 years.

"I would like to see the anchorage moved back to where it was originally located on the west end of Lido Isle," he said with concern in his voice. "With the addition of Marina Park, the harbor will become increasingly restrictive in the anchorage area now. That disturbs me, and we should do what we can to mitigate that."

I asked who his sailing mentors were and who he thought was the fastest sailor in the harbor. Names like Metcalf, Bill Ficker and Tommy Frost quickly came to mind.

"We have had a multitude of good sailors come out of our area," Phil said.

When asked again who he felt was the fastest sailor, he quickly replied Jon Pinckney. "He is amazing how he watches the water, amazing guy on how he picks up on the wind," Phil said.

Last, I asked who he liked to beat the most on the race course.

"I never had someone I would go after," he explained. He would like to beat Bill Menninger, he said with a laugh. Long ago, I enjoyed racing against my old friend Don Ayres, and it was fun competing against him.

"I have never have had any contentious rivalries," he said with pride. "I've been able to get along with everyone rather well. It's all good."

If you have never met Phil Ramser, I suggest you introduce yourself, because the way I see it, he is one of our harbor's amazing guys.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.


Note from Phil:  Len, Saturday morning
I walked in to the dinning room at NHYC this morning for breakfast and was greeted with many compliments and comments about your article. I went over to Hershey 's on Balboa Island and picked up a few copies. I am very pleased with the article and want to thank you very much. I will send copies to  members of my family so they can enjoy the article as well.
Thanks again. Seaya on the water, Phil Ramser.

(Almost) everything you need to know about boating in our harbor but were afraid to ask

By LEN BOSE

Summer and the sun is out – we really have it made! This last Tuesday evening racing started to feel like summer with warmth in the air. I have been busy at work, which is a good thing, yet I have been slow to get a story out that I have been conceptually developing that involves interviews with four people.

Matt, I have not forgotten about you, next column I promise. This means I have to dig deep and find a story in my bilge for this week.

I only report the good news in my column, so let’s start with the really good news, junior sailing starts this Monday, June 20, and runs through the first week of August. This means that the harbor will be full of sabots Monday through Thursday. 

I instruct my new boat owners to keep their heads out of their boats, which means looking well ahead of yourself. If you notice a large swarm of sailboats grouped together, don’t power through them, select an alternative route and try to stay out of the middle of the swarm. 

If you do have to work your way through the swarm of sabots, look for the red marks in the water around them. Odds are very good these sabot sailors have been instructed to sail around these red marks. 

When you approach any crossing vessels, it is always best to aim for a couple of boat lengths behind them or their stern. This will keep you out of trouble most of the time. 

There are rules of the road that most small boat operators have no clue about. The key is to let your intentions be known well ahead of time. Now, the Harbor 20 fleet will be much more difficult to navigate through, because we are all grumpy old sailors whose lives revolve around our race results. 

My point being, if you find yourself surrounded by a sailboat fleet with no way out, just come to a full stop and surrender by holding both your hands in the air. This will indicate to the sailors that you give up and they will soon be out of your way. The key is to notice the swarm well ahead of time and deviate your course. Yes, that means placing your phone back in your pocket, smile, rather than asking the mouthy Harbor 20 sailor why they are in the back of the fleet?

After all that excitement, you probably have to go to the bathroom, so I am going to assume you all know where the next restroom is located? Let’s say you are running out of time and your guest is asking if you have a bucket or empty Coors Light can? Worse yet, your guest just figures to go off the side of the boat.

Here are a couple of alternatives. Download the MyNB app, then hit the Newport Harbor links, this will show you where you are located in the harbor and the closest facility. 

More good news – the city has purchased floating heads. No, that is not the name of a rock group, they are restrooms that the public can use while on the water. These restrooms should arrive before the end of summer and their location will be posted on the app.

The Fourth of July will be upon us soon, so if you can recall these “Len Bose-isms” I mentioned above while on the harbor you might just have a better day. 

Another thing to keep in mind: If you decided to head to the upper bay (I still call it the Back Bay) for the fireworks show, you should recognize how low the tide will be during the show. If you don’t recognize the red and green channel markers’ locations at night (don’t ask me why these markers are not lit up at night), I recommend you take a look at them during the daylight hours. The key is to stay between these markers, this way you won’t go aground in the shallows located in the upper harbor. 

High tide will not occur until 1 a.m. on the 5th and you might have not brought enough provisions or have a big enough bucket if you go aground.

I recommend anchoring in the anchorage just off the east end of Lido, where I’m sure you will find me the night of the 4th in the Duffy. This will allow you to watch all the fireworks displays while staying out of the way of all the traffic coming in and out of the upper bay.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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