On the Harbor: Ben Benjamin will be missed

By LEN BOSE

I started this past Monday taking a huge punch in the gut, realizing that a very good friend of mine and our harbor had passed away in his sleep Saturday night. The punch lingers because Ben Benjamin was only 48 years old with a wife Carolyn and three very young kids – Liam, Ella, and Abby.

I first met Benjamin when I was the Fleet Captain at the Balboa Yacht Club while he was the sailing administrator. We worked together daily becoming good friends on and off the water. For about a year, we would meet up on Monday mornings and ride our bikes around the Back Bay. He was always competitive on the water and while we were riding, “You do pretty good for an old guy,” said Benjamin, as we ground up the Castaways hill off of PCH and Dover.

More than once, Benjamin would say to me: “I don’t think that idea is going to fly Len.” We had a strong working relationship and quickly became good friends. After Benjamin left the club and started his family, he started to show up at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Thursday Summer Series sailing a Lehman 12 with his two kids at that time, Liam and Ella. I would receive a heartfelt greeting that was engaged with a whistle followed up with a hearty “Len Bose!” I admired that Benjamin sailed with his kids and I always felt it was more to him about being on the water with them rather than winning the series.

 My time with Benjamin was short and I placed a couple of calls to people that had spent more time with him than I had. My first call was to Becky Lenhart. It was interesting that Becky started our conversation exactly how I felt, “Biggest punch in the gut; the world is just different without him,” Lenhart said. They had known each other before Lenhart started working alongside Benjamin. “Larger than life personality, he could be the boss, disciplinarian, he can also be so goofy, I remember the funny Ben times more than anything else,” Lenhart said. I asked Becky how he affected her life while they worked together. “He trusted me to be in charge, he gave me the confidence to complete the job,” Lenhart said. Becky and I both recalled when Benjamin’s mother had passed away how many of his friends attended his mother’s services. We recalled the church was huge with all of the back rows being filled with sailors showing Benjamin our support for his loss. Toward the end of our conversion, Lenhart said, “Your life was just better if he was in it. This has been a huge wake-up call for me, something tells me as the wind whistles around my office windows I am going to look up and see him helping me.”

My next call was to Jacob Ullman. He and Benjamin had been close friends since the high school sailing team at Newport Harbor High. “There was word coming in from the sailing coaches that this sailor was returning to the area and he would be sailing on the team next year. His name is Ben Benjamin. I did not know who Ben Benjamin was and what type of silly name was that having the same name twice,” Ullman said. “He moved in a block away from us and we slowly became close friends realizing that we both loved this harbor, and the Grateful Dead, constantly interacting with each other from then on.”

Ullman went on to say they taught sailing together for many summers at NHYC – he was a really good sailor, Snipes, FJ, and the 505. Benjamin was a very accomplished 505 crew sailing in many world events and finishing at the top of many regattas. According to Ullman, “A couple of weeks ago, Benjamin called and asked if my daughter Skylar would like to join them for a junior sabot sailing regatta in San Diego. Up until that time, Skylar preferred not to race, yet after returning from a weekend with the Benjamins, Skylar had the biggest smile on her face. She had the best weekend and commented that she wants to go on every traveling regatta she can with them. Ben made this all happen, picking up the boat, and providing rooms and meals just as if she was one of the family. When I asked what I owed him he replied, ‘You’re Good!’ That was just the way he was. He liked kids, had patience, he was able to present himself as understanding and not intimidating. He really had that ability to relate to kids. The kids loved to be with him. I admired his generosity and commitment to his kids; I need to do more to make that happen,” Ullman said.

Benjamin will be missed. I am sure we will all be at peace with the understanding that “You’re Good,” Ben Benjamin!

Friends of the family have set up a GoFundMe page at Ben Benjamin and Family.

Sea ya! 

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: Welcome aboard a super yacht charter

By LEN BOSE

One of my clients had just returned from a super yacht charter in Greece and after talking to them my mind started wondering what, who, and where would be my choice of a superyacht charter. Kind of like when you purchase a Lotto ticket with dreaming about what you would do if you won. After interviewing Charter broker Rose Jolis, I felt that the odds of participating in a yacht charter are much better odds than winning the Lotto. 

Over the last year, I have gotten to know Jolis from our weekly sales meetings and have found she is extremely easy to talk to and an even better listener. She grew up in New York and found a passion for preparing fine meals and then studied culinary arts in New York City. This led to the desire to see the different foods of the world while finding her way to Australia to work aboard a mothership for charter clients fishing 1,000 lb. black marlin on the Great Barrier Reef.

Her next opportunity came as a chef aboard three luxury yachts while continuing to climb up the job opportunity ladder to a purser. Jolis had to explain what the term purser meant: “A Purser oversees all of the crew’s logistics, provisioning, accounting, and each vessel is managed differently, so ultimately you manage the interior of the yacht.” After 20 years at sea, Jolis moved onto land becoming a yacht charter specialist. “After two decades at sea, my firsthand experience provides my clients with customized, off-the-beaten path adventures,” Jolis said. 

Start by envisioning an experience of a lifetime aboard one of the vessels by scouring the internet and nurturing the desire to do this. Your next step forward is to contact Rose Jolis, six to eight months beforehand, with the dates you would like to go, who you would like to go with, along with the types of activities that would interest your group. This can be in the sun with many water activities, and with historical or nature expeditions. Jolis personally experienced these vessels by attending the many different charter boat shows around the world, and meeting the captains and crews while personally viewing the vessels.

Rose Jolis

“I am a people person, so I like to talk to my clients over the phone ensuring I make the perfect fit into the proper yacht. I personally am an off-the-beaten path type of person. I have a lot of adventurous clients where I take them to Indonesia and Papua New Guinea; my favorite destination is Tahiti.”

Your next question, while hesitating to ask, is how much does this cost? What are the standard terms of a charter contract? This is where Jolis stands apart from other charter brokers. She will take you through the charter agreement item by item so that you are completely comfortable with the terms. As a charter agent through Denison Yachting, Denison is the escrow agent. Two payments are made when chartering with a 50% deposit of the charter fee with taxes added which are variable around the world. With the second payment, an advanced provisioning allowance (APA) is paid which varies from 30-40% of the charter fee. This goes to the yacht covering provisions, fuel, dockage, alcohol, day tours, transportation to and from the airport and diving expeditions. All of the APA is accounted for and presented to the lead charter client. Traditionally, the remaining funds usually go in full or part toward the crew’s gratuity or returning the charter. If a client has spent in excess, the balance is due on receipt and paid by wire.“Every trip is exclusive to that client and every client moves at a different pace. Because we know the individual requirements of each guest, this allows us to provide the best bespoke service,” Jolis said.

(L-R) Captain Charlie Johnson, Rose Jolis and Nese Aiumu 

My happy place is Catalina, but my wife Jennifer feels it’s not a vacation unless we get on an airplane. Therefore, after my interview with Jolis, I would want to book the Yachtfisher she described berthed in Cabo San Lucas and then cruise the Gulf of California. Jolis described the Luxury Yacht Fisher as a “finely finished yacht, yes, she is a fishing machine, with an American captain and Mexican crew. The chef is world renowned. It’s a really fabulous yacht!” 

Here is my image with two other couples cruising the different islands of the Gulf of California. Start the day with different water activities, slides, jet skis and competitive sailing with guests, then lunch on the beach. Make it back to the boat for happy hour, making sure that the captain understands I want to lay into the ship’s horns at 1700 (5 p.m.) each afternoon. Freshen up, then head to dinner with a nightcap in the Jacuzzi. That pretty much wraps it up for me.

You can reach Rose Jolis at www.rosejolis.com.

I’d better get back to work!

Sea ya! 

~~~~~~~~

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

On the Harbor: CAD decision made…time to move forward; Commissioner Beer offers detailed mooring ideas

By LEN BOSE

This month on the harbor has made me reflect on one of my favorite songs, “I’m Shakin” by Jack White. “A storm rocks a ship on a sea, the wind shakes the leaves on a tree, and I’m a nervous wreck and I’m all shook up, and that’s what you’re doin’ to me right now, that’s right, you got me nervous.”

The water is ebbing at the moment while I am encouraged by what the next flood tide will bring in. I am referring to the proposed utilization of space in our mooring fields, followed by an update regarding our lower bay dredging Confined Aquatic Disposal “CAD” project. I again would like to mention that I have many very good friends on both sides of these issues that I do hope will remain friends. Let’s move forward with my “marginal harbor advice when you are told you have no other opinions.” 

Sara Hall’s article “State agency OKs city’s plan to bury contaminated dredged material in ‘Large hole’ in the harbor,” in the last edition of Stu News Newport, explains the CAD project better than I ever could in great detail. So, you might be asking yourself what happens next? With the Coastal Commission’s support, one of the last permits needed is with the Army Corps of Engineers. Assuming that permit is received, the Army Corps goes out to bid on the project.

My best guess is that we will see the dredging equipment arrive in the harbor sometime in February 2023. Many of my friends have voiced concerns about how much room the dredging equipment will take up. The simple answer is that the crane and scow are exactly what we have already experienced during phase one of the lower bay dredging. 

While the dredging is going on, the anchorage will be moved up to the west end of Lido, in front of Lido Village. Different mooring fields will be removed while dredging is going on in that area or field. This will open up space in the busy five-point area of the harbor.

Speaking of mooring fields, this will segue me into the second part of my story. During this month’s Harbor Commission meeting, Harbor Commissioner Ira Beer presented the Mooring Field Open Water Initiative Improved Utilization Report, or how can we improve the moorings? I’ve been covering the Harbor Commission now for 12 years with this presentation ranking easily as one of the best reports I have ever witnessed. Commissioner Beer has dug into this task and has done his due diligence. 

I spoke with Beer on the phone this week and during our conversation I recalled many of the issues I had when coming to and from my mooring. Beer knew exactly what I was talking about, while bringing up the same problems he has had retrieving and departing his mooring.

Back in 2018, the Harbor Commission, started with an objective to evaluate the current mooring fields and provide a recommendation for new guidelines that better define rows and fairways to improve navigation, safety, and optimization of space within the mooring fields and allow for additional city moorings to be located within the designated mooring fields. 

The system that is being reviewed by the Harbor Commission is to go from a single-row mooring field to a double-row mooring field with the assistance of a Helical anchor, which resembles a corkscrew. This anchor system is much better than what we are using now, which is concrete blocks. 

To get a better idea of what is being proposed refer to the post below where I have posted the complete 27-page PowerPoint presentation. 

Many of my friends don’t care for this concept of a double row mooring system and came up with a large number of concerns regarding retrieving and departing their moorings. I am going to step out of the edge of the plank here and say, I like the idea of updating our mooring fields and reducing the overall footprint of the fields. 

The Harbor Commission sub-committee will be meeting with the Newport Mooring Association to shape this proposed project before going in front of the Harbor Commission for approval of the recommendation at its next meeting in November, before going to the City Council.

The key part of this recommendation is to understand the testing process. A mooring field will be selected – let’s call it the C field. The first step is to take two rows or about six boats and then test the system to see if it works. Refer to the PowerPoint presentation to understand what all the different variables are in deciding if this system works. 

The next step would be to change the remainder of that field with this new system and again if it works then ask City Council if they want to proceed. At each testing period, the Mooring Association and mooring permit holders will have an opportunity to present their comments. I say let’s give it a try and see if it works!

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

Improving Newport Beach Moorings

 

On the Harbor: Keeping the Yachtsmen’s Luncheon an honored tradition

Len Bose speaking at the Yachtsmen’s Luncheon at Balboa Yacht Club

By LEN BOSE

Last week while attending the Wednesday Yachtsmen’s Luncheon, now at the Balboa Yacht Club, I immediately recognized familiar faces and old friends. The Yachtsmen’s Luncheon has a long history in our harbor dating back some 80 years.

Back in the day, the boys used to drink a little during lunch and quite often spend the remaining part of the day sailing or just hanging out in the Pirates Den at the Newport Harbor Yacht Club. Post-COVID, the luncheon has been moved to the Balboa Yacht Club being held every other Wednesday afternoon. The meetings have held onto many long-standing traditions over the years with attendees only needing an interest in boats and boating “without requiring membership in a yacht club or proof of COVID vaccination.” The last part of the last sentence is only a pun. 

Back in the early days when boys, could be boys, there was a raffle at each meeting for a bottle of gin, vodka, bourbon, Scotch, or rum with the raffle tickets selling for 50 cents each. After a decade or two of this, someone noticed that maybe that was not a good idea while referring to some sort of illegal gaming under California law. Another decade passed with the boys finally noticing that females should be invited into the luncheon. In my house, inviting the spouse is the only way I would be able to have cocktails at lunch.

Yet, before the luncheon was requested to “turn down the volume,” they had another tradition of the annual Balboa Ferry Luncheon sometime just before Christmas. One of the Balboa ferry boats would nose into the long dock where the bar, buffet table, staff and provisions were loaded aboard. This was well before there were seat belt laws or room capacity numbers, and the fun meter was pegged in the red for at least a two-hour cruise around the harbor. I recall hearing that the ferry had its running lights on one year while returning to the long dock. I would love to take part in some of that today. How many of you yachtsmen miss those days? I can already see all the yachtsmen in their Christmas Reyn Spooners, dressed up like Rudolph with their glowing red noses. Let’s ask UBER to sponsor this event for us...shall we?

Back on course Len…after lunch, each meeting starts with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, when newcomers get introduced and become a member for life. There are no dues, rules, fees, or bylaws followed by a fishing report and racing report. After this is completed, the speaker is introduced and topics run from sailing, boat designers and boat builders to cars, science and harbor politics. For me, the hour goes by quickly, and while leaving I have a rather big smile on my face. Not from the adult beverages, but rather from all the memories I have had with so many of the attendees.

Over the last two meetings, I have been invited to talk about the man overboard we had on Horizon this last summer and the Transpac race. I trust my presentations were well received and I look forward to many more in the future.

The future does have a small question mark in front of it and that’s where the luncheons will be held. It goes beyond my comprehension why the Newport Harbor Yacht Club would ever break from this long tradition by only allowing the yachtsmen to meet every third Wednesday at NHYC. I must be getting older, because this is when you see me shake my head, rub my face, follow up with more questions regarding the purpose of a yacht club? I’ve always felt yacht clubs are the guardians of our harbor’s history and traditions with the Yachtsmen Luncheon being kept in perpetuity at NHYC. 

• • •

Winter sailing starts up this weekend with BYC kicking off its Sunkist Series along with the NHYC Winter Series looking forward to both of them along with the annual H20 Fat Friday race, the Friday after Thanksgiving. My good friend Greg Newman and his crew will be running the races with more information being sent out soon. There is another trend starting to gain momentum in Southern California. Do you seasoned yachtsmen see what I did here? The Ericson 35 Mk II sailboat is making a comeback as a simple boat to sail in our harbors and maybe in a club race or two. With two very distinguished sailing teams in our harbor, refitting their newly acquired boats to the water is starting to warm up. There are two refitted boats in San Diego with another arriving soon in Alamitos Bay. This is a good thing and I plan on reporting more on this very soon.

Sea ya.

~~~~~~~~

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

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.