Casting off on a safe voyage to Alameda
Ahoy.
Hurricane Hernan, now a tropical storm, kicked up big swells along
our coast last week as the system turned northerly after crossing
over to the Pacific from the Gulf. We are fortunate that hurricanes
do not hit our coastline like in the Southeast because our local
ocean water temperature is often too cold, causing a hurricane to
weaken. I have been closely tracking the weather systems from both
the north and the south because tomorrow I will cast off on another
voyage. Chad Bolken, my first officer from San Diego, and I are
delivering a Navigator 56-foot private yacht from Newport Harbor to
the Ballena Isle Marina in Alameda.
I have been in e-mail contact with Janet Van Klompenburg, the
Ballena’s marina office manager. She has been very helpful answering
my questions since I have never been to this marina. Janet is very
customer service-oriented as she arranged for our late arrival plus
she will arrange a taxicab for us the next morning to the Oakland
Airport.
Planning our Newport departure, I am hoping that we will cruise
behind Hernan’s generated swells, but I expect the seas to be mixed
sets hitting us from the south and west. This makes the seas seem
confused and wind waves will have a profound effect, blowing off the
tops. As most of you who have ventured offshore by Central California
know, the winds can blow heavily from noontime on into the wee hours
of the morning.
The next day, which just happens to be Sept. 11, I have planned a
fuel stop in Morro Bay that I expect will raise suspicions in the
predawn morning hours as we enter the harbor. I anticipate increased
security measures for the day and I expect to be greeted by a
boarding party. After fueling, we plan a nonstop trip to San
Francisco Bay, and I expect this major shipping port to be heavily
patrolled as well.
My float plan estimates that we will cruise underneath the Golden
Gate Bridge at 9 p.m. that night, however, I do have an ace up my
sleeve. Many of you might remember Lt. (jg) Blake Novak, who was the
commanding officer of Newport Harbor’s Coast Guard Cutter Point
Stuart, which was decommissioned and replaced with the cutter
Narwhal. Well, I will pick up Blake from the San Francisco marina by
the Saint Francis Yacht Club, which is the first marina less than two
miles once you go under the Golden Gate Bridge.
So, my second anticipated boarding will probably go very smooth
with a Coast Guard member aboard my vessel. I have not seen Blake in
a few years, so this is a great way to once again cruise together and
have him guide us to Alameda where he is now stationed. In my next
week’s column, I will fill you in on this trip’s highlights.
Tip of the week is for you to attend the Newport Beach Harbor
Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council chambers.
This will be the first meeting I will miss and I have a concern about
the vessel size suggested for the proposed Rhine Wharf float between
the Cannery and the Blue Water Grill.
At the previous commission meeting, it was mentioned that the new
wharf might be restricted to dinghies under 15 feet. I was hoping to
speak at this meeting and address the problem for somewhere, anywhere
in Newport Harbor, that is public where I can dock a yacht. The Blue
Water Grill currently has docking for dinghies, and I was hoping that
the new Rhine Wharf float would be able to accommodate me when, for
example, I am cruising in a Carver 530 looking for a bite to eat.
Plus, as I stress, there is nowhere in Newport a visiting boater can
dock for a couple of hours. Additionally, to alleviate any concerns,
charter boats will not be able to use the dock for loading or
unloading of passengers.
At the meeting, there will also be reports and discussion on
relocating mooring anchorage area, signage on bay public docks,
dredging in the Navigational Channels, eelgrass and dinghy storage.
Safe voyages.
* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist.
Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story
suggestions via e-mail to Mike@BoathouseTV.com or BoathouseTV.com.
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