A richly deserved reward

Ahoy.

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, and as you read the No. 1 boating

and harbor column in our local newspapers, OK so it is the only

column of this type in our local papers, I will be cruising off the

coast heading either for lunch in Avalon on Catalina Island or

Rainbow Harbor in Long Beach. I will see if the yacht’s waterline has

moved up from my Mom’s Thanksgiving dinner.

Then on Saturday, I will be shifting down the coast to San Diego

Harbor to teach a new boat owners class. These classes can be

hair-raising for the new boat owners who will be learning to dock

their new yacht for the first time while not leaving a scratch on

their yacht that costs more than an average home, or two in the

Midwest. So, next Friday I will let you know about any amusing

happenings. Recently, Deputy Pat Fergus with the Orange County

Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol received national recognition from the

National Assn. of State Boating Law Administrators at its 43rd annual

conference. Pat was awarded California’s Boating Law Enforcement

Officer of the YearA tribute to boating law enforcement officers, in

the November/December 2002 issue of Small Craft Advisory begins with,

“The responsibilities of today’s boating law enforcement officers

encompass a wide diversity of disciplines. Boating officers are

responsible for much more than enforcing laws. They must also educate

the public, save lives, facilitate wildlife conservation, protect

citizens, among numerous other duties. Often officers go above and

beyond the call of duty.” I could not have said it any better how the

nation’s harbor patrols are adapting to all aspects associated with

managing our waterways.

Deputy Fergus, with more than 30 years in the Sheriff’s

Department, is an expert in the aspects of operating a harbor patrol.

The Orange County Harbor Patrol, which covers three harbors and miles

of coastline, is the largest harbor patrol operation on the West

Coast. Pat is known throughout the waters as one of the best training

officers for patrol personnel and he develops much of the course

details.

Pat developed the Marine Fire Academy where he serves as the

senior instructor and trains not only his own deputies, but also

those from other harbors. It is great that Pat’s dedication to the

profession is recognized. When you see him, thank him for all his

hard work.

Russell Sipe, who is a proud new boat owner and a journalist,

e-mailed me to sat that I never answered the question of the week in

my Oct. 14 column -- How is a boater supposed to pass Newport’s

channel marker No. 8 when inbound? This is the marker directly out

from the harbormaster’s office, between the two mooring areas, where

the channel narrows like an hour glass.

Russell responded “When I read the question I had to think about

that marker. I believe that is a red triangle marker thus you would

leave it to starboard when returning from the sea. However in the few

times I have brought Star Cruiser in I have left “8” to port as it

seems the logical thing to do since the marker seems to be in the

middle of the channel. I have not noticed how others take that mark

but I suspect that many returning boats take it to port and that is

why you have posed the question.” Only a journalist would read

between my lines and dig deeper into why I posed the question in the

first place.

Russell is correct, when inbound, technically, you should leave

channel marker 8 to your starboard side, however, local boaters

usually leaves it to the port side because marker 8 is set near the

middle of the channel due to the radius of the single point mooring

cans used by the Balboa Yacht Club.

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.