Storms will blow

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

I mentioned in my last column that this week, I am delivering a

yacht to her new home in Newport Harbor from Lake Union, Wash. If my

float plan holds true, then I hope to be south of San Francisco Bay’s

entrance by the time you read this column. I can tell you that a lot

can happen on a long voyage that can change your plans.

The sea conditions are the No. 1 concern, and the conditions are

produced by the weather. Weather, but from where? This time of year,

you have to watch to the north, the east, the south and the west. The

weather from the Gulf of Alaska is usually the largest influence in

the North Pacific, affecting the sea conditions down coast into

Mexico. Boaters will need to look to the north and to the east for

weather pressure systems coming from the polar region.

However, this time of year is also hurricane season, and the Gulf

of Mexico is getting pounded by the storms. Hurricanes move east to

west, which is opposite of the normal weather pattern. The

19th-century French mathematician Gustave-Gaspard Coriolis described

a force in 1835 we now call the Coriolis effect or Coriolis force.

This is the inertial force created by the spinning earth that causes

the water in your toilet to rotate clockwise when you flush. Well,

the force also affects the weather and wind patterns.

Another interesting feature about a hurricane is that the cyclone

needs warm water to generate its intense amount of energy. Water

vapor is very powerful -- just look at a steam locomotive -- and once

the hurricane reaches land, it will start to lose power.

So boaters need to keep an eye out to the south for hurricanes

coming across Mexico about 1,500 nautical miles north of the equator.

In addition, hurricanes that have turned north while in the Gulf of

Mexico across Texas and New Mexico might affect Southern California

with rain and humidity.

*

Looking to the north -- and I am referring to Sacramento --

another state department is trying to steal our money from the

Department of Boating and Waterways. The major source of revenues to

fund department projects and programs is from the Harbors and

Watercraft Revolving Fund, which is funded by the Motor Vehicle Fuel

Account, the money boater’s pay in gasoline taxes.

The boating department has completed a statewide boating facility

needs assessment that estimated the demand for boating facility

construction, replacement, expansion and improvement totals $800

million over the next decade. To date, the department has received

$188 million in applications for projects in the 2004-05 fiscal year.

Annually, $663,000 from the fund is transferred to State Parks, and

another $11.6 million a year has been transferred from the gas tax to

parks, thus cutting the department’s resources.

For the past two years, and projected to continue for two more

fiscal years, the transfer to parks from the tax has increased to $27

million to pay for the operation of park units with boating-related

activities. Cal Boating has limited the number of planned grant and

loan projects and cut $10 million in its capital outlay program,

which builds boating facilities on state lands.

Based on the multiplier effect, every dollar that is spent by

State Parks for operation and maintenance instead of the construction

of needed boating facilities by the boating department hurts the

economy by the loss of 22 cents in indirect expenditures.

Cal Boating’s five-year infrastructure plan for capital outlay

estimates that more than $13 million is needed annually to meet the

demand for boating facilities construction on state lands.

*

The Tip of the Week is to visit the 25th Lido Yacht Expo happening

now at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach. You have today and this

weekend to tour California’s all-big-boat boat show, which is

redefining “marine luxury.” Have you seen the $13.5-million

mega-yacht Dakota yet?

The show is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today, from 10 a.m. to 7

p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission costs $10

for adults and is free for children 12 and younger.

For more information, call the Duncan McIntosh Co. at (949)

757-5959 or visit https:// www.goboatingamerica.com.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to mike@boathousetv.com or visit boathousetv.com.