Put the whining in perspective
Ahoy.
I received a very exciting e-mail this week from a friend. Many in
our local boating community remember him as a very enthusiastic and
skilled commanding officer of the former Coast Guard cutter Point
Stuart.
Lt. Blake Novak commanded Point Stuart, which was stationed at
Newport Harbor before being decommissioned and replaced with the
cutter Narwhal.
Well, Blake has a new command in the Persian Gulf aboard the Coast
Guard patrol boat Wrangell, and he sent a positive message from the
bridge.
As you read his message, you will note the sentences might be
short, but that he did not remove the vowels. This means he has a
decent Internet connection -- probably on shore. Otherwise, when we
send e-mail from a vessel via satellite, we chop the messages short.
“All is well in the ... [Persian] Gulf. Everything is going great.
The mission is VERY busy and we are at sea quite a bit. The first
time in history that the Kuwaitis ever worked alongside the Iraqi
Navy. It was a milestone and we were the lucky CG [Coast Guard]
cutter that got to run the show. The Commodore came aboard and he
broke his pennant aboard Wrangell making us the ‘Flag Ship.’ It was
really cool.”
I have operated many private yachts with Blake in the past, and I
can attest to his ability. And those who know him understand his
commitment to his boat, crew and country.
Blake also mentioned that his crew is all-volunteer and that most
days it’s 100 degrees by 8 a.m.
He also wrote, “I can say that the Iraqis we see all really like
the USCG and coalitions forces over here. Why? Because they tell us
they feel safer and are less susceptible to piracy.”
Blake signed off with a message that some of you will appreciate:
“I hope everyone is doing well. I couldn’t have made it here
without your support, and I always feel lucky to have come from such
a great family and group of friends.”
Roger that, Blake, copy message and keep up the good work as we
appreciate the freedom your crew is affording us while we go boating
and fishing this summer ... transmission out.
My tip of the week is from an e-mail I received about some who
want to hurt the unselfishness and extraordinary efforts of a
volunteer program to revitalize the White Sea Bass population.
Those who know me know I am not a radical environmentalist who
can’t see the forest for the trees, but one who keeps issues in
perspective. Also, I believe everyone needs to be part of the
solution and not a complainer, especially when the whining is for
personal gain.
Well, J.D.’s Big Game Tackle Fish Report at o7www.jdsbiggame.com
/report.htm f7has a disturbing report that some want to have the
White Sea Bass pen removed from Newport Harbor.
The report states that some residents think it’s an eyesore.
I have stated in previous columns that if you think it is an
eyesore, then quit whining and help the program.
The pen is located in the A moorings at the bend on the furthest
row from the shore, more than 400 feet from shore.
You can view the pen on the City of Newport Beach’s website
(o7www6.city.newport-beach.ca.us/ website/InteractiveMap/map.aspf7)
by selecting aerial photos and mooring sites. Then zoom in on the A
moorings at the bend where you can see the rectangle pen in
relationship to shore. You will notice that when you are looking from
the shore, there are three other moored boats between the shore and
the pen.
Halfway around the world in the Persian Gulf, Blake is commanding
a cutter to bring freedom on the waterways. And here at home in
Newport Harbor, people are whining, trying to restrict the freedom of
those trying to help a species of fish in our ocean.
Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, Capt.
Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show. It airs every Saturday from
noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170).
You can join me, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland by calling the
listener line at (888) 344-1170.
Safe voyages.
* MIKE WHITEHEAD can be reached at o7mike@boathousetv.comf7 or
visit o7https://www.boathousetv.comf7.
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