Sailing weather returns

Ahoy.

The weather and sea conditions are looking better for sailing this weekend, and the storm systems should stay north of Southern California. The seas might kick up a little, but the Channel Islands should deflect most of the swells coming past Point Conception.

If the air temperature warms up, however, watch out for fog, especially in the mornings and late afternoons. The sunset has been spectacular the past few evenings, and views of the snow-capped mountains are visible from the ocean.

In my tip of the week last Friday, I encouraged everyone to check your anchor’s ground tackle, and I recommended pulling the rode onto the dock so it can be cleaned, inspected and marked every 10 or 20 feet. What I forgot to mention is to check with your marina office first on the protocol of laying and marking anchor rode on the docks.

Sean Walsh, director of development with the BellPort Group, sent me an e-mail message saying this was a good idea.

“It’s amazing how many tenants would simply drop an anchor on a dock, pay out the chain and rode and begin to spray-paint markings with little or no care for the R & R [rules and regulations], let alone the damage an anchor can cause to a dock’s surface or the overspray on the docks,” he wrote.

Sean makes an excellent point, and I should have noted this in my column. Check with your marina staff and pay extra attention that your project is not damaging the docks or neighboring boats. The next time your boat is hauled out at the shipyard would be the perfect time to drop your hook and lay out the anchor rode.

The tip of the week is to mark on your calendar the upcoming boat shows in Anaheim and Newport Beach.

First up is the 14th annual Orange County Boat Show at the Anaheim Convention Center, April 6 to 9. This show is produced by the Southern California Marine Assn. and presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Dave Geoffroy, executive director of the association, said he expects to see more entry-level buyers.

“For those families who might not yet know how to get into their first boat, our ‘Discover Boating’ exhibit can help explain what shape, size and price range might work best for their specific needs,” he said.

You can hear prerecorded boat show information at (888) BOAT-SHOW, speak with a live person at (714) 633-7581 or e-mail scma@scma.com.

Next up is the West’s most prestigious in-the-water boat show at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach from May 3 to 7. Once again my “Boathouse Radio Show” will be broadcasting live that Saturday at noon; our booth will be on the cobblestone street in front of Electra Cruises office.

For those looking for a cruise-worthy yacht, a serious offshore sport-fisher or a long-range trawler, this is your show. There will be spectacular vessels up to 100 feet long and with multimillion-dollar price tags. The Newport Boat show is organized by Duncan McIntosh Co., publisher of Sea and Go Boating magazines and the Log newspaper. For show information, call (949) 757-5959 or visit www.goboatingamerica.com.

Remember to tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation every Saturday at noon. “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” is on KCBQ-AM (1170) and can be heard online at www.boathouseradio.com.