Need a dock? Be my guest

Ahoy.

Sailing this weekend? I can see small craft advisories when I look to the outer waters of the Pacific, but locally the seas should be fine, with a chance of showers. Our seas, as well as seas north to the Gulf of Alaska, are under 8 feet, with most around 5 feet, which tells me that our swells will be flat this weekend unless the wind picks up in the afternoons.

But if you don’t feel like sailing or, if it’s raining, then I have the perfect nautical event for you to attend this Saturday at noon ? or 1200 hours in nautical terms.

My radio show will be broadcasting live from the Bluewater Grill restaurant on Newport’s Rhine Channel. We will be talking about where the guest docks are located in Newport Harbor and boater’s etiquette when using a guest dock. You can join us by land or boat, as the Bluewater Grill has a guest dock, one of the few in Newport Harbor.

Speaking of public guest docks, Newport Beach’s City Council is reviewing options for Marinapark.

Marinapark is the harbor-front, city-owned property on the Balboa Peninsula between 15th and 19th streets. When the trailers are vacated, this land will be converted into a park-like setting that would be perfect for a city-operated marina and guest docks. I want to remind everyone that there are no public guest-dock facilities in the harbor for visiting boaters, and that is sad, especially since Newport is such a large recreational harbor.

Boating is a huge revenue-generator for California, and boaters each year spend more than $19 billion in California alone, not to mention the rest of the nation. Many people try to depict boaters as elitist, saying a marina would be for a privileged few of the public. That cannot be further from the truth, as the majority of boaters are you and me, members of the working class who enjoy this form of recreation. The majority of boats owned are less than 26 feet in length, and many are driven down to their water playgrounds.

Newport Harbor is home to some larger or expensive yachts because of the excellence of our harbor, with the protection and plethora of amenities surrounding the bay. However, if you look around the harbor, you will notice the large number of small to medium-sized vessels in comparison to large or mega-yachts.

Marinapark is well suited for a marina, and the financial side looks good too. There is a waiting list for slips in almost every harbor in Southern California. The slips will be easily rented, and visiting boaters can tie up for a night.

But, how about the cost to build a marina, you ask? Well, the California Department of Boating & Waterways has grants and low-interest loans to build marinas and shore-side facilities.

My biggest question or trepidation is where are all the boaters and those in the boating industry on issues such as this one? The boaters and the people who are in the boating businesses must become active to help shape the future of boating in this harbor before it is surrounded by condos and then only the elitist will have water access to the bay.

The tip of the week is for all you landlubbers to put on your calendars the start date of the Lexus Newport to Ensenada Race ? noon on Friday, April 28. I invite everyone to come join me on the bluffs above Corona del Mar State Beach, where I will be announcing the start of the race. I will tell you about the starts and the race in general, and as usual I might have a joke or two. It will be fun to watch the world’s largest international yacht race, with hundreds of sailboats making the trek south of the border. If you have never seen the start, it is spectacular, and I will keep you informed of what is happening on the water.

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.

Safe voyages.