THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Ahoy,

I would like to say thank you to everyone who joined us Friday at Lookout Point Park to watch the start of Newport Ocean Sailing Assn.’s Newport to Ensenada Race. I had a good time announcing the start of the race where I was joined by Chandler Bell, who is my radio show manager, David Muller, executive director of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, and Jan Bussman with KLAA-AM (830) at Anaheim Stadium.

Also, we had a special appearance from our Boathouse Girls who posed for photos with many of you. Spectators were filling up the park an hour before the start of the race. It was standing-room-only by race time, plus a few tour minibuses stopped by to see the excitement.

It appeared everyone had a good time even with my nautical jokes, and I appreciate all the positive comments about my announcing over the public address system, but how many of you told me you enjoy reading my weekly Harbor Column? So I guess my Mom is not my only reader.

The winds made it slow going on the start lines last Friday for the race, but light winds from the southwest kept the southbound boats sailing closer to shore. This year my wind prediction missed the target as the high- and low-pressure systems did not shift as I thought, though, I nailed the overall uncorrected time that I predicted the first boat, Doug Baker’s Magnitude 80, would cross the finish line in Ensenada.

Tip of the week is for every boater to show your support for the new bill, S. 2766, The Clean Boating Act of 2008. This bill will provide a permanent exemption for recreational boaters, anglers and charter boats from the Environmental Protection Agency discharge permit requirement designed for ships.

Now all vessels in the country must have a discharge permit by Sept. 30 for any discharges from their boat, such as bilge pumps and engine cooling water.

This new bill, which includes all the former contents of S. 2067 and HR2550, has the best chance of gaining support from both Democrats and Republicans.

Every boater, anger, and boat owner should go to boatus.com/gov.

Remember to tune in at 11 a.m. Saturday to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” on KLAA-AM (830).

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathousetv.com or go to www.boathousetv.com.