MIKE WHITEHEAD -- The Harbor Column

Ahoy.

I had an exciting voyage to Catalina last week as the seawater

temperature was between 70 to 72 degrees, which made the sea critters

very active in the water. We had a beautiful Marlin jump numerous times

next to our yacht as I slowed to an idle speed to watch the show. Both

going over and returning home, we watched the dolphins, numbering in the

hundreds, with their little ones swimming playfully alongside their

parents. These mammals were jumping, flipping, swimming all around the

boat and surfing our wake all the while leaving us wondering why the

dolphins do not come inside Newport Harbor.

As I cruised back to the slip in Newport, I wondered if changes are in

the near future for Newport Harbor as far as waterfront properties go.

The Dunes Resort is looking for a buyer and some residents would like the

city of Newport Beach to purchase that land for a park.

The city also is deciding what to do with the tidelands property where

the American Legion and the Marina Trailer Park are located, between 15th

and 18th streets on the Balboa Peninsula. Strangely, one site, the Dunes,

was just shot down by the city for a hotel while the other site on the

peninsula is being proposed as a hotel.

Of course the Dunes still can build a smaller than proposed hotel on

the property that to my understanding would not trigger a Greenlight

vote, yet the peninsula site most likely will require a vote. With

Newport Beach being a tourist destination, it is interesting that the

only hotel on the bay front is the Balboa Bay Club, which is under major

renovation. Otherwise there is no other hotel located on the water with a

marina.

My big question is: Should the city of Newport Beach bid to purchase

the Dunes property or should this operation be left to private

enterprise? It’s an excellent property with lots of open space, parking,

a high-class marina, restaurant, limited meeting facilities, swimming

beach and the only public-accessible boat launch ramp in the harbor.

My concerns are that a government agency should not be a competitor

against private business, but mainly I am concerned with the longevity of

the only public boat launch ramp should a entrepreneur decide it is not

profitable to continue in operation.

I feel strongly that the city or county should have a public launch

ramp that would be better situated out of the Back Bay on the other side

of the Coast Highway bridge. The major question to everyone is where to

build such a facility, but at least having ownership of the Dunes launch

ramp would be an excellent start.

A few people have mentioned to me that instead of a hotel on the

peninsula, it would make sense to have a boat-launching facility that

could accommodate sailboats that cannot fit under the Coast Highway

bridge.

A lot of questions and not a lot of available land, so now is the time

to stay informed and give your input on how to shape the future of our

harbor.

***

Wow, my first weather forecast was accurate, considering I have to

prepare the forecast a week in advance, so let’s try this week. My

boating weather prediction for next week: The boating weather should be

favorable, a small storm front moving though the mountains last weekend

giving our coast a little thicker marine layer. Near the midweek, there

should be clearing with a little stronger onshore flow. Winds in the

afternoon of 10 to 15 knots will create 2- to 4-foot wind waves with

swells increasing to 3 to 5 feet from the west and northwest. Still keep

an eye on tropical storm Barry heading northwest from the Gulf to see if

it will have any noticeable effects in our area. Check the current

weather and sea conditions before you head on at o7

www.nwsla.noaa.govf7 or in the Daily Pilot.

As I sign off to head out on the high seas, my delivery I mentioned

last week to San Francisco has been postponed until probably this week.

As I promised, I will let you know how Point Conception treated us and

any exciting occurrences. Remember, the Lido Yacht Expo is coming Sept.

27 to 30, so more on that in next week’s column.

Safe voyages.

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

your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions via e-mail

to o7 [email protected] or o7 https://www.BoathouseTV.comf7 .