MIKE WHITEHEAD -- The Harbor Column

Quite a few readers have asked for me to write about my 404-nautical

mile voyage aboard Bayport Yachts Carver 530 from Newport Harbor to Gas

Cove in San Francisco, a trip that requires rounding the notorious Point

Conception, so here is a brief synopsis.

For this trip, we needed all the fuel we could hold until our next

fuel stop 327 nautical miles away at Santa Cruz Harbor, the city that

proclaims to be a no-nuke city -- whatever that means. No microwaves,

perhaps? So, on the way out of Newport was my customary stop at Hill’s

Fuel Service where Gary Hill topped off our diesel tanks, and allowed

time for Tim West, my first officer & engineer, to replace the primary

fuel filters. It is always a pleasure to chat with Gary, who is a wealth

of sea-going knowledge plus a master of Point Conception.

Departing Newport at noontime in bumpy yet tolerable sea conditions

only worsened when we entered the Santa Barbara Channel where the

shipping lanes turn at Port Huenume. The sun was starting to set and the

winds were increasing 20 to 30 knots building the seas at 6 to 8 feet

with a 5-second interval that began to pound the yacht. I tried to get a

break from the seas by shadowing in the lee of a freighter going about 15

knots, but we had to slow down to 12 knots going around Point Conception,

constantly taking water over our flybridge from the wind chop.

The seas began to lessen nearing Point Sur where the Pacific became a

pond with smooth water for the rest of the trip, however now comes the

fog after our fuel stop at Santa Cruz. We hit a thick fog bank with less

than a quarter mile visibility, making us navigate only by radar, GPS,

listening for signals, and monitoring vessel traffic service for the

reports of inbound and outbound ship activity.

This made the approach to San Francisco Bay a little difficult as, of

course, the fog thickens between the hills at the San Francisco Bay

entrance so much that we could not see the Golden Gate Bridge as we

passed underneath hoping not to t-bone the inbound support column that

radar cannot differentiate. Funny, as we were approaching Gas Cove just a

couple miles in from the Golden Gate, the fog lifted allowing us to find

the small-protected opening to the Cove where we stepped off and the

owner stepped on to continue to his home port at Discovery Bay. Another

safe trip and no trip for the faint hearted, I asked myself “Why do I

keep doing this? For the adventure? No. The money?”

***

On another topic, I remember when going boating in the harbor also

meant stocking up on a supply of water balloons to defend yourself while

sailing the harbor. Well, unfortunately, the art of simply tossing a

water balloon has been enhanced with water balloon launchers with such a

high velocity that can severely injure someone’s eyes, and I have been

advised that even a hand tossed balloon hitting the face can cause eye

damage.

Most everyone knows that water balloons have been banned on the harbor

for a while yet the other night a boater was being bombed from Balboa

Island. Lucky, only his boat was hit and no one onboard was injured from

the balloons, and the Harbor Department promptly responded to stop the

assault. However, things can turn bad. In the Aug. 10 - 23, 2001 issue of

the Log Newspaper, I read an article about a deputy sheriff receiving

injuries to both eyes from a water balloon launched from a 47-foot Coast

Guard vessel while both units were patrolling a part of Lake Michigan.

I can imagine the surprise attack to probably relieve a little stress

from the day only to turn bad. Keep in mind that water balloons cause

blindness but also the rubber skin that falls into the water will harm

any sea creature that thinks it is lunch. Play it safe, let me know how

you play on the water.

***

The Lido Yacht Expo is here again at the Lido Marina Village in

Newport Beach from Sept. 27 to 30, and it has earned the reputation for

being Southern California’s premiere fall yacht showcase. This upscale

boat show is specifically designed for serious buyers and sellers of big

boats with exhibitors of marine products only. The show has been expanded

with a new layout to host more yachts in the water and easy to find

exhibitor displays. If you are looking to buy a boat or in need of

services like finance, insurance, electronics and equipment, then this is

the show for you. For more information, e-mail o7

[email protected] or call (949) 757-5959 and be sure to

say you read it here in the Daily Pilot’s Boating & Harbor 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 .