Casting off on a safe voyage to Alameda

Ahoy.

Hurricane Hernan, now a tropical storm, kicked up big swells along

our coast last week as the system turned northerly after crossing

over to the Pacific from the Gulf. We are fortunate that hurricanes

do not hit our coastline like in the Southeast because our local

ocean water temperature is often too cold, causing a hurricane to

weaken. I have been closely tracking the weather systems from both

the north and the south because tomorrow I will cast off on another

voyage. Chad Bolken, my first officer from San Diego, and I are

delivering a Navigator 56-foot private yacht from Newport Harbor to

the Ballena Isle Marina in Alameda.

I have been in e-mail contact with Janet Van Klompenburg, the

Ballena’s marina office manager. She has been very helpful answering

my questions since I have never been to this marina. Janet is very

customer service-oriented as she arranged for our late arrival plus

she will arrange a taxicab for us the next morning to the Oakland

Airport.

Planning our Newport departure, I am hoping that we will cruise

behind Hernan’s generated swells, but I expect the seas to be mixed

sets hitting us from the south and west. This makes the seas seem

confused and wind waves will have a profound effect, blowing off the

tops. As most of you who have ventured offshore by Central California

know, the winds can blow heavily from noontime on into the wee hours

of the morning.

The next day, which just happens to be Sept. 11, I have planned a

fuel stop in Morro Bay that I expect will raise suspicions in the

predawn morning hours as we enter the harbor. I anticipate increased

security measures for the day and I expect to be greeted by a

boarding party. After fueling, we plan a nonstop trip to San

Francisco Bay, and I expect this major shipping port to be heavily

patrolled as well.

My float plan estimates that we will cruise underneath the Golden

Gate Bridge at 9 p.m. that night, however, I do have an ace up my

sleeve. Many of you might remember Lt. (jg) Blake Novak, who was the

commanding officer of Newport Harbor’s Coast Guard Cutter Point

Stuart, which was decommissioned and replaced with the cutter

Narwhal. Well, I will pick up Blake from the San Francisco marina by

the Saint Francis Yacht Club, which is the first marina less than two

miles once you go under the Golden Gate Bridge.

So, my second anticipated boarding will probably go very smooth

with a Coast Guard member aboard my vessel. I have not seen Blake in

a few years, so this is a great way to once again cruise together and

have him guide us to Alameda where he is now stationed. In my next

week’s column, I will fill you in on this trip’s highlights.

Tip of the week is for you to attend the Newport Beach Harbor

Commission meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council chambers.

This will be the first meeting I will miss and I have a concern about

the vessel size suggested for the proposed Rhine Wharf float between

the Cannery and the Blue Water Grill.

At the previous commission meeting, it was mentioned that the new

wharf might be restricted to dinghies under 15 feet. I was hoping to

speak at this meeting and address the problem for somewhere, anywhere

in Newport Harbor, that is public where I can dock a yacht. The Blue

Water Grill currently has docking for dinghies, and I was hoping that

the new Rhine Wharf float would be able to accommodate me when, for

example, I am cruising in a Carver 530 looking for a bite to eat.

Plus, as I stress, there is nowhere in Newport a visiting boater can

dock for a couple of hours. Additionally, to alleviate any concerns,

charter boats will not be able to use the dock for loading or

unloading of passengers.

At the meeting, there will also be reports and discussion on

relocating mooring anchorage area, signage on bay public docks,

dredging in the Navigational Channels, eelgrass and dinghy storage.

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 [email protected] or BoathouseTV.com.