Deputy Lundy knows Newport Harbor

Ahoy.

“Born on the buoy outside Newport Harbor and delivered to the dock

by dolphins,” is how it is thought Terry Lundy first arrived to this

area. An Orange County Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol deputy since October

1969, Terry has retired after three decades, tying up his patrol boat

for the last time Friday.

Terry started close to the water, on the beach at Newport Beach

Elementary School and then graduated from Newport Harbor High School.

After attending both Orange Coast College and Cal State Long Beach,

he was highly decorated in the Army while serving in Vietnam.

At the time he joined the harbor patrol, the Upper Back Bay was

active with water skiers, and I was peddling my bicycle daily along

Coast Highway delivering this very newspaper. Terry has seen the

changes of time, and I would like to see him and local historian Art

Gronsky write a book together about the harbor.

Terry started his boating career aboard the Balboa Island Ferry

boats, working there for 12 years. Terry earned the U.S. Coast Guard

Ocean Operator License -- now called the Master’s License -- which

only a few harbor patrol deputies hold.

Let’s not forget Lundy’s Law, which every new deputy, as well as

the explorers, learn from Terry’s guidance as a field training

officer. Most of the boating public has heard this reference while on

the water.

Throughout his tenure, Terry has received many service awards from

Orange County Board of Supervisors, the American Legion, Exchange

Club of Orange Coast, California Department of Boating and Waterways

and the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, just to name a few.

Last January, Sheriff Mike Corona presented Terry an award of

appreciation for 19 years of service to the Explorer program, which

helps boys and girls achieve their dreams while developing their

self-worth. I have seen Terry work endlessly at events such as Clean

Harbor Day, where he not only guides his explorers, but rolls up his

sleeves to do whatever is necessary.

Looks like Terry will not lose his navigational skills, as he

plans to sail in the Bahamas aboard his brother’s sailboat. Also

switching from boats to his new fifth-wheel RV, Terry, along with

wife Joanne, dog Cody and two cats, will be exploring the states and

Canada from the land side.

The dolphins told me that this Thursday, Oct. 24, is his

retirement party at the American Legion.

* * *

I promised to tell you about my voyages last week aboard three

different boats. My journeys started in San Diego with a married

couple who are both physicians from Sacramento. They purchased a

yacht for their family, and we began with the offshore delivery out

in international waters off San Diego, where we also saw a submarine

heading out to sea.

Once back at the docks, I began instruction, immersing them in the

vessel’s intricacies, from the engine room to the electronics,

concluding the next day with close quarter handling and docking.

Over the years, one skill I have developed is to step on a boat

for the first time and immediately be able to take command or give

lessons. The new boat owners’ expectation of a professional captain

is to step aboard any boat at any time in all weather conditions and

perfectly dock the boat the first time.

Hey, that’s not fair compared to other professions like the

(soon-to-be World Series champion) Angels baseball team, which gives

their pitchers warmup pitches. New boat owners are always amazed at

how their boats can be maneuvered without the Goofy-goes-sailing

scenario.

Then my voyages took me south of the border twice to Ensenada

delivering new yachts for the 91-day yacht club. The low-pressure

system that is bringing us this cloudy, drizzly weather also brings

flat seas. Whenever possible, I try to follow low-pressure systems

when cruising off the coast, and it paid off with 2-foot seas and

very little wind.

The effect is commonly referred to as the calm before the storm,

and I watch for the conditions changing to a sou-wester to know when

the conditions might turn bad. Next week, I will fill you in about

these trips.

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.