A perfect time for sailing

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

I like sailing this time of year even though it might be a little

chilly on the water -- at least you can pick your spot at the empty

anchorages.

I bundle up with lots of layers to keep warm, and I always bring

extra jackets for my landlubber friends who forget how the wind

chills when blowing across the water.

In the new power yachts, I simply change the temperature on the

heating control unit in the pilothouse.

Recently, we have had weather systems pound the coastal areas, and

this can create hazards for boating. The rain runoff affects boaters

in a couple of ways that you may not think about when leaving your

dock.

First, harbors or cruising areas that the river systems empty into

will experience swift runoff currents. I have seen the runoff water

raise the water level in harbors and at times snap docks like tree

twigs. Narrow areas in the harbors will become swift rivers, and

those areas can make passage or docking difficult.

The other hazard that I want to talk about are the “things”

floating in the water that can hurt your boat.

The smaller debris can restrict or clog your engine’s sea

strainer, causing the engine to overheat. However, there are larger

“things” floating in the water that can cause sinkable damage to your

boat.

Last month, delivery captain Mitch Keeler reported to me that he

was dodging big items like refrigerators floating off the northern

Channel Islands. That would cause a bump in the night that I do not

want to hear.

It is very common to see telephone poles, trees and other floating

objects find their way many miles off the beach and into your

cruising leg.

Logs typically are called dead heads floating in the water,

because when the log becomes waterlogged it will float vertically.

At this point, only about a foot or less of the log is exposed

above the waterline, and the logs can puncture a hole or hit your

propeller.

Have you thought about damage control and what to do in case you

hit an object that makes a hole?

Of course you have, and first you will alert the Coast Guard or

Harbor Patrol of your situation. Give a radio call on VHF marine band

channel 16. If you are a member of a towing service, then call them.

I am pleasantly surprised that boating is actually getting safer

despite the doom and gloom of the media reports! The way I read the

boating statistics, last year was the safest year for boating even

with the increase of people participating in boating. I will have

more on the statistics in an upcoming column.

News of week

Our local harbormaster is retiring in March after a 31-plus-year

career with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Captain Greg

Russell, who is my friend and every boater’s friend, will be moving

out of state this summer for his dream home that he and his wife are

building. Russell has worked his way up the ladder at the Harbor

Patrol after beginning as a patrol deputy to the harbormaster. It is

always good to have a harbormaster who is an actual boater like

Russell, and he participated in the local boating community.

Russell sent me good news in an e-mail about Lt. Erin Giudice who

is the second in command at the harbor. Russell said: “Our own Lt.

Erin Giudice, of the O.C. Sheriff’s Harbor Patrol, has been elected

to the board of directors of the California Assn. of Harbormasters &

Port Captains. This is a very important group within the boating

industry, and her addition to its board will assure that our local

voice will be heard at the state level.”

Hey Greg, you are always welcome back to Newport, and you have an

open invitation to call my radio show anytime in your retirement.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.”

It airs every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You

can join me, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland by calling the listener

line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe voyages.

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

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit https://www.boathouse

tv.com.