Put the whining in perspective

Ahoy.

I received a very exciting e-mail this week from a friend. Many in

our local boating community remember him as a very enthusiastic and

skilled commanding officer of the former Coast Guard cutter Point

Stuart.

Lt. Blake Novak commanded Point Stuart, which was stationed at

Newport Harbor before being decommissioned and replaced with the

cutter Narwhal.

Well, Blake has a new command in the Persian Gulf aboard the Coast

Guard patrol boat Wrangell, and he sent a positive message from the

bridge.

As you read his message, you will note the sentences might be

short, but that he did not remove the vowels. This means he has a

decent Internet connection -- probably on shore. Otherwise, when we

send e-mail from a vessel via satellite, we chop the messages short.

“All is well in the ... [Persian] Gulf. Everything is going great.

The mission is VERY busy and we are at sea quite a bit. The first

time in history that the Kuwaitis ever worked alongside the Iraqi

Navy. It was a milestone and we were the lucky CG [Coast Guard]

cutter that got to run the show. The Commodore came aboard and he

broke his pennant aboard Wrangell making us the ‘Flag Ship.’ It was

really cool.”

I have operated many private yachts with Blake in the past, and I

can attest to his ability. And those who know him understand his

commitment to his boat, crew and country.

Blake also mentioned that his crew is all-volunteer and that most

days it’s 100 degrees by 8 a.m.

He also wrote, “I can say that the Iraqis we see all really like

the USCG and coalitions forces over here. Why? Because they tell us

they feel safer and are less susceptible to piracy.”

Blake signed off with a message that some of you will appreciate:

“I hope everyone is doing well. I couldn’t have made it here

without your support, and I always feel lucky to have come from such

a great family and group of friends.”

Roger that, Blake, copy message and keep up the good work as we

appreciate the freedom your crew is affording us while we go boating

and fishing this summer ... transmission out.

My tip of the week is from an e-mail I received about some who

want to hurt the unselfishness and extraordinary efforts of a

volunteer program to revitalize the White Sea Bass population.

Those who know me know I am not a radical environmentalist who

can’t see the forest for the trees, but one who keeps issues in

perspective. Also, I believe everyone needs to be part of the

solution and not a complainer, especially when the whining is for

personal gain.

Well, J.D.’s Big Game Tackle Fish Report at o7www.jdsbiggame.com

/report.htm f7has a disturbing report that some want to have the

White Sea Bass pen removed from Newport Harbor.

The report states that some residents think it’s an eyesore.

I have stated in previous columns that if you think it is an

eyesore, then quit whining and help the program.

The pen is located in the A moorings at the bend on the furthest

row from the shore, more than 400 feet from shore.

You can view the pen on the City of Newport Beach’s website

(o7www6.city.newport-beach.ca.us/ website/InteractiveMap/map.aspf7)

by selecting aerial photos and mooring sites. Then zoom in on the A

moorings at the bend where you can see the rectangle pen in

relationship to shore. You will notice that when you are looking from

the shore, there are three other moored boats between the shore and

the pen.

Halfway around the world in the Persian Gulf, Blake is commanding

a cutter to bring freedom on the waterways. And here at home in

Newport Harbor, people are whining, trying to restrict the freedom of

those trying to help a species of fish in our ocean.

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 can be reached at [email protected] or

visit o7https://www.boathousetv.comf7.