THE HARBOR COLUMN:Bananas on board and bad weather

Ahoy.

Wow, what a voyage I had last weekend when we cruised miles out on the Pacific from San Diego Harbor. I mentioned to you that I would be fishing in the Make-a-Wish Tuna Challenge, and that the seas looked good for the trip. Well, an upper level pressure system with heavy winds decided to set down on the ocean when we departed our slip at 10 p.m. on Friday night.

Our plans were to stay out on the water until Sunday morning, unless we caught our limit of fish. Our thoughts of the trip started to change when we were about an hour or two outside the harbor entrance and the heavy winds had turned the mixed set of seas coming from the south and west into a washing machine. Standing watch was a challenge, but trying to stay in your bunk trying to sleep was more of a challenge for those off watch.

The direction to our secret fishing grounds would set our course for the boat to sharply roll from side to side similar to being in the swells’ trough. However, we were not in the trough but confused seas. Eventually, stuff was strewn everywhere about the cabin, and trying to fix something to eat was not an option.

Upon morning light, the winds died down a little, and lines were cast into the water with seas washing over the transom from time to time. That was calm enough for Ray Tsuneyoshi, boating and waterways director for California, to make his specialty for the hungry crew. Tsuneyoshi, originally from Hawaii, emerged from the galley with ahi poke that he made with the raw ahi cut into nice cubes marinating in sesame oil, green onions, seaweed (he probably grabbed the seaweed from over the side), and some type of soy sauce. Just what the captain ordered: You can eat poke easily with your fingers while rolling in the seas — and it’s soothing for the stomach.

Well, we cruised the Pacific for miles, and not even Chandler Bell could reel in a fish. Bell was our ringer as he formerly operated Newport Beach’s acclaimed Bongos Sportfishing boats.

Then we found the source of our bad luck when someone pulled bananas from the galley that were either placed onboard when the vessel’s stores were stocked prior to our arrival or by one of our rival boaters in the tournament.

We finally decided to head for the slip, and after 17 hours, the dock lines were secured to the cleats at the San Diego Yacht Club. Now, my mission is to find a stuffed skunk to send the Maritime Institute so that they can proudly display the skunk aboard their boat until a fish is caught.

The tip of the week is for boaters to join in on Newport Beach’s Centennial Pier to Pier Celebration this Sunday. The plan is to have a parade of boats cruising between the Balboa and Newport piers during the celebration.

“As chairperson of Newport Beach Centennial for two years, we are finally coming to an end,” Dayna Pettit said by e-mail. “A parade of boats from Pier to Pier between 3 and 4 p.m. to show the world that we are indeed a world-class city of boats as well as beautiful harbors and beaches. We expect 25,000 to 30,000 people to attend our Pier to Pier celebration, and it would be wonderful to show off our boating community.”

I am committed to another event during that time, but you can find out more details and register at www.newportbeach100.com or call 949-644-3151.

Lastly, I would like to ask what you thought about last year’s Christmas Boat Parade when I was announcing the parade in front of the Balboa Fun Zone. I am interested to know if you have any ideas how to improve the “voice of the parade” — OK, besides replacing me.

Do you think my announcements add to the quality of the parade?

Remember to tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation every Saturday at noon. “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” is on KCBQ-AM (1170) and can be heard online at www.boathouseradio.com.

Safe voyages.