MAILBAG:

OK! That’s it! That’s all! That’s the last straw!

If ever there was a clinching argument in favor of Newport Beach returning the Harbor Patrol from the County Sheriff’s Department to city control and staff, it came Wednesday night before a full house of experienced sailors in City Council chambers.

While addressing the Harbor Commission regarding recent questionable Harbor Patrol policing actions during sailboat races in the harbor, Sheriff’s Capt. Deana Bergquist — our ‘Harbor Master’ — said, “Newport Harbor is the only harbor along the coast that allows sailboat races inside the harbor.”

What harbors don’t? “San Diego, Mission Bay ...” before her voice was drowned out by the audience’s verbal disbelief and laughter. For the record, all Southern California harbors, except Port Hueneme and house yacht clubs allow sailboat racing or instruction inside their harbor.

In fairness to Bergquist — and all of her deputies — don’t blame her, she knows not of what she speaketh.

Blame the bureaucratic bungle that trains sheriff’s deputies to control criminals — including serving as jail guards — and then rotates them into the Harbor Patrol, expecting them to deal with the different world of boaters enjoying their hobby, not with crime and criminals.

They aren’t “water people” (post-PC version of time-honored term “waterman”), and they aren’t familiar with the unique factors of this assignment.

Take back control of our harbor, and do it now!

And which city department should do the job?

Earlier that Wednesday, during a discussion of the subject at the weekly Yachtsmen’s Luncheon at Newport Harbor Yacht Club, well-known sailor Chuck Brewer suggested the lifeguards!

A perfect fit: Lifeguards are water people; they are superb boat handlers; their boats are more nimble than the county’s and designed to rescue people in and on the water; they are trained to help people in distress rather than apprehend criminals.

What about the county’s red fire boats? No problem: Lifeguards are part of the city fire department — a bit of cross-training on fire suppression and they’re ready.

The city can and will find the money to purchase the Harbor Patrol headquarters and boat shop from the county. And perhaps the red fire boats, or we can build improved versions that are lighter, faster and throw less wake.

And we can arrange for the county to maintain their boats used in the other two county harbors, in the shop.

So again, don’t abandon the thousands of men, women and children who thrive on almost a hundred years of sailboat racing in our harbor: Take back control of our harbor, and do it now!

GORDON GLASS

Newport Beach

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