Wow! It’s hard to believe that this weekend is Labor Day Weekend. This event usually is Newport Harbor’s busiest boating activity of the year.
This is also a reminder to the active boaters that the off –season (an oxymoron) will begin at the holiday’s ending.
The reason I mention this is that while the off-season commences, it will still provide an active boating time with warm weather and less boating traffic.
September, and many times October, can be the superior time for offshore fishing. The ocean temperatures remain warm, and the dorado and yellow fin tuna continue to swim with the warm currents.
Last Friday I delivered a yacht to Alamitos Bay. Just before the river jetty I noticed a tugboat pulling an emptied barge. Newport Harbor Resources Director, Chris Miller, confirmed on Tuesday that the work is a beach replenishment project where clean sand is removed from the city Marina Park site and deposited where needed, including the water off 48th St. with the hope that it will build more sand.
We had two fishing tournaments out of Newport Harbor last weekend, but as of this writing, the details have not been posted so I will discuss these events in my next column.
Driving over the river jetty on my return last Friday, there was a large fleet of sailboats in pre-race mode. I think NHYC’s Jim Webster race committee boat was at anchor.
The very popular Long Point Race was held and many of Southern California’s fastest boats were competing.
If I recall correctly, this series includes a race to Catalina, a race the next day around the island and the third day a race from the island to Newport Harbor.
Congratulations are in order to the local boat Bolt, skippered by Craig Reynolds of Balboa Yacht Club, for winning the regatta. Second place was Roy Disney’s son of the same name who has picked up and continued the active racing with a locally designed Alan Andrews sled from California Yacht Club. Third was Elixir, skippered by Chad and Kerrie Downey from Los Angeles Yacht Club.
I hope all boaters this weekend will keep alert and safely return free of accidents and injuries. This is a festive weekend, but the skipper should always be conscious of his responsibilities.
Safe Voyages,
Skipper Steve
