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From the Boathouse: Whale watchers, report your sightings

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Ahoy!

The beautiful weather is here, and I know all good boaters have made their New Year’s resolutions.

What kind of resolutions do boaters make? And do the resolutions last at least until spring thaw?

Luckily Southern California’s coastline doesn’t experience the cold temperatures that would put our boating lifestyle on hold — unless you are boating in our local mountains, since ice can form on the waters of Big Bear Lake and sometimes around the edges of Lake Arrowhead.

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The Coast Guard’s Local Notice to Mariners is asking that all boaters keep a sharp lookout for migrating gray whales and exercise caution. About 19,000 of the animals migrate along the coast from November to June.

Additionally, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asking for the public’s help in tracking whales by recording the number seen, the species and the date and location of the sighting. Email the information to whales@noaa.gov.

If you observe any vessels hitting a whale or see an injured or dead whale, call NOAA at (877) 767-9425 or radio the Coast Guard on VHF marine channel 16.

Keep in mind that whales are federally protected under the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act and the National Marine Sanctuaries Act.

Be kind to our friends in the sea.

Tip of the week: Did you know that the Barcelona World Race is underway, and as of my deadline the Hugo Boss team was leading by only 25 nautical miles as it passed on the windward side of the Canary Islands? This race, the only double-handed, nonstop race around the world, is being held for the third time. It was organized by the Fundacio Navegacio Oceanica Barcelona.

The eight participating boats crossed the start line in Barcelona on Dec. 31 at 1300 hours with the goal of sailing around the world to finish back in Barcelona. Race organizers are estimating the boats will finish at the end of March.

Sailing about 23,000 nautical miles is not for the inexperienced or faint-hearted. Battling the elements are Britain’s Alex Thomson, 40, and Spain’s Pepe Ribles, 43, the only two people on the Hugo Boss. Both sailors have impressive records for racing around the world and participating in other offshore races, as do the other seven, two-person sailing teams.

The crews are sailing IMOCA 60 sailboats, which are 60 feet long, and the masts must be no more than 95.14 feet above the waterline. The beam is only 19.19 feet, making it very cramped for two sailors over three months, especially since the cabin will be loaded with food, gear, sails and toilet paper.

The two-person crews are allowed outside help, but the team will be penalized for any technical assistance received, mechanical or otherwise. The circumnavigation course starts and ends in the Mediterranean Sea and includes the treacherous Cape Horn, at the southern tip of South America, Africa’s Cape of Good Hope, and the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific oceans.

I wish all the sailors good luck, and I will give an update in a couple of weeks.

As always, just keep an eye to the weather for any changes. Please be boat smart and boat safe. Lastly, please boat responsibly and look behind you before you turn the wheel at the helm.

The original boating program, “Boathouse TV & Radio Shows,” has stretched from coast to coast for more than two decades. See details at https://www.boathousetv.com, https://www.facebook.com/boathouseradio and https://www.twitter.com/boathouseradio.

Safe voyages!

MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Daily Pilot. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathousetv.com or go to https://www.boathousetv.com.

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