The Harbor Report: Mariners Mile still nearing finish line

As I traveled around the harbor this week, the first question that came to mind was, when will the construction along Mariners Mile on Pacific Coast Highway be completed?

I picked up the phone and called Mary Locey, the city of Newport Beach’s information specialist. Locey informed me this is a Orange County Sanitation District project and that it is scheduled to be completed by the end of May. I have to assume that most of you will prefer things getting back to normal sooner rather than later.

Speaking of getting things back to normal, did you get a chance to read Hannah Fry’s story in the Daily Pilot on Jan. 27 regarding possible lower dock fees and how the Harbor Commission will review the current fees for onshore and offshore moorings? If this topic is of interest to you, make sure you look it up at dailypilot.com.

My first thought regarding reducing tideland permit fees is of a dog chasing its tail. I am in favor of this idea, as I am sure most of the bayfront homeowners are. The devil is always in the details and whether the city, as the state’s steward of the tidelands, can decrease dock fees for residential pier owners without reviewing the many other factions of the tidelands permit holders.

Regarding the Harbor Commission reviewing the current fees for mooring permit holders, my concern is from the last time the Harbor Commission and the Newport Mooring Assn. worked together and their recommendations were received and filed. I do not see history repeating itself with this City Council, although I feel many of the people who helped last time are still shaking their heads from past lessons learned.

With reference to lessons learned, the 216-foot mega-yacht Invictus will return to the turning basin in front of Lido Village, slated for Feb. 13 to 15 and Feb. 20 to 22. I enjoyed seeing her here last year and have always dreamed about selling a vessel like this someday. I know of a couple of good friends of mine who are not very keen on this news, and I will need to check up with them after the Invictus visits this year. One thing I will keep my eye open for is the Invictus coming down the harbor while I race my Harbor 20 during this year’s mid-winter regatta scheduled for Feb. 21 to 22.

I am also keeping my eye on Feb. 28 for the Coastal Safety at Sea Seminar at Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club.

The event will be presented by US Sailing. It is specifically designed for inland and coastal racers and cruisers. The material applies to power- and sail-boaters. Skippers and crew should attend (particularly husband and wife). The topics will include personal safety gear, man overboard, emergency communication, search and rescue, and more. Bruce Brown is the authorized US Sailing moderator and delivers a very informative seminar. I attended his Offshore seminar last weekend and came home with two pages of notes. I strongly recommend you attend this event to start this year’s boating season. If you would like to compare notes with me, just send me an email or give me a call.

This week, I also noticed about three of our larger charter boats are not in town. I have to assume they are out for annual maintenance, and this is their slow season. Things look to be busy in our local shipyards this time of year, and for the first time in a long time, I noticed a marina taking down a “slips available” sign.

As we approach the start of spring, I thought I would update you on who is leading the Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Harbor 20 winter sailing series. In the Harbor 20 C fleet, Porter Killian has a good lead over Phil Crosby. In B fleet, Team Whitney has a one-point lead over Team Reed. This one looks like it will come down to the last race. Three points are the difference between first place and third in A fleet. Mark Conzelman is in third with 33 points, followed by Anne and Kurt Wiese with 31 points, and in first place are Karen and Gary Thorne. The last race of the series is scheduled for Feb. 8. Let’s hope we have some breeze this month.

Sea ya.

LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.