Chamber’s marine committee sets sail again

Ahoy.

This afternoon I will be on my way to Ensenada, Mexico to board a

Regal 4260 and skipper the boat back to Marina del Rey through what

is predicted to be 4- to 6-foot or 7- to 8-foot seas from the west.

I hope that I do not have to cancel the voyage after arriving in

Ensenada, or at least be able to work the boat up to San Diego as a

safe harbor. This boat cruises at 30 knots, and I will let you know

next week what speed I had was able to maintain so that we were not

pounding off the tops of the swells.

The marine committee of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is

setting their course for 2003 and once again holding monthly

meetings, in addition to the quarterly speaker’s forum and marine

networking events. The meetings are scheduled every fourth Tuesday of

the month, starting next week at 7:30 a.m. in the chamber’s

conference room.

Mark Silvey has taken the “conn” of the committee, and his meeting

agenda is of interest to anyone in the marine community and those who

provide marine services or products. If you would like to receive an

agenda in advance, e-mail Silvey at [email protected]. I will see you

at the meeting.

Also, the marine committee is announcing its next guest speaker

forum and marine networking for the evening of Feb. 27. This event is

open to everyone in the marine community, and you will have the

opportunity to meet three nautical book authors, including me.

I will be introducing my newly revised book “VHF Marine Radio

Handbook.” Joining me will be John Guest, with his book “Scuttlebutt

-- Seafaring History & Lore”; and People Magazine staff writer Ron

Arias, with his book “Five Against the Sea -- A True Story of Courage

& Survival.”

The three books are published by Bristol Fashion Publications,

which is the world’s largest nautical publishing house, and you can

read excerpts about the books on Internet at www.bfpbooks.com.

Write this date on your calendar, and I will have more details

about the book signing in a February column.

West Marine is sponsoring the event, and as I mentioned in last

Friday’s column, West Marine brought the retail store operations of

BoatU.S. West Marine is the largest boating retail supplier, with 320

stores after acquiring the 62 BoatU.S. retail stores. It is not

simply a retail store buy-out, though, as the two organizations have

formed an alliance that is a benefit for boaters.

BoatU.S. has more than half a million members, who will now be

able to accrue frequent buyer points at the coast-to-coast stores.

BoatU.S. will now concentrate on what they do best, which is marine

insurance, boat financing, member magazine, consumer advocacy and

government representation based in Washington, D.C. and Towboat, a

vessel tow service.

West Marine is also committed to boater representation and through

this partnership can contribute to BoatU.S.’ established services.

West Marine will keep the name of BoatU.S. on the marine center

stores, one of which is the newly opened BoatU.S. store in Newport

Beach at East Coast Highway and Bayside Drive.

Tip of the week is watch out for the winter storms changing the

swell direction to from the south.

This is especially important with harbors that have a south-facing

entrance and vessels berthed there that may be affected by the south

swells. South-facing entrances can be affected in a couple of ways,

like Morro Bay’s sand bar, which creates breaking seas at the jetty

entrance that close the entrance, and Avalon Bay, where mooring lines

can snap, washing the boats into shore.

I have seen waves breaking that you can surf at the Harbor

Department beach and I know a few who have surfed the inside of the

east jetty.

Newport does have a sand bar building at the jetty entrance, so

with a southerly, you will notice bigger building swells at the

entrance, swells coming down the channel and some boats being

relocated further inside the harbor. The boats at the Balboa Yacht

Club and further toward the Balboa Island Bridge will feel a surge,

so check your dock lines.

Safe Voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist.

Send e-mail to [email protected] or visit BoathouseTV.com.