Ahoy.
On the last Sunday in July, Newport Harbor was alive with Laser-
and Byte-class boats racing in the 70th Annual Flight of the Lasers.
This event, which started in 1936, is held annually by the
Commodore's Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce. Seymour
Beek has been at the helm as chairman for years, and he uses his
motor yacht as one end of the starting line.
I have had a few requests to provide some of the results. Seymour
sent the following report:
"Many familiar names were among the top ten. The winner, Jon
Pinckney, has won three times before, in the early '90s. Roy Woolsey
won the 'oldest' [category] for the 14th time. The first time he won
it he must have been just a kid. I have been asked several times if
it isn't 'sexist' to have an award for the 'first girl' and none for
the 'first boy.' My reply is that there doesn't seem to be a problem,
because the first boy has been the winner of the race since 1944,
when Janet Power was the winner and the first girl. If girls start
winning, then the boys have a legitimate gripe. The first girl this
year was Elizabeth De Witt, who finished 21st."
Thanks, Seymour, and we look forward to next year's race. I wonder
how many snowbirds are still sailing in the area, and how many racers
this year were snowbirds?
On another note, boaters are now better protected on the water by
Vessel Assist-BoatUS. As you may recall, BoatUS bought Costa
Mesa-based Vessel Assist in 2003, creating the largest on-the-water
towing service for recreational boaters.
They have moved San Diego's VHF radio antenna tower to a new,
higher location -- 250 feet above sea level -- on Point Loma.
The resulting increase in elevation is expected to bring VHF radio
dispatch coverage to boaters from northern Mexican to Southern
California waters. The higher elevation will improve the VHF radio
signal in line-of-sight transmissions and receptions.
"Boaters will now have greater peace of mind, knowing that a VHF
radio call for on-the-water towing will be heard and responded to
farther offshore," said Jerry Cardarelli, vice president of BoatUS
Towing Services.
Vessel Assist also recently upgraded its VHF radio tower on Santa
Catalina Island, which sits more than 1,600 feet above sea level.
This means increased VHF radio coverage on the back side of Santa
Catalina, as well as for the San Clemente Island area.
This is good news, especially for those who head out past Catalina
into Mexican waters and float off San Clemente Island for fishing.
