From the Boathouse: Flight of the Lasers welcomes Hall of Fame sailor
Ahoy!
The Flight of the Lasers raced through Newport Harbor on July 17, and a special guest from the Annapolis Yacht Club, Gary Jobson, borrowed a laser to race.
Jobson, a world-renowned sailor, has been inducted in the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame. Let’s not forget that he sailed as the tactician for Ted Turner, who won the America’s Cup in 1977.
Jobson finished the Flight of the Lasers in 16th place, which is very respectable considering he had never sailed in the Flight before and he had never sailed his borrowed boat. However, Christian Rosene from the Balboa Yacht Club won first overall and now has bragging rights for the third time as a first-place finisher.
Geoff Becker, a member of the Severn Sailing Assn. in Maryland, sailed across the finish line in second place. Third place was Guddy Richley with the Lido Isle Yacht Club. You can see all the results at Flightofthelasers.org.
Other categories included oldest skipper, Dave Tingler; first girl to cross the finish line, Lynn Acosta; and Chuck Ullman and Gabriella Reis, first married couple to finish.
Congratulations to all the sailors who participated in this long-lasting Newport Harbor tradition.
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Tip of the week: All boaters, whether in a sailing race, a stand-up paddleboard or casually cruising the harbor, have to abide by the boating laws to make safe passage through the harbor. This is especially imperative with summer sailing classes and races during the day and evenings.
Newport Harbor is known as a safe harbor open to everyone. Legally, no one can block any portion of navigable waters unless granted a special event permit by the U.S. Coast Guard or when performing harbor maintenance.
I have noticed that sailing programs, commercial boats and most recreational boaters are making an effort to watch out for each other on the water. Sailing races are leaving room between their buoys and the shore for “sea room” passage.
However, in a few instances I have noticed that some skippers will inadvertently navigate into the middle of a racing fleet, and this is usually caused when the skippers are the ones who are not familiar with sailboat racing or the race courses.
It can be difficult for some skippers, as they are do not know where the racers are going next when the gap closes while cruising at 5 mph. At other times I have been hindered not by the racers, but by spectator boats or paddleboarders who are blocking the passage lanes.
Regardless, all boaters cruising through the harbor need to plan ahead and try to avoid the sailing course by navigating outside the markers. Please watch for the beginner sailor who may still be learning how to sail and can accidentally drift in front of your vessel.
Sometimes it is impossible to avoid the fleet or, if a vessel is in the middle of sailboats, then everyone needs to be courteous, as prescribed by maritime law and right-of-way rules dictating the course of action for all vessels.
The Corinthian spirit involves the code and highest standards of sportsmanship that sailors need to abide by when on the race course or cruising the waterways. There is no need to be yelling for another boat to move and harsh words do not need to be exchanged. Seamanship and good sportsmanship are what we need to be instilling as boaters.
I mentioned in my column that I am sailing every weekend during the summer out of the Lake Arrowhead yacht aboard C-scows. Well, I was surprised this past weekend when I chatted with Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s commodore and friend, Gary Hill, who was crewing aboard another C-scow in “A” fleet, then our boat.
Our boat won the series in “B” fleet without me onboard. I watched while aboard Allan Keller’s crash boat because I am on the injured list. However, Gordon White drove 450 miles from San Francisco to take my spot and sail with the boat owner and skipper, Kurt Zimmerman, and crew member Annie Keller, who commanded the forward position.
Please remember to boat responsibly, smartly and safely. Lastly, please look behind you before you turn the wheel at the helm, as there might be a vessel behind you.
Safe voyages!
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MIKE WHITEHEAD is a boating columnist for the Daily Pilot. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathousetv.com or go to boathousetv.com.