Bill Revised After Boat Owner Pressure

State Sen. Robert Presley (D-Riverside) has revised a bill to underwrite the installation of sewage pump-out facilities in 10 Southern California public marinas to include the creation of a loan program to help defray the costs.

The money would come from the state Harbors and Watercraft Revolving Fund instead of a boat owner registration surcharge as first suggested. The original bill met resistence from Southern California Marine Assn., which said it was unfair to make boat owners pay an additional tax for such facilities.

If passed, members of State Water Quality Resources Board would determine the need for the sewage systems.

Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) has joined Presley to co-auther the bill. Gil Ferguson (R-Newport Beach) will carry the companion Assembly bill.

Sailing Notes

- Maintenance dredging and rock buttressing of the the Grand Canal, the channel that separates Balboa Island from Little Island, has stopped because of equipment problems. The contractor, Charles J. Rounds Co. of Fontana, said the dredging would resume about May 1. Boats moored in the canal may return to their moorings temporarily.

- The Newport Beach to Ensenada sailboat race, largest of its kind in the world with about 700 entries, will begin, in increments, April 26 at the Newport Harbor mouth. The Newport Ocean Sailing Assn. will conduct one of its pre-Ensenada Race seminars at the Capistrano Bay Yacht Club at 7:30 tonight.

- Skipper Bruce Anderson of the CBYC led the Chicken Lips to first place in Class A in last month’s Times’ Series. The race was sponsored by the Los Angeles Yacht Club.

- The Alamitos Bay Yacht Club is hosting the 26th annual Olympic Classes Regatta on April 18-20. Seven Olympic classes will compete. The races also will serve as the Sailboard Ranking Regatta.

- Five teams competed in the first Alamitos Bay Lido 14 Team Challenge Regatta. Newport Harbor Yacht Club’s Jack Franco, Mark Gaudio, Tim Mulvaney and Chris Raab were undefeated in four races, and won the Harrowby Trophy.

- The Alpha Speed Week to be held April 17-20 at The Ponds near Palm Springs will showcase Alpha sailboards, which were recently developed in Salzburg, Austria for Hobie Cat. One of the Alphas, the Alpha Wave, can be used to perform stunts on waves as well as to paddle in smooth water.

- The Cabrillo Yacht Corp. of San Diego will unveil its latest motor yacht, the Cabrillo 46, at the Newport In-The-Water Powerboat show on April 16-20.