Floating on the holidays

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

The engines are idling in a yacht berthed in Ensenada, and the

boat is ready to come north to Newport Harbor. However, I cannot find

a window of opportunity using both the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration’s sea predications and

https://www.buoyweather.com virtual buoys wave predictions. This week

and maybe next week, the predictions are for uncertain sea

conditions.

I do not want to travel all the way to Ensenada only to find that

we must turn around and go home due to the seas. However, I have

another yacht that is almost ready to leave Newport for its new home

port in the San Francisco Bay area. Now, I have to predict the seas

around Point Conception.

My challenge is to find a weather window this time of year to move

a 40-foot motor yacht north. Forty feet is the smallest boat I will

take around Conception, and many times a boat of this size must wait

weeks to make the journey.

Back home, the holiday boat parades start this weekend in some of

the Southern California harbors. Unfortunately, there is a chance of

rain. I have been at the helm of countless private and commercial

boats while participating in parades in most of the Southern

California harbors. As you can imagine, I have seen a lot of

interesting things on the water during and after the parades. Once

again, I want to help by offering some of my tips to boaters who will

venture out during the parades.

First and foremost, everyone needs to be courteous to other

boaters. Skippers in parades should follow the direction of parade

control, but be wary. If a parade control official tells you to speed

up to close the gap in the parade line, remember that you are

responsible for any damage to nearby boats or docks because of your

wake. The vessel’s skipper has the ultimate responsibility for

maintaining safe control of the vessel and observing the inland rules

and regulations. However, try to help maintain the flow of the parade

line, and while in the parade, do not hinder the flow of the boats by

stopping in front of your friend’s house. Plan before you leave the

dock, starting by reviewing a copy of the parade map that lists the

route and estimated times.

Prudent seamanship dictates that should the skipper’s view be

restricted, then someone should be posted as a lookout in those blind

areas. I will have crew (guests) stationed on the boat to be my eyes

and ears.

The safety of your guests is a priority when decorating the boat.

Every year, I do notice some dangerous decorated boats, and I have

been zapped by touching metal railings that have grounded to a wet

extension cord. All of the exterior electrical cords should be rated

for outdoor use. Wrap all the connections with electrical tape to

prevent grounding.

Boating safety regulations require that none of the decorations

obstruct or prevent the deployment of any required safety devices

aboard your vessel, including ring buoys, life rafts, life jackets

and fire extinguishers. A common mistake is to wrap a string of

lights around your ring buoy. It looks festive, but now the

lifesaving device can’t be thrown to someone who falls overboard.

You will notice that the more seasoned boaters will enhance their

navigational lights by using red bulbs by the port light and green

bulbs by the starboard light.

TIP OF WEEK

Before you leave the dock, have a brief safety announcement and

show all your guests the locations of the life jackets, th fire

extinguishers, the ring buoy and other safety equipment. I always

designate someone as a deckhand, the person who will help me with the

lines and fenders and is able to assist should a situation arise

onboard.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt.

Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from

noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and

Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

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

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.