May 22, 2001

Photo of the Day

May 21 – Newport Beach

Today’s Photo of the Day is of the Lido Ferry, that takes foot
traffic and cars between Lido Isle and the Newport Peninsula.
You’ll also see the photo in the June edition of Latitude
38, on a story about all the places to moor and anchor in
Southern California. At first glance, it may seem like there
is no space in the Southland. As the article will prove, there’s
plenty of space – if you’re flexible and know where to look.

Fossett Finally Starts Record Attempt
to New York

May 22 – Miami, Florida

After many delays, Steve Fossett and a crew of 13 aboard the
maxi cat PlayStation crossed the starting line near Miami
for an attempt on Explorer’s 2 day, 22 hour record to
New York City. “After 17 hours we are making good progress
and averaging 21 knots,” said Fossett. For details, visit
www.fossettchallenge.com

Ala Wai Yacht Harbor to Go Private?

May 22 – Honolulu, Hawaii

You know things are really bad when the Democratic governor of
a Democratic state with powerful public employee unions announces
that he intends to privatize a government service. But he’s not
crazy, he’s Governor Ben Cayetano of Hawaii, who plans to turn
the state’s two largest marinas – The Ala Wai in Honolulu, and
Keehi Lagoon, closer to the airport – over to private contractors.

Cayetano didn’t get hit over the head with
a Libertarian lightning bolt, he just read a recent legislature
audit that said, “The boating program’s mismanagement and
neglect have deteriorated harbor facilities to the point where
their continued use threatens public safety.” That’s no
exaggeration, as the Ala Wai’s docks have been in deplorable
condition for years. We’ve written about it and published photographs
a number of times.

The state audit also criticized the state
for only charging $4/foot at the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, where
slips are always in great demand. The report noted that the Ko
Olina Marina, with a less desirable location, is getting $9/foot,
and a few marinas in California are getting almost twice as much.
It’s a legitimate criticism. Nobody wants to inflict overinflated
prices on sailors, but $160/month for a 40-foot slip in Hawaii
is ridiculous – as most folks in the Ala Wai will admit. One
result is that people rarely give up their slips – even if they
gave up boating years ago. If you walk the Ala Wai, you see the
same tired, unused boats year after year after year. Another
result is that active young sailors are denied a chance to sail
and access to the ocean, as there is never room. The Ala Wai
is not only terribly rundown, it’s one of the most inactive harbors
of it’s size. If anywhere needs a ‘use your boat or lose your
slip’ program, it’s the Ala Wai.

Photo Latitude/Richard

Cayetano is not going completely Libertarian,
as he’s got a bit of the ‘soak the rich to help pay for the poor’
scheme in mind. “If we privatize the Ala Wai and Keehi,
we believe we can generate enough revenue to upgrade the facilities
in the other small boat harbors throughout the state. We are
not talking about privatizing the entire system.” Given
the state’s pathetic record of running boating facilities, we
think they should start with privatizing the Ala Wai and Keehi
– and then privatize all the rest. As expected, some boatowners
are in an uproar over what would surely be higher slip fees,
and are threatening to go to court. Once the facts are examined,
we think they’re going to have a very difficult time making a
case.

Has Anybody Seen My Boat?

May 22 – Cabo San Lucas

“Guapa,
a 42-ft white hulled trimaran owned by Neal, a U.S./Mexican citizen
from La Paz, broke loose from the anchorage last night and is
believed to be drifting southeast toward Mazatlan and the mainland,”
reports Michael Pordes of the Vallejo-based Favonius.
“All vessels are requested to be on the lookout for this
drifting vessel.”