THE HARBOR COLUMN:

A who’s who of the Newport Beach sailing community was in attendance at the Harbor Commission’s special meeting Tuesday morning in Newport Beach’s City Council chambers. The topic: Is there a speed limit for the sailing races inside the harbor?

Apparently, the word had gone out to the sailing community that the Harbor Patrol is now issuing tickets to racers who are sailing faster than the 5 mph posted speed limit.

Commissioner Ralph Rodheim opened the meeting and then gave the floor to Harbor Patrol Capt. Deana Bergquist of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Bergquist gave an informative presentation that outlined the many different types of water activities in the harbor, and codes that govern the speed limit inside the harbor.

Additionally, her data showed that racers are not being cited.

However, racers may be asked to slow down or move their buoy placements, depending on the overall boating activity in the harbor.

Are sailing races inside Newport Harbor doomed for the future?

I do not think so, since I believe the newly formed subcommittee will be able to bring all the parties together to work out an acceptable, mutual agreement in the best interest of all harbor users. I wish I had more to tell you, but we will have to wait to see the findings and results of the subcommittee.

Tip of the week: Attend the free Boating Clean & Green Campaign training Saturday to become a volunteer dockwalker.

The training session teaches volunteers how to help promote environmentally sound boating practices in the marina communities by adopting clean boating practices.

Once training is complete, these volunteers don their official dockwalker hats and give face-to-face boater education while visiting marinas, boat launch ramps, boat shows and special events.

Dockwalking is a fantastic way to interact with boaters to help keep California’s marinas, waterways and ocean clean and healthy.

The training will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the American Legion Yacht Club in Newport Beach.

You can find out more information about the dockwalker program, and to register for the training at www.coast4u.org and click on “Boating Clean & Green,” or contact Vivian Matuk at (415) 904-6905 or [email protected].

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com.