Marine news tidbits

I’ve had a lot of interesting, marine-related news items come across my desk recently. As the pile gets higher, I thought it would be good time to share some of these items with the marine community.

Boat Camp open

The Emerald Bay Boat Camp reopened a few weeks ago after being closed while work was being done of the pier. The camp is located on the north side of Emerald Bay and offers 21 campsites with buoys available. Camping is on a first-come, first-served basis. You cannot tie-up on the pier, and buoys are limited to vessels 30’ in length. As well, you can bring dogs to your campsite, but they are not allowed on any of the surrounding lands, which are part of the Emerald Bay State Park. For more information, call (530) 541-3030.

Sand Harbor boat launch closed

Lake Tahoe’s water level forced the recent closure of the boat ramp at Sand Harbor State Park, marking the third such closure this season. The Tahoe Vista and Kings Beach boat ramps have been closed since early spring.

Kayakers and non-motorized vessels may still launch at Sand Harbor and TRPA inspections for quagga and zebra mussels will continue there.

The closure of Sand Harbor will mean longer lines at the remaining ramps. Cave Rock is now the only East Shore ramp still open, with Lake Forest outside Tahoe City the only ramp open on the North Shore. West Shore and South Shore boat launches remain open, and marinas around the lake continue to offer launching services. For more information, see the Marinas chart on the facing page.

Roadside inspections

The TRPA is currently reviewing a proposal to open 24-hour boat inspection stations along the highways leading into the Lake Tahoe Basin to stop the potential spread of quagga and zebra mussels. The proposal is being considered after reports of boaters skirting the inspections now conducted at boat ramps and marinas. The proposed stations would be along U.S. 50 in California and Nevada and Highways 431, 207, 89 and 267.

Another proposal being considered would be to have two or three centralized locations for boat inspections in place for summer 2010 instead of the inspections now done at dozens of locations around Lake Tahoe. The board is expected to consider staff reports on these proposals this month.

Vessel Safety Checks

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary continues to offer free vessel safety checks and will even come to you for a check. The Auxiliary has reported a more than 500 percent increase in checks on Lake Tahoe and Donner Lake this season. There is no reporting of their findings to any agency, and those passing the inspection will receive a decal noting that all required safety equipment is on board.

Mandatory equipment on motorized vessels less than 26 feet in length require the following safety items onboard: visual distress signal device (like a ski flag); a sound-producing device (whistle, horn, bell, etc); fire extinguisher; properly fitting Personal Flotation Device (PFD/life jacket) for all passengers and operators; a readily accessible throwable Type IV cushion (not stowed); working ventilation system (inboard or I/O engines); and working navigation lights. Mandatory equipment for kayaks and canoes are a properly fitting PFD with a whistle attached to the PFD.
If the Coast Guard or one of the law enforcement agencies finds a vessel does not have the required safety equipment, fines may range from hundreds to a few thousands dollars. To make an appointment for your free Vessel Safety Check, call Joe Harris at (650) 279-9159. Checks can be performed at your residence, boat ramp or other North Lake Tahoe location.

Historic East Shore

The boulder-strewn East Shore remains largely undeveloped today thanks to an eccentric millionaire that once owned more than 24 miles of shoreline, most of which was on the East Shore.

If you want to spend the day exploring the East Shore, plan ahead. The only East Shore launch open is at Cave Rock and the closest on the North Shore is a Lake Forest outside Tahoe City. As well, if you launch from Cave Rock, there are no services heading north up the shore. On the North Shore, Sierra Boat Company in Carnelian Bay or North Tahoe Marina in Tahoe Vista are you closest source of supplies. Remember, the only location to dock in Incline Village is the Hyatt Regency, where you can grab a bite to eat, but with no gas services.

There are many large, underwater boulders along the East Shore and the depth of the lake can be deceiving. As well, this year we are experiencing low water levels, so use caution when going ashore.

Leaving Incline Village, the last few homes built into the boulder-strewn hillside will suddenly stop, replaced by undeveloped shorelines at Hidden Beach, a nude beach.

One note of warning for families, the East Shore is home to several nude beaches, so stick to the large, sandy beaches and you’ll likely avoid the nude sunbathers. For the rest of you, stop drooling, it’s rude.

You’ll continue along the expanse of boulder-strewn shoreline until you see the vast sand beaches of Sand Harbor State Park.

Sand Harbor is one of Lake’s Tahoe best beaches. There are beaches rimming the entire point, with shallow waters that are among the warmest on the lake. It’s also a popular spot of kayakers, so keep your eyes open.

Unfortunately, the boat launch at Sand Harbor closed on Aug. 5 due to low water level, so it’s not accessible. However, there are many great spots to anchor and enjoy the swimming spots (which are roped off, so keep your boat out of these areas). Sand Harbor has picnic areas and a visitor’s center, and is home to the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival, playing through Aug. 23.

Leaving Sand Harbor, on the next small point you’ll see the Thunderbird Lodge, one of the grandest estates on Lake Tahoe, built by George Whittell Jr.

Whittell was an odd man with exotic tastes from the lions and elephants he kept as pets to the many mistresses he was rumored to have. Whittell bought 24 acres of pristine wilderness along Lake Tahoe in 1936. Stretching from Kings Beach in California to Zephyr Cove in Nevada, Whittell had grand plans of developing casinos and housing projects.

Whittell sold off parcels in Crystal Bay and Incline Village to developers, while the land for Kings Beach he is rumored to have lost in a poker game to Joe King. However, as he grew older his desire for privacy, mixed with a bit of the paranoia (he hid listening devices throughout most of his own home), led him to abandon plans for development. Although, in his later years, the state of Nevada persuaded him to donate the land that is now Sand Harbor State Park.

Whittell’s former estate is now preserved and maintained by the Thunderbird Lodge Preservation Society.

From the shore, you can see the Main Lodge, Card House, the Boathouse, which houses the “Thunderbird,” with the Caretaker’s Cottage and an elephant garage on the hillside above. You can cruise past the estate, but you cannot go ashore. Tours of the estate are open to the public only through Tahoe Adventure Company with kayak tours, Tahoe Boat Cruises with boat tours and by shuttle; see Sightseeing for contact information.

Leaving the Thunderbird Lodge, there is a succession of public beaches heading down the East Shore. With the exception of the Thunderbird Lodge, most of the shoreline from Incline Village to Skunk Harbor is state or federal land and is open to the public. There are a few scant pockets of private land, so if you spot a home, pick another spot to come ashore.

The first beach you’ll come to is Chimney Beach, so named for the chimney that is the sole survivor of a former beach house, making it easy to spot from the Lake. Followed by Secret Cove, a nude beach, and Secret Harbor, rounding out the south end of this small bay. Chimney Beach is a wide, sandy beach, while Secret Cove is sheltered by boulders and trees along the shoreline. Despite it’s name, however, Secret Harbor is rather popular with beach-goers, kayakers and boaters. And, dogs are allowed on all of the beaches.

The next harbor will be Skunk Harbor a great spot for swimming or boat camping. On shore, you’ll see the remnants of a guest house and cook house once owned by George Newhall, who also owned an elaborate summer estate on the West Shore. The home was built in 1923 as a retreat from Tahoe’s busy social scene and later sold to Whittell, who lived there during the construction of the Thunderbird Lodge and used it as a guest house and retreat.

Leaving Skunk Harbor and continuing south, you’ll round Deadman’s Point and began to see some homes along the shoreline before entering Glenbrook Bay, one of the Lake’s oldest communities. Glenbrook was once an epicenter of industry in Lake Tahoe. After the discovering of silver at the Comstock Lode in Virginia City, vast amounts of timber were cut around Tahoe, brought across the lake to Glenbrook then loaded on rail cars and carried to the top of Spooner Summit where they rode the flumes to the Carson Valley. The remnants of the three railroad piers that once meet the log booms can still be seen jutting out of the lake. Glenbrook, however, is now a private community and is not open to the public.

You’ll start to see vast estates along the East Shore after leaving Glenbrook Bay. As you head south to Cave Rock, a large volcanic plug noticeable from most of Lake Tahoe, you’ll spot Logan Shoals Marina. The marina, however, is private and provides no services. There’s a boat launch, picnic area and restrooms at Cave Rock. I’ll talk about Cave Rock, a sacred site to the Washoe, in a later column.

On patrol on Lake Tahoe

Division Commander Dee Dee Kincade and Jack Leth are two of the dedicated members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary that help augment the work of the Coast Guard on Lake Tahoe and surrounding waterways.

Our publisher Charlie Good and I spent a recent morning out with Kincade and Leth, as they demonstrated some of the work of the Auxiliary. We met at Sierra Boat Company and boarded Leth’s boat, which he uses for patrols on Lake Tahoe. One of the primary missions of the group is boat safety, and once we were on board, we donned our PFDs. Auxiliary members wear PFDs at all times while on patrol, and during the winter you’ll find them in dry suits.

While still at the dock, Kincade and Leth showed us the safety equipment each member carries during patrol – a whistle or sound-producing device, strobe light, locator beacon, mirror or other reflecting device. Leth also carries a portable, waterproof radio.

As we prepared to get under way, Leth radioed the Coast Guard station in Lake Forest with our location and the number of passengers. These checks are given every 30 minutes. If a patrol doesn’t check in, the Coast Guard knows where to start searching. In inclement weather, radio checks are done every 15 minutes and more detailed, and include longitude and latitude, speed and course.

Lake Tahoe is a beautiful lake, but it also can be a dangerous lake and every precaution is taken. The Auxiliary follows the same safety guidelines as the Coast Guard. “These are the people that are the gold standard,” Leth says.

The Auxiliary is a group of volunteers that help the U.S. Coast Guard by providing free vessel safety checks, educating the public through boat safety classes and speaking to local groups, assisting the Coast Guard with its training exercises, patrolling waterways to educate the public and assist with calls, and through fellowship with the Guard.

Flotilla 11-01 in North Lake Tahoe has 27 members and is one of the four area Flotillas that encompass the 107-member division Kincade oversees. There are Flotillas in South Lake Tahoe, Carson City and Reno. There are about 30,000 Auxiliary members nationwide.

As we head out into Carnelian Bay toward Dollar Point, Leth tells us about one of their duties – checking the ATONs or Aids to Navigation. ATONs are the buoys and navigational markers on the Lake that mark entrances to buoy fields and channels for marinas. The Auxiliary checks the markers to ensure lights are working, the paint and markings are in good condition and they check the GPS coordinates to ensure proper placement. They check all of the private markers around the lake, while the ANTS (Aid to Navigation Team), check the federal markers, which include the shoreward buoys – marked with red triangles denoted water hazards – and the nuns and cans marking the entrance to Emerald Bay, mooring balls and other markers. (The Auxiliary has produced a map of all of the federal markers, along with hazards and landmarks for navigation that it distributes to rental boat locations around the Lake.)

The Auxiliary also checks on the NASA buoys for Jet Propulsion Laboratories – four large, yellow research buoys around the Lake.
As we made our way toward the West Shore, we spotted debris in the Lake and Leth took the boat over to investigate. Kincade used the boat hook to grab the debris, which turned out to be three roses in pristine condition. As we continued over to Sunnyside, where Leth and Kincade treated us to lunch, they explained their training work with the Coast Guard.

While the Coast Guard is busy with calls during the busy summer months, winter is the time for training exercises, which the Auxiliary assists with by providing manpower and boats.

“We get some that come straight out of boot camp to work up to Coxswain (boat captain),” Leth said of the training support for the USCG. “We get a great sense of pride in working with them.”

Auxiliary members also must go through training to perform patrols from those volunteering as boat crews up to Coxswain.

As we boarded the boat after lunch to return to Carnelian Bay, they received a request from the Coast Guard to investigate a water hazard off Sugar Pine Point that had been reported by the “Safari Rose.” We headed down the West Shore to investigate, which Kincade said is a prime example of the Auxiliary’s work. By investigating the non-emergency call, it keeps the Coast Guard free to respond to emergencies.

While heading down the West Shore, we spotted more debris and plucked three balloons out of the Lake. When we arrived at Sugar Pine Point to investigate the hazard, we discovered that they were research buoys for U.C. Davis. Leth reported the information back to the station and notified the “Tahoe Gal” and “Safari Rose” of their location. We then started back to Carnelian Bay.

The Auxiliary also offers free Vessel Safety Checks, with more than 300 already conducted this summer. The safety checks are designed to educate the public and information is not reported to any agency.
Education is one of the primary missions of the Auxiliary, which includes speaking to local groups and agencies, including businesses like rental fleet employees and school groups. They also offer boat safety classes. Charlie and I took the class in June and came away with a wealth of information.

They also assist with special events, including the recent Trans Tahoe Race and the 4th of July fireworks by establishing security zones.
The Auxiliary’s main mission is recreational boating safety, and volunteers are needed to help with their effort. And, you don’t need boating experience to volunteer. Kincade said volunteers are needed to help with finances, the Web site, education, vessel safety checks, training and patrols.

To sign up for the next About Boating Safely class on Aug. 1 or the Kayak Safety class on Oct. 10, call Jerry Gilmore at (530) 587-3334. For a free Vessel Safety Check, call Joe Harris at (650) 279-9159. To volunteer, request a talk from the Auxiliary or for more information, call Dee Dee Kincade at (775) 831-7192.

The southern end of the West Shore features beautifully undeveloped swathes of lake shore, along with some of Lake Tahoe’s grandest estates in Rubicon along what’s known as the Gold Coast.

I talked about West Shore from Tahoe City south of Homewood in a previous column, so I’ll pick up from Homewood and head to Emerald Bay for this issue.

Sugar Pine Point
At the far south end of McKinney Bay is Sugar Pine Point and the state park that bears its name. The 4-mile shoreline of Sugar Pine Point State Park is a great place to picnic and sunbath away from the crowds. The north side of the beach is rocky, with sandy beaches on the south side. You can use the public pier or pull ashore; use caution as you can easily get stuck in the sand. From the beach you can go for a hike in the woods or follow the paved, interpretive nature trail to Ehrman Mansion for a tour of this Old Tahoe home.

Meeks Bay
Rounding Sugar Pine Point, you’ll enter Meeks Bay, once the summer home of Tahoe’s native peoples, the Washoe. The Washoe now operate Meeks Bay Resort through a concession with the U. S. Forest Service, which owns the property. The resort features Meeks Bay Marina, a campground, cabins and a convenience store.

Boaters are prohibited from tying up on the white, sandy beaches, but may pull up to the marina for supplies. This is the last place on the West Shore to gas up, grab snacks or other supplies; the next marina and/or eatery is at Camp Richardson in South Lake Tahoe, which is about a 20 to 30 minute boat ride from Meeks Bay.

Rubicon
Often referred to as Lake Tahoe’s Gold Coast for the families of old money that make this span of the West Shore their summer home, Rubicon Bay is one of my favorite places for a sunset cruise. Stretching from the end of Meeks Bay to Emerald Bay, most of Rubicon’s shoreline is craggy, high cliffs dotted by secluded spots. Once you past the last home on the north end of the bay, you’ll come to the white sand beaches of D.L. Bliss State Park.

With a large campground at the park, the beach, called Calawee Cove, is usually quite busy. You can easily pull up to shore and enjoy the beach, or take a hike on the Rubicon Trail accessible at the parking lot above the beach (to the left of the restrooms). Rubicon Bay also is a popular spot of boaters to weigh anchor and sleep under the stars.

At the sound end of the beach, rocky Rubicon Point juts into Lake Tahoe and begins a great stretch of cliffs extending to Emerald Bay. The waters off Rubicon constitute the deepest part of Lake Tahoe closest to the shore, dropping to depths of more than 1,400 feet. This stretch from Rubicon Point to the mouth of Emerald Bay also is the D.L. Bliss Underwater Park, so be mindful of scuba divers. (Scuba divers will float a small flag in the area where they are exploring.)

Along its high cliffs, you can catch glimpses of the Rubicon Trail. After you spot the bridge past Rubicon Point, look above it to the left to see Lake Tahoe’s first lighthouse, once the world’s highest elevation navigation light. One of the least known historic sites along the West Shore, you can reach Rubicon Point Lighthouse from Calawee Cove along the Rubicon Trail.

Emerald Bay
Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe’s only bay, is home to Vikingsholm Castle and the famous Tea House perched atop Fannette Island. Enter Emerald Bay only through the channel, marked by red buoys on the starboard and green buoys on the port, to avoid large boulders under the water’s surface.
The bay is full of treasures to enjoy both on the shore and under the water. On the north side of the bay is a boat camp that is usually open to the public. Work on the pier, however, has the camp closed for the summer. Following the shoreline, look for the wreckage of an old dory — a small wooden skiff — just before the boat camp.

At the end of the bay you’ll find the Scandinavian-style Vikingsholm Castle, where you can tour the stately castle and its grounds. There are picnic tables along the beach and you can usually pull your boat right up to the beach. From the castle, you can hike over to the boat camp and out to Emerald Point.

After you leave the beach, head over to the outlet of Eagle Creek at the bottom of the falls and look for the underwater trees. Continue along the shoreline on the south side where you’ll find two sunken barges once used to transport lumber across the Lake. This is the site for the Emerald Bay Underwater Park, so keep a watch for scuba divers. The site is located directly across the bay from the boat camp. From here, head back to the bay’s crowning jewel — Fannette Island.

Approach the island from the south, where there’s a small cove. Follow the path from the cove and you’ll quickly ascend to the top of the island and the Tea House. The views are magnificent; no camping or picnicking is allowed on the island.

Boat class rescheduled
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has rescheduled its About Boating Safety class from July 25 to Aug. 1 at the North Tahoe Event Center in Kings Beach. For more information, call Jerry Gilmore at (530) 587-3334.

Crash course on boating safely

I spent a recent Saturday at the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary’s About Boating Safely class. After years of boating on Lake Tahoe with someone else at the helm, I decided that I should learn more about boating on the Lake. My friend Charlie Good, who is also our publisher, decided to join me.

This class is about much more than safety, however. Basic boating terms, equipment, signals, lights and navigation aides, knots and boating etiquette, are among the topics covered in this all-class.

It’s a fascinating mix of basic concepts, safety concerns and hands-on knots taught by members of the Auxiliary, who throw in a few of their personal stories and mistakes.

Division Commander Dee Dee Kincade shared some scary statistics during the class. In 2007, the year of the most recent data, there were 685 boating fatalities in the United States, according to the North American Safe Boating Campaign. Of that, 89 percent were not wearing a life jacket, or PFD (personal flotation device). As well, they reported 1,329 accidents with another vessel, resulting in 66 of the fatalities. The other major types of accidents were caused by collision with a fixed object, skier mishap, people falling overboard and capsizing (the last two accounting for the most deaths.)

It’s scary out there, especially once you realize that many people are unsafe, uninformed and unconcerned, making it even more important to heed the Coast Guard’s and Auxiliary’s warnings about safety.

I can’t possible relate all of the information I learned during the course, but here’s a taste of few things everyone should know. And, if you’re interested in learning more, the Auxiliary will hold another class on Aug. 1

PFDs
Everyone on your boat needs to have a life jacket. That means, if your boat has eight PFDs and 10 passengers, you’re not covered in case of an accident, a fire on board or any other emergency. If the boat starts to sink, which two members of your friends or family will you pick to die if something happens? And, you need to have PFDs that fit the people on board from infants and toddlers to extra-large sizes, if needed. And, while you’re at it don’t forget your dog. Get him a PFD, too.

The law requires that boaters have Coast Guard-approved PFDs on board. The quantity and type depends on the length of the vessel and the number of people on board.

If you’re operating the vessel by yourself, the Coast Guard recommends wearing a PFD at all times and use a lanyard to secure the boat key to yourself in case you fall overboard. California law requires all children under 12 to wear a PFD at all times, while Nevada requires one be worn by all children under 13.

Be prepared
Every boat should be prepared for an emergency, but also for having fun and day-to-day boating. Lake Tahoe can be a dangerous lake for those unprepared.

First, know your capacity. There’s a handy little Maximum Capacity Plate on every vessel. Check what it is and stick to it, or you’ll likely end up capsizing.

Check the weather before going out. If the forecast calls for high waves or winds, don’t go out. Have someone be the lookout at all times – for other boats, for hazards, for water skiers, etc.

The Coast Guard also recommends carrying a VHF marine radio and cell, bilge pump, anchor with the right size line, extra fuel and lubricants, paddles or oars, water, spare parts, flashlight and batteries, tool kits, map and compass, first aid kit, docking lines, throw line coiled in a small bag, visual distress signals, safety flag for water skiers, and extra clothing and sunscreen.

Navigation
Explaining the traffic laws of the waterways is nearly impossible in a column. It’s easier demonstrated with illustration. But, basically, for all of you cruisers and runabouts out there – the majority of boats on the Lake – you need to give right of way to sailboats, kayaks, dinghies and inflatables, any boat towing a water skier or tuber or the parasailers, vessels with limited maneuverability (like the “Tahoe Gal” or “Tahoe Queen”) and disabled vessels.

Second, stop cutting people off. Stop coming up behind them and veering around them. Stop trying to be the first one in the channel at Emerald Bay. And, slow down. Most accidents are caused by speeding.

Watch your wake. If you speed by a buoy field and your wake capsizes a kayaker – that’s your fault. You are responsible for your wake and what your wake does.

Learn the Aids to Navigation, or ATONs, including buoys, beacons, markers and others. There are many different types that mark channels like Emerald Bay, regulate speed, provide information and warn of dangers. For Lake Tahoe, when you’re entering Emerald Bay, stay between the green and red buoys, keeping to the far right (starboard) as possible. If you head outside these buoys, you will hit massive underwater boulders just under the surface.

To sign up for the next About Boating Safely class on Aug. 1 or the Kayak Safety class on Oct. 10, call Jerry Gilmore at (530) 587-3334. The Auxiliary also offers free vessel safety checks and will come to you. Call Joe Harris at (650) 279-9159.