THE HARBOR COLUMN:Rupert will be missed here

Ahoy.

I know that the local boating community is saddened by the loss of Newport Harbor’s feathered mascot this week. Unfortunately, Rupert was hit by a Harbor Patrol boat while the deputies were responding to an emergency involving a body in the water near the Newport Harbor Yacht Club.

The black swan was best known for swimming up to boats and drinking fresh water that was poured from a water bottle. He was also known at times to chase swimmers out of the bay, especially those jumping in at the Fun Zone. You could normally spot Rupert swimming over to see what was going on with his inquisitive nature — that might have led him to swim toward the patrol boat. I am sure the deputy who was at the helm, operating Code 3, must feel terrible.

It is not common to find a body floating in our harbor, but I am surprised that it is not more common as the population increases around the water’s edge. This can be a wake-up call for all recreational skippers to stop and think before you leave the dock: What would you do if one of your guests fell into the water?

I remember one such incident when I was captain aboard the Cannery’s cruise boat, Isla Mujeres, years ago. I was sitting aboard the boat filling out the ship’s log after a harbor brunch cruise, when I noticed that a recreational boat in the 30-foot range had tied up in front of my bow at the Cannery’s docks. While the couple was going from the swim step to the docks, the lady fell into the Rhine Channel. Now, I will not mention that the Rhine Channel is pretty much a superfund cleanup site.

However, she immediately started panicking in the water, and her husband was useless assisting her out of the water. So I sent my deckhand to assist; however, because he was not in a uniform at the time, the husband refused his help. I calmly walked over in my uniform and simply used the technique taught to every kid in swim lessons — of course it helps that I was a lifeguard. I reached down and grabbed her arms while crossing them, pulled her up, spun her round 180 degrees, and set her easily on her rump on the dock. Game, set and match.

What should they have done in the first place, you ask? First, discuss what to do if someone falls into the water; next simply drop the boat’s swim boarding ladder.

The tip of the week is to go to San Diego for the mega-yacht show of Southern California. This Saturday I will be broadcasting live at noon from YachtFest held at the Shelter Island Marina. My radio show will be set up in the Maritime Institute’s booth on the docks at YachtFest, and Rags Laragione will be my co-host.

This yacht show picks up where last week’s Lido Yacht Expo left off in terms of boat size. This is your opportunity to board yachts more than 100 feet long to see the interiors designed as if for royalty.

At YachtFest on Sunday is a free crew employment seminar specially designed for those interested in a career aboard yachts. I will be on a panel to inform those interested how to work for examples as captains, crew members, engineers or executive chefs. This is free and open to the public from 9 to 11 a.m. as the maritime field is looking for good, qualified individuals to work aboard mega-yachts. You can find out more by going to www.yachtfest.com or www.boathousetv.com.

Safe voyages.