Winter 2011 Squeegee - Sausalito Yacht Club

PICYA
Let me give you an update on
where some of the hot-button
issues currently stand. The biggest
legislative issue that was on the
table for PICYA and RBOC
(Recreational Boaters of California)
has been the issue of copper-based
bottom paint and the effort to ban it in California. The
background: For the most part, this legislation is a
copy of what has already been adopted in Washington
State and is pending in Oregon. Due to small efforts by
bunches of different agencies and people, the pending
legislation regarding copper additives to bottom paint
has been pushed to the back burner. This means that the
legislation, in its present form, won’t see the floor of the
State Senate for at least two years. That’s good news for
most recreational boaters.
There are some nuances of this legislation that are of
importance as this issue makes its way through the
legislative process. So far, through the efforts of a good
number of like-minded folks, the provision to exclude
commercial and military vessels has been eliminated.
(That is not the case with either the Washington or
Oregon versions.) This is important if you look at
the numbers. Exempting commercial and military
shipping from conforming makes no sense from an
impact standpoint. The square footage of bottoms of
military and commercial shipping that moves through
our California waterways is easily five times the amount
of recreational boats. Even more compelling are the
questions: “Why should only recreational boaters be
financially impacted?” “Why leave out the other major
part of the equation?” (I like my radical idea of insisting
that all Foreign-Flag carriers have their bottoms painted
here, in California, with paint made in California. That’s
really the only way we’d know for sure they were in
compliance. What the heck - throw in everyone’s military
while we’re at it.)
Everyone on the Board of the PICYA is focused on
the upcoming AC34 contest. One major issue that
surrounds the event is what to do about anchored boats
in Richardson Bay. I’ve personally been pushing for
some sort of solution for the past decade - sadly, without
much success. There are now a lot more eyes on this issue.
I’m pretty confident that virtually every State agency is in favor
of regulating this estuary in some fashion and the funds are
currently available. Let’s hope we see some progress.
On a final note, PICYA has asked me to serve on their Board
next year and I have accepted the offer. I’m not exactly sure
what my duties will be but, along with Kay Dunnigan, I will
continue to also represent the Sausalito Yacht Club. The next
few years will certainly be exciting.
Michael Campbell
PICYA Delegate
THOMAS McEVOY
CONSTRUCTION COMPANY
Over 30 Years Serving Marin County
For all your Remodeling & Construction Projects
Kitchens
•
Bathrooms
•
Additions
•
Elevated Car Ports
•
New Construction
•
Decks
•
Drawings
No job too small
Special rates to Club Members
Home # 415-472-7527
Cell # 415-609-7527
bamboomack@aol.com
Lic# 542680
7