Lifeguards from up and down the Southern California coast were on hand Friday, May 24, when Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf broke a bottle across the bow of Wave Watch, a new vessel that will help the city’s Marine Safety department close a gap in protection along its 7.5-mile stretch of sand.
“It was among the most fun things I’ve done as a mayor,” Kempf said about christening the 33-foot Crystalline vessel, which will have a crew of two: a boat operator and a lifeguard who responds to rescues and also serves as the deckhand.
Kempf said the “bottle” was made from sugar and sat in a sleeve, so it wasn’t harmful when “smashed.”
“We had such a great turnout,” she said. “The public safety agencies really stick together.”
At Friday morning’s event at Marina Park in Newport Beach were representatives from Laguna Beach’s first responders – lifeguards, police and firefighter/paramedics – along with Marine Safety departments from Los Angeles County, Huntington Beach, California State Parks and Newport Beach. As a perk for attending the celebration, cookies and cupcakes decorated with the Wave Watch logo were there for the tasting.
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“It’s a big day for our city and community,” said Laguna Beach Marine Safety Capt. Kai Bond. “For us to better protect the community and visitors, it’s outstanding for us to have this tool. I can’t think of any way better to enhance our service.”
The vessel, dubbed Wave Watch, comes to Laguna Beach via the California State Parks. Once used by the agency, it was considered surplus and donated to Laguna Beach. Thanks to a private $50,000 donation, the vessel has been renovated with a new engine, communications systems and emergency gear for the Laguna Beach lifeguards.
Bond said the vessel will allow for quicker response to some of the more treacherous coves and harder-to-reach sections of Laguna Beach’s shoreline, helping lifeguards render aid faster and allowing dive teams to use it as a platform for search and rescue. It will also help lifeguards intervene more quickly if a vessel runs aground.
More training will be done over the next two weeks, Bond said, with plans for having Wave Watch in service by the week of June 10 to coincide with the start of the busy summer season.
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