The Sea Lions of Newport Harbor

The sea lions of Newport Harbor have been causing a few problems of late.  The harbor is filled with luxury yachts and cruisers.  It’s one of the biggest harbors in the US and great to people watch, but it’s the sea lions that provide the most entertainment.

The sea lions take no notice of the cost of the boat, whether is has a huge engine, is brand new or luxurious.  They just make their assessment based on the ease with which they can get on and sprawl across the deck making as much of a mess as possible.  If it’s a particularly comfortable boat with easy access it can attract a great deal of sea lions, all jostling for position, leaping out of the water and onto the boat only to find there’s no space.  A bit of a nudge and one falls off and the other one takes its place.

Boat owners have found different ways to fight this problem, some covering their boats completely, others tying white plastic chairs around the edges of their boats so that the sea lions can’t leap on.  But they always seem to make it.

We recently sailed passed this red boat and admired the sea lion stretched out on the back.  As we got closer and disturbed it, the sea lion shifted, then stretched, trying to find a comfy position, all the while spreading his filth across the leather seats of the boat.  I’m sorry, we were trying not to laugh, but it was as though he (or she) was trying to make sure every bit of the luxurious leather was coated in sea lion goo. The owners had a huge job on their hands to tidy it all up. The following week when we sailed by the owners had covered the boat with ropes.

It’s almost as though it was a signal that this was a comfy boat to recline on.  The sea lion was back and this time with friends.  They’d managed to leap onto the boat and through the tangle of ropes.

It’s not just the boats that make an attractive sunbathing destination.  You’ll see docks lined with plastic chairs or lots of huge empty plant pots to prevent a takeover.  Not everyone takes precautions.

We’re delighted with our new boat; it gets us out onto the harbor.  When there’s a multi million-dollar yacht cruising by, we whizz behind it trying to catch its wake.  We’re in a second hand inflatable that seats four with a tiny engine.  The boys love the bumps from a really big wake.  It’s not expensive or luxurious,  but it’s our boat and we love it, it gets us out on the water.  And I don’t think any sea lion is going to take a liking to it to sunbathe on.  Not when there are multi-million dollar yachts nearby with beautiful leather upholstery.