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IREALSELL ESTATE LANZ CORREIA
619.564.6355 Cal BRE#01883404
San Diego Community Newspaper Group
THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017
Burke murder trial goes to jury OB man accused of killing PB man BY NEAL PUTNAM | THE BEACON
Rose of Sharon, skippered by Byron Chamberlain, passes Dauntless on the way to winning the 29th America's Schooner Cup in San Diego Bay. PHOTOS BY THOMAS MELVILLE (Below) Schooners gathered at the start of the race, which is hosted by Silver Gate Yacht Club on Shelter Island.
Rose of Sharon takes the Cup In 1930, the schooners Rose of Sharon, Dauntless and Curlew were among 42 yachts that finished the 660mile Bermuda Race from New London to Bermuda and lay at anchor at the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club. Eighty-seven years later, these same three schooners crossed the finish line along with 10 others in the 29th running of America’s Schooner Cup in San Diego Bay on Saturday, April 1. With a fresh breeze and bright sunshine, Rose of Sharon captured the cup, nosing out second-place finisher Curlew by a mere 48 seconds on corrected time.
‘It’s not who wins, it’s the fun of seeing old friends.’ PAUL PLOTTS OWNER OF CURLEW
Each of these yachts have not only survived, but thrived. It is a testament to the loving care and dedication of their owners. Among our three oldest surviving schooners, owners Byron Chamberlain, Bob Harrison and Paul Plotts have continuously cam-
paigned Rose of Sharon, Curlew, and Dauntless, respectively, and coincidentally, for a combined total of 87 years. Plotts founded the Schooner Cup with the Kona Kai International Yacht Club and has raced in all but four since. They’ve participated in
races in such destinations as San Francisco, New York, Puerto Vallarta and Hawaii. Jerry Newton completed a five-month refit of Maid of Kent with two days to spare – just in time to enter his 25th Schooner Cup. But dedication to their beautiful boats is not what keeps them coming back. “It’s not who wins, it’s the fun of seeing old friends and the warm welcome we always receive from the members of Silver Gate Yacht Club, our hosts,” Plotts said.
Jury deliberations resumed April 12 in the murder trial of Thomas Burke, a pharmacist who is accused of killing his roommate’s boyfriend at Burke’s front door in Ocean Beach. The eight-woman, fourman jury got the case Tuesday, April 11 at 3:47 p.m. after hearing hours of closing arguments and instructions from San Diego Superior Court Judge Melinda Lasater. Burke, 32, testified Friday he shot Jess Matthew Robles, 34, of Pacific Beach, in self-defense after
Thomas Burke
Robles sent him text messages that Burke said were threatening to him. Verdict options as suggested by Deputy District Attorney Kyle Sutterley are first and seconddegree murder. SEE TRIAL, Page 16
Shelter Island boat ramp upgrades to begin soon Boaters urged to use other facilities BY DAVE SCHWAB | THE BEACON
The Port of San Diego has completed the bidding process for the Shelter Island Boat Launch Facility Improvement Project, with construction expected soon concluding in March 2018. One of the busiest boat launch ramps in California, with an estimated 50,000 launches annually, the approximately $9.5 million improvement project was designed with extensive public outreach.
It has received funding from the California Department of Boating and Waterways and the Wildlife Conservation Board. The bidding process for the project is complete and a contract award is imminent. Pending contract approval, construction is expected to begin in late April or early May and conclude in March 2018. Constructed in the mid1950s with a single-lane SEE BOAT RAMP, Page 2