Terrance Phillips -- The Harbor Column

There’s a boat floating around Newport Harbor with a big red heart on the

hull. The transom sports another large heart with Cupid sitting on top of

an arrow.

Scrolled elegantly across the artwork appears the boat’s name, Valentine.

The thought occurred to me that hearts have vessels for the purpose of

transporting blood, so is this yacht a “blood vessel?”

Or, was this craft given to another on this day when many exchange

romantic gifts like lingerie, dark chocolate confections packaged with a

red ribbon, or a chunk of carbonized coal perched atop a band of gold --

I paused and I wondered.

Then it hit me; this must be like giving mama that new table saw you’ve

always wanted for Christmas. However, is such a gift romantic?

After taking a long hard look at the issue I came up with a very logical

answer. As we’ve all seen on TV, the boat Valentine is definitely “a gift

that keeps on giving.” Sailing is romantic, very romantic.

A bottle of Opus One, a little Andrea Boccelli wafting through the

speakers, a gentle kiss as the sun dips beneath the horizon -- yep, there

you have it -- romance -- and the justification that giving a boat on

Valentine’s Day, is both romantic and appropriate.

In reality, Valentine is raced and skippered by its owner, Mary Longpre

of the Balboa Yacht Club. Mary usually races with an all-women crew,

however, every once in a while she allows a man or two on board for

ballast. The boat has appeared in hundreds of races around our pond and

had its share of good racing fortune.

Happy Valentine’s Day to Mary Longpre and her Valentine. After reading

this column, Mary will probably go out and purchase a new outfit from

Mondi or Escada for her husband, Bob Longpre.

Oh, by the way Bob, there’s a new Home Depot up on Harbor Boulevard. I

hear they have a wonderful gift department.

Another fine nautical gift to give on this day of panting hearts -- how

about a gondola cruise around the harbor. Music, wine, a cozy blanket and

a guy wearing a barrette, striped shirt with a red bandanna, standing on

the back. Adventures At Sea Yacht Charters has an entire fleet of

gondolas facilitating hundreds of proposals for marriage.

This romantic cruise will run around $125 per hour (engagement ring not

included) except today, when passion inflates the price a wee bit more.

If you prefer to “pop” the question in a more private environment, rent

your own surrey-topped electric boat from Duffy Electric Boat Rentals on

West Coast Highway.

Brand-new Duffy 21s are available for $60 per hour with a one-hour

minimum. So if your intended turns you down, you can just reverse the

wheel and head back to the docks, without spending money unnecessarily

for those customary two or three hour minimums.

A great way to save some money. Me -- I’ve got the boat, but no one to

pop questions to. Oh well, Happy Valentine’s Day anyway.

SPLISH SPLASH: Adventures At Sea Gondolas can be reached by calling (949)

650-2412. For Duffy Electric Boat Rentals please call (949) 645-6427.

Terry Phillips’ Lonely Hearts Club Band can be reached by calling (949)

645-6097. * TERRANCE PHILLIPS is the Daily Pilot’s boating writer. You

can leave a message for him at (949) 642-6086 or via e-mail at

dailypilot@latimes.com .