What’s afloat
* WHAT’S AFLOAT is published periodically in the Daily Pilot. If you
are planning a nautical event, submit the information to the Daily Pilot,
330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by
e-mail to o7 dailypilot@latimes.comf7 .
SAILING CLASSES
Learn to sail or windsurf at Resort Water Sports. Windsurfers and
14-foot sailboats may be rented for $15 per hour. (949) 729-1150.
Sailboat rentals and private lessons are available at Marina Sailing
in the Balboa Fun Zone. Advanced classes include navigation, big boat,
powerboat, introduction to heavy weather and first-mate instruction.
(949) 673-7763; the Blue Dolphin Sailing Club, (949) 644-2525; or Lido
Sailing Club, (949) 675-0827.
BOAT RENTALS
Balboa Boat Rentals can put you on the water in many ways, with single
and double kayaks, electric boats, 14-seat sailboats, pedal boats and
runabouts for offshore use or cruising the bay. (949) 673-7200.
Electric boat rentals are available by the hour at Duffy Electric
Boats, 2001 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. All boats are equipped with
window enclosures and CD players. Ice and cups are provided. Reservations
are suggested. An hour rental is $60. (949) 645-6812.
Sail airborne outside the harbor, pulled by a motorboat at Balboa
Para-sailing near the Balboa Fun Zone. A 90-minute trip is $45. (949)
673-1693.
A motorized lounge chair may be rented from Resort Water Sports at
Newport Dunes for $25 per hour. Pedal boats, electric boats, boogie
boards, kayaks, inflatable rafts, beach furniture and wetsuits also are
available. (949) 729-1150.
Party pontoons, chaparral runabouts and family pontoons may be rented
at Anchors Away Boat Rentals in the Balboa Fun Zone. (949) 673-3372.
Gondola tours are offered by the Gondola Co. of Newport, 3400 Via
Oporto, Suite 102-B. The $75 cost includes a basket of bread, cheese,
salami, ice, glasses, a blanket, music and a Polaroid picture. Wine also
is available. (949) 675-1212.
Gondola Adventures/Newport, 3101 W. Coast Highway, offers one- and
two-hour gondola cruises. A one-hour tour with champagne is $70. A
two-hour tour with dinner and champagne is $180. Pickup is available at
waterfront restaurants. (949) 675-4984.
Irvine Coast Charters in Lido Marina Village offers two-hour electric
boat cruises with a gourmet dinner. $180 for two people. (949) 675-4704.
Zip through the water on a sea motorcycle known as a Sea-Doo at Walk
on Water, next to the ferry on Balboa Island. $65 per hour for a single-
or double-seater, and $75 per hour for a three-seater. (949) 675-6800.
Streamline center-console fishing boats may be rented at Balboa Boat
Rentals on Balboa Peninsula. The boats, equipped with live bait tanks,
fish-finders and VHF radio, are available by the hour and half-day rates
at $170; full-day rates are $240. U-Drive offshore boats equipped with
VHF radios also may be rented by the hour, half-day or full day. Rates
range from $40 per hour to $195 for the day. (949) 673-7200.
CRUISES
Orange Coast College’s School of Sailing and Seamanship will present
an eight-day trip from Newport Beach to the tip of Baja aboard the Alaska
Eagle from March 17 to 24. The seven-day voyage back to Newport is
scheduled March 25 to 31. $1,125 each. (949) 645-9412.
The Newport Landing Belle is available for weddings and receptions,
cocktail and sightseeing cruises, and meetings at $250 an hour (minimum
two hours) and $150 for each additional hour. (949) 361-3640.
Fun Zone Boat Co. runs 45-minute cruise (adults, $6; children, $1) and
a 90-minute cruise (adults, $8; children, $1), departing from the Balboa
Fun Zone every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. A 60-minute
showboat sunset cruise leaves the Fun Zone at 7 p.m. daily. $6 for
adults; $1 for children. Private charters are available. (949) 673-0240.
Catalina Passenger Service runs 45-minute harbor cruises (adults, $6;
children, $1) and 90-minute cruises (adults, $8; children, $1), departing
from the Balboa Fun Zone every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily
and on the hour until 7 p.m. (949) 673-5245.
Cruise the harbor aboard the Electra, a 100-foot Classic Fantail
vessel. Charters with catering are available for up to 145 people. (949)
723-1069.
Enjoy a three-course dinner and dancing while cruising the harbor.
Friday and Saturday night voyages depart at 7 p.m. at Hornblower Dining
Yachts, 2431 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. $56.95 per person. Brunch
cruises also are available. (949) 631-2469.
The Catalina Flyer departs from the Balboa Pavilion at 9 a.m. daily
and returns from Catalina Island at 4:30 p.m. $36 round trip for adults;
$20 round trip for children. Reservations recommended. (949) 673-5245.
FISHING
Fishing classes leave Balboa Pavilion at 6 a.m. and return at 4 p.m.
Mondays and Tuesdays. $125. (949) 673-2810.
Get to the Newport Pier early to watch the dory fishing fleet return
with the fresh catch of the day. Fish are prepared for sale at McFadden
Square, an open-air market.
Fishing supplies and boat charters (open party and private) are
available at Newport Landing Sportfishing, 309 Palms, Suite F, Newport
Beach (949) 675-0550; Falco Fishing Charters, (714) 832-7708; and Davey’s
Locker, 400 Main St., Balboa, (949) 673-1434.
Day and night fishing charters are available for groups or singles at
Bongos Sportfishing on Balboa Peninsula. (949) 673-2810.
KAYAKING/CANOEING/SCUBA
Beginning sea kayaking, rolling clinics and private lessons are
offered at Paddle Power, 1500 W. Balboa Blvd., Balboa. Kayak and sea ski
rentals also are available. (949) 675-1215.
Two-hour kayak tours begin at 10 a.m. Sundays from Newport Dunes. $20
for adults; $15 for children. Kayak rentals and classes also are
available. (949) 729-1150.
Single kayak rentals ($10 per hour) and doubles ($15 per hour) are available at Balboa Boat Rentals in the Balboa Fun Zone. (949) 673-7200.
Paddle Power also provides kayak, surf ski and canoe rentals. (949)
675-1215.
Back Bay canoe tours are offered in Upper Newport Bay on Saturdays,
departing at 8:30 a.m. from Shellmaker Island. (949) 640-6746.
Newport Aquatic Center offers sweep rowing (one oar), sculling classes
(two oars) and canoe rentals. Classes run for four weeks and cost $75.
Introductory clinics also are available Saturdays and Sundays for $10.
(949) 646-7725.
Scuba training, consisting of six evening and two weekend day classes,
are offered at the Aquatic Center, 4537 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.
$200 to $310. The center also offers scuba rentals, special trips,
repairs and air fills. (949) 650-5440.
Certification classes for beginning to instructor-level scuba divers
are available at Dive-in Scuba, 2482 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. Other
services include boat charters, equipment sales, rentals and repairs.
(949) 631-9288.
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