Beautiful day lends itself to sailing

Bryce Alderton

Generations of sailors gathered for a day of racing around Newport

Harbor, enjoying one another’s company and honing their sailing skills as

the 66th edition of the Flight of the Lasers took sail Sunday afternoon.

Carter Ford, 60, finished first and was all smiles after the race.

“This is the biggest thrill to hear the level of encouragement from

fellow competitors and spectators,” Ford said. “It’s an incredible

thrill.”

Ford, a Lido Isle resident, has sailed since he was a child and does

most of his sailing out of Lido Isle Yacht Club.

On Sunday, he made sure to give credit where credit was due.

“All sailors are indebted to the [Newport Beach Area] Chamber of

Commerce, the Commodores, and Seymour Beek for carrying on the

organization to put on this event,” Ford said.

Beek is chairman of the event, owner of the Balboa Island Ferry and

Island Marine Fuel and a member of the Commodores Club of the chamber of

commerce.

Ford described the conditions as “moderate.”

“The wind was shifty and spotty and I had some good luck in those wind

shifts,” Ford said. “Breaking out from the pack was very helpful for me.”

Scott Barnard and Scott Ramser, friends from their days on Newport

Harbor High School’s sailing team and from sailing countless hours out of

the Newport Harbor Yacht Club, smiled and laughed with each other as they

brought their boats in and began washing off the salt water.

“This is not a race, it’s more like a town parade,” said Barnard, who

finished second. “The best part about being out here is the camaraderie,

being out in a nice and peaceful breeze and being with people you’ve met

and known your whole life.”

Ramser has also sailed most of his life and enjoys racing against

people of all ages.

Their love of sailing has transferred to their kids. Barnard’s son

Chris, 10, has sailed for three years and Ramser’s four kids all sail at

the yacht club.

Chris Barnard’s eyes and mouth widened as he looked out to the bay and

saw friend Mac Mace disappear behind the boat both sailed in on.

Barnard chuckled and began yelling instructions to Mac to get the boat

upright.

Barnard and Mace sailed together in the laser, but Barnard said it was

a little crowded at times. This was the first year the younger Barnard

participated in the race.

The single-sailed “laser” boats are 14 feet in length, weigh

approximately 130 pounds and are made of fiberglass.

Scott Ramser described the boats as “high performance and fast.”

The race was formerly called Flight of the Snowbirds as pioneer

developer Joseph Beek organized the first flight with the help of the

chamber of commerce in 1936.