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.
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