* WHAT’S AFLOAT is published periodically....

* WHAT’S AFLOAT is published periodically. 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

dailypilot@latimes.com.

GONDOLA TOURS

Gondola Romance offers daily tours of Newport Harbor during lunch

and dinner. Call (949) 675-4730. The tours go out of Lido Marina

Village, 3400 Via Oporto, Newport Beach.

KAYAK TOURS

The Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and Nature Preserve hosts

two-hour kayak tours of the Back Bay at 10 a.m. every Sunday at 2301

University Drive, Newport Beach. $20. Kayaks made available through

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. Call for reservations. (800)

585-0747.

HORNBLOWER CRUISES & EVENTS

Hornblower offers weekend dinner dance and Sunday champagne brunch

cruises on Newport Harbor that celebrate imaginative cuisine and

pampered service. 2431 W. Coast Highway, Suite 101, Newport Beach.

(949) 631-2469.

SUNDAY COOKIE CRUISES

The Adventures at Sea Yacht Charters hosts cruises around Newport

Harbor from 2 to 3:30 p.m. every Sunday at 3101 W. Coast Highway,

Newport Beach. $20, includes cruise, parking, cookies and sodas.

Reservations required. (949) 650-2412.

SAILING TEAMS

The Balboa Yacht Club will host its 36th annual Governor’s Cup,

the ‘’International Race of Young Champions,’’ in the waters off

Newport Beach July 16 through July 21. A total of 12 yacht

club teams of three junior sailors will participate in the four

day round-robin competition. (949) 760-9374.

Orange County employers can bring their employees out to Newport

Beach on weekdays to enjoy a day of sailing courtesy of Orange Coast

College. The School of Sailing and Seamanship now offers a chance for

groups to work with the on-board instructor on different sailing

techniques while they get advice on how to perform well in business.

No sailing experience necessary. One-day classes range from $100 to

$125. (949) 645-9412.

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.