* 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
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.
SAILING CLASSES
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.
Sailing Fascination offers classes in boating safety and sailing,
year-round for people with disabilities. Free. (949) 640-1678.
BOAT RENTALS
Balboa Boat Rentals can put you on the water in many ways, with
single and double kayaks, electric boats, 14-holder sailboats, pedal
boats and runabouts for offshore use or cruising the bay. Balboa Boat
Rentals also holds two-hour scavenger hunts aboard the electric bay
boats that provide group activity for corporations, birthdays,
nonprofit organizations and group outings. The hunt packages include
boats, trivia questions, maps, Polaroid cameras and supplies. Cost
for the hunt begins at $225 per boat and catering is available at an
additional rate. For hunt reservations call (949) 557-5100, Ext. 12.
For general information, call (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 $70. (949) 645-6812.
Sail airborne outside Newport 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 at 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.
CRUISES
The Newport Landing Belle is available for weddings and
receptions, cocktail and sightseeing cruises, and meetings at $250
per hour (minimum two hours) and $150 for each additional hour. (949)
361-3640.
Fun Zone Boat Co. runs a 45-minute cruise (adults, $6; children,
$1) and 90-minute cruise (adults, $8; children, $1), departing from
Balboa Fun Zone every 30 minutes from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. A
60-minute showboat sunset cruise (adults, $6; children, $1) leaves
the Fun Zone at 7 p.m. daily. 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 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
passengers. (949) 723-1069.
A three-course dinner and dancing while cruising the harbor is
available at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays 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 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 are 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 Davey’s Locker, 400 Main St., Balboa (949) 673-1434; and
Newport Landing Sportfishing, 309 Palms, Suite F, Newport Beach (949)
675-0550.
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 and $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.
The Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve offers Back Bay canoe
tours departing at 8:30 a.m. Saturdays from Shellmaker Island, which
is off Back Bay Drive in Newport Beach. (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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