* 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

WaterSports in the Balboa Fun Zone. Advanced classes include

navigation, big boat, powerboat, introduction to heavy weather and

first-mate instruction. (949) 673-3372; 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 at Marina WaterSports, pulled

by a motorboat at Balboa Para-sailing near the Balboa Fun Zone. A

90-minute trip is $45. (949) 673-3372.

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 Marina WaterSports Bay 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.

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.