* 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.