Check out all the big boats

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

This morning I am on a yacht delivery south of the border to

Ensenada, and I am planning to return by Sunday so that I can attend

the 42nd annual Sandcastle Contest at Big Corona State Beach. The

Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is busy

preparing for this annual event that is a fun family activity to join

in or look at the creations.

Another important event starting next Thursday is the 25th Lido

Yacht Expo presented by Cerritos Hummer. The Duncan McIntosh Co

returns to Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach and showcases

multi-million-dollar yachts

This is Lido Expo’s silver anniversary and the show is known as

the West’s ultimate “Big Boat” show with nearly 200 vessels that are

26 feet and larger on display in the water.

Big boat shoppers can get their first look at brand-new 2004

models that are debuting in the U.S. and West Coast. The show will

have numerous booths displaying marine products, services, marine

finance, insurance and equipment. The major U.S. and foreign

motoryacht builders will be represented at this show, including

Azimut, Bayliner, Carver, Cabo, Catalina, Fairline, Fleming, Fraser,

Grand Banks, Hatteras, Larson, Luhrs, Mainship, Maxum, Mikelson,

McKinna, Monterey, Ocean Alexander, Queenship, Silverton, Sunseeker,

Symbol and Sea Ray.

The spectacular 127-foot, $13.5-million megayacht “Dakota” will be

on display. The Dakota is the largest and most expensive vessel in

the history of the show. The vessel was built by Crescent Custom

Yachts in Canada and is being brought to the show by Crow’s Nest

Compass Point Marine Group.

A walk aboard the Dakota leads you into a world of marine luxury

in every aspect. Just image owning this yacht and meeting your

invited guests in the marble and granite foyer from the twin spiral

stair cases. Tour his and her vanities with bathrooms separated by

the “Rain Forest” shower (11 shower heads produce an exhilarating

tropical experience), the entrance to the enormous master spa, to the

entertainment center that includes a total of 15 TVs (two of which

are large screen plasmas) and a 60-speaker sound system. Do they need

a delivery Captain, as I am available?

Highlights of a few other brokers’ yachts include Coast Yachts

with a Sunseeker 46 Portofino famous for its sleek design and

meticulous engineering, power strength and stability. Mickelson

yachts will showcase new 2004 59-foot Nomad Long Range Cruising

Sportfisher for just under $1.5 million. Stan Miller Yachts will

exhibit the new 2004 Aleutian 64’ with a price tag of $2.4 million.

Bayport Yachts, which is one of only 10 Marquis Class dealers in

the world, will debut the Marquis 59’ built by Carver. This elegant

yacht has only a $1.65-million price tag.

The show starts Thursday and concludes Sunday evening. The hours

are noon to 7 p.m., Thursday; 11 .m. to 7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m. to 7

p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $10 for

adults and free for children 12 and under. For more information call

Duncan McIntosh Co. at (949) 757-5959, or visit https://www.goboating

america.com. While you are on the Web site be sure to read my boat

test review article with Sea Magazine.

I will miss the show because I am flying to Seattle on Monday to

delivery an Ocean Alexandra from Lake Union to its new home in

Newport Harbor. This trip should take six days if the weather and

seas cooperate for us to maintain a cruising south, stopping only for

fuel once a day. Luckily, I have a great crew consisting of San

Diego’s Capt. Mitch Keeler, charter boat Capt. John Hammond and

sailing professional Peter Heck. Thursday’s morning buoy check is not

looking good as the 6 a.m. report shows Point Arena with 11.5-foot

swells -- ouch.

Great news, I have signed on with San Diego’s legendary talk

station, KCBQ 1170 AM, to host Southern California’s only live

boating radio talk show called Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.

You can tune in every Sunday starting October 12 at 4 p.m., and the

broadcast easily reaches Newport Harbor and beyond. You will be able

to call-in live to discuss topics that you read in this column.

Chandler Bell has joined my team as the advertising director and

show manager, so stay tuned.

Safe Voyages

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to mike@boathousetv.com or visit boathousetv.com.