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

* 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.

SPECIAL EVENT

The Newport Beach Nautical Museum will host “Night of Winners,”

which will honor the 2003 perpetual trophy winners of the Tommy

Bahama Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race. The event will be from 6 to 9

p.m. March 13 at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, 151 East Coast

Hwy. Tickets cost $20 to $25. Information: (949) 673-7863, ext. 350.

CRUISES

A three-course dinner and dancing while cruising the harbor are

available at 8 p.m. Fridays and at 7:30 p.m. Saturdays at Hornblower

Cruises & Events, 2431 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. The fee is

$59.95 per person on Fridays and $64 on Saturdays. Brunch cruises

also are available. (949) 631-2469.

Hornblower offers weekend dinner dance and Sunday champagne brunch

cruises on Newport Harbor that celebrate imaginative cuisine . 2431

W. Coast Highway, Suite 101, Newport Beach. (949) 631-2469.

The Adventures at Sea Yacht Charters offer cruises around Newport

Harbor from 12:30 to 2 p.m. every Sunday at 3101 W. Coast Highway,

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

Reservations required. (949) 650-2412.

KAYAKING/CANOEING/SCUBA

Imua Outrigger Canoe Club invites adventure-minded adults to canoe

Newport Harbor Hawaiian style. No experience required -- they’ll

teach you all you need to know. Dress for the beach and bring a towel

every Saturday at 10 a.m. at North Star Beach, 1 White Cliffs Drive,

Newport Beach. For more information, call (714)432-1236.

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.

The cost is $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 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.

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 the

Newport Dunes on Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach. $20. Kayaks made

available through Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. Call for

reservations. (800) 585-0747 or (949) 729-1150.