* 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.

SAILING CLASSES

Sailing Fascination offers classes in boating safety and sailing

year-round for persons with disabilities. Classes are Tuesdays and

Saturdays at the Balboa Yacht Basin, slip B1, 829 Harbor Island

Drive, Newport Beach. Information:(949) 640-1678.

The 1812 American Privateer Schooner Lynx is offering educational

programs for fifth- and eighth-grade students based on state

standards. The Lynx operates from the Scout sea base, at 1931 W.

Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 723-7814,

https://www.defenseof freedom.org.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer an introduction to shields sailing class from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30

p.m. Sunday, April 18, April 25 and May 2 at OCC’s Sailing Center in

Newport Beach. The cost is $125. Information: (949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer an intermediate Lidos sailing class from 1:45 to 5:30 p.m.

today, April 17, April 24 and May 1 at OCC’s Sailing Center in

Newport Beach. The cost is $120. Information: (949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer an intermediate Lidos sailing class from 1:45 to 5:30 p.m.

Sunday, April 18, April 25 and May 2 at OCC’s Sailing Center in

Newport Beach. The cost is $125. Information: (949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer a radar workshop from 7 to 10 p.m. April 15, 22, 29 and May 6

at OCC’s Sailing Center in Newport Beach. The cost is $125.

Information: (949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer an advanced shields class from 1:45 to 5:30 p.m. April 24, May

1 and 8 at OCC’s Sailing Center in Newport Beach. The cost is $105.

Information: (949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer a braided line splicing course from 7 to 9 p.m. April 12 at

OCC’s Sailing Center in Newport Beach. The cost is $45. Information:

(949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer an outboard maintenance workshop from 1 to 4 p.m. April 17 at

OCC’s Sailing Center in Newport Beach. The cost is $35. Information:

(949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer a spring Lidos class from 1:45 to 5:30 p.m. May 15 and 22, June

5, 12 and 19 at OCC’s Sailing Center in Newport Beach. The cost is

$120. Information: (949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s school of sailing and seamanship will

offer a spring Lidos class from 1:45 to 5:30 p.m. May 16 and 23, June

6, 13 and 20 at OCC’s Sailing Center in Newport Beach. The cost is

$120. Information: (949) 645-9412.

BOAT RENTALS

With Marina WaterSports at the Balboa Fun Zone, you can enjoy

nautical experiences from mild to wild. Take a self-guided tour of

the bay in your choice of power and sail watercraft, jump the ocean

swells in a Sea-Doo jetboat, put you sport-fishing skills to the test

in a fully equipped Boston whaler, or soar above it all on a parasail

flight along the Newport coast. Complimentary ice and beverages are

included with all electric 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, providing group activity for corporations, birthdays,

nonprofit organizations and group outings. The hunt packages include

boats, trivia questions, maps, Polaroid cameras and supplies. The

cost of a hunt begins at $225 per boat and catering is available at

an additional rate. For hunt reservations, 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 $75. (949) 645-6812.

Pedal boats, electric boats, boogie boards, kayaks, inflatable

rafts, catamarans, beach furniture and wetsuits are available for

rent at Resort Water Sports at Newport Dunes. (949) 729-1150.

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

is also 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 persons.

(949) 675-4704.

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.

CRUISES

Join Capt. Don Moseley on the beautiful sailing yacht Dulcinea

for a narrated Newport Harbor cruise of the fabulous waterfront homes

and boats of the rich and famous, see the sea lion colony, and sail

the spectacular cool-summer, warm-fall Southern California coastline

to Laguna Beach or Dana Point. As a private birthday, anniversary or

special event? Sail, swim, snorkel, kayak, sunbathe, watch dolphins,

and dine at anchor for the time-of-your-life vacation at Catalina

Island on this well-appointed, U.S. Coast Guard inspected vessel. ASA

sailing instruction and certification. Business conference facility.

Information: https://www.shellbackdon.com, shellbackdon@yahoo.com,

(949) 632-3736.