The ancient mariner

sr spotRoy Woolsey knows plenty about sailing and the history of Newport Beach. The Lido Isle resident still wins awards for his sailing, even if most of them are for longevity. If you were curious about the history of yachting in Newport Beach, Roy Woolsey would be the man to find. The 88-year-old skipper has seen it all.

If you can believe it, he remembers the days when there was still vacant land available on Lido Isle. Woolsey and his wife Louise bought a summer home on Lido in 1952 and made it their permanent home 10 years later.

Even before moving to Lido Isle, Woolsey was well acquainted with sailing. At the age of 18, he read about it in his Boy Scout handbook and got interested. He and two friends headed down from Los Angeles to Newport Beach to rent a boat.

“They asked if we knew how to sail, [and] the other two fellas pointed at me,” Woolsey said. “And I didn’t deny it.”

Woolsey said he was a little nervous on his first trip, but his first landing was the best he ever had.

“It’s been all downhill from there,” Woolsey joked.

Seventy years later, he is still active in the Lido Isle Yacht Club. He served as the club’s commodore in 1969. As a former commodore, he still has input in the club’s decisions.

Woolsey owns two boats of his own -- a Lido 14 and a Laser -- and still sails as often as possible.

He also knows the history of the Lido 14, which was invented in Newport Beach. The Lido was originated in Newport Beach in the late 1950s.

“Bill Schock created the boat in 1958,” Woolsey said. “He originally made 10, and they were shaped similar to a bathtub.”

Woolsey bought the 68th boat produced in 1958. Now, there are more than 6,000 in the water.

“They aren’t a high performance boat, because they have a jib and a main sail,” Woolsey said. “It made it ineffective.

“It was also a heavy boat. It weighed 310 pounds when fully rigged.”

For racing, Woolsey prefers his Laser, which is much simpler, flat-bottomed and lighter.

Woolsey has been a constant at the annual Flight of the Lasers races, having participated every year since 1991. He has not performed exceptionally well, but manages to garner the oldest skipper every year.

Woolsey enjoys downplaying his ability, joking about how he is not that strong of a skipper. But he has more skill than he lets on -- earlier this year, he finished fourth in the Lido 14 B Class at the Roy Woolsey Regatta.

And yes, the regatta was given his namesake.

“I think they just named it after me because I sailed, and I’m old,” Woolsey said.

* Do you know any seniors who are still active in sports? Let the Senior Spotlight know! E-mail James Lee at james.lee@latimes.com.

20051226is2zlmncDON LEACH / DAILY PILOT(LA)Roy Woolsey with one of his favorite boats in the Genoa Boat Garden on Lido Isle.