THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Ahoy.

This Saturday is the 18th annual “Sail for the Blind and Visually Impaired” hosted by the Newport Harbor American Legion Post 291 located bayside at 15th street on the Balboa Peninsula.

This wonderful event will host more than 240 blind and visually impaired adults along with their escorts during this daylong event.

The accompanying guide dogs are not forgotten either as a play yard will be set up for the dogs while their owners are sailing on the boats.

The Women’s Ocean Racing Sailing Assn., which sponsors the event, organizes several hundred volunteers from the community including the American Legion, local skippers, Girl and Boy Scout troops, police cadets and 4-H members.

The volunteers supply the boats, provide breakfast and lunch, and entertainment for the event.

The sailing guests will be able to help steer the boats, adjust sheet and halyard lines, and feel the thrill of sailing with all the sensations of wind and motion.

The boats will sail throughout Newport Harbor and some boats’ skippers might take the vessels offshore onto the Pacific Ocean if the sea conditions permit a safe voyage.

The weather, though, might not cooperate as forecasters predict winds gusting to 25 knots. Still, we are fortunate to have a harbor large enough to provide protected and enjoyable sailing conditions.

You can help with the event either as a volunteer or with a tax deductible donation.

For details, contact Rich Puccini, American Legion Yacht Club Rear Commodore, at (949) 951-9550 or visit www.al291.com/sites/post291/index.php?menuID=ViewEvent&eventID;=2708.

Tip for the week is for boat owners to take someone out on the water that otherwise would not have the opportunity to go boating.

More than 72 million people went boating last year.

This includes vessels on oceans, bays, harbors, sounds, rivers, lakes, and other waterways throughout the country.

The number does not include boating in swimming pools, and, yes, I have sailed a Sabot and a Laser in Newport Harbor High’s 50-meter pool many years ago.

Remember to tune in at 11 a.m. Saturdays to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” on KLAA-AM (830).

Safe Voyages.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathousetv.com or go to www.boathousetv.com.