Yacht clubs celebrate summer sailing season

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Lindsay Daley and Tim Hauswald walk down a dock lined with flags during the opening day of the Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach on Saturday.

(Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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An Orange County Sheriff fire boat sprays water during the opening day for the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club in Newport Beach on Saturday. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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The crowd looks on during the ringing of the eight bells on the opening day at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Members of the Nicholson Pipes and Drums corps play during the opening day of the Balboa Yacht Club in Newport Beach on Saturday. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Ray Da Silva, left, and Matt Stanley raise the Balboa Yacht Club burgee during the opening day ceremony in Newport Beach. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Staff commodores past and present salute during the singing of the “Star Spangled Banner” on opening day at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Guests stand for the presentation of colors by the First Intelligence Battalion, First Marine Division out of Camp Pendleton during Balboa Yacht Club’s opening day. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Nate Weiner wears a yacht captain’s cap during the opening day of the Balboa Yahct Club. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

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Dick Lawrence, the commodore of Balboa Yacht Club in 1993, salutes during the Pledge of Allegiance at the opening day for the club. (Scott Smeltzer / Daily Pilot)

By Hannah FryStaff Writer

May 7, 2016 5:36 PM PT

Unlike their East Coast counterparts who have to drag their boats out of the water in preparation for the frozen winter, members of Newport Beach’s yacht clubs can experience the joys of boating almost year-round.

But that doesn’t mean they skip out on celebrating the official launch of the summer sailing season.

The Balboa, Bahia Corinthian and Lido Isle yacht clubs kicked off the season with opening-day festivities Saturday.

“This is a traditional event that started back East with some of the oldest yacht clubs in the country,” said Bill Long, chairman of public relations for the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. “They get their boats cleaned up and inspect them for safety purposes. We do it here to celebrate the beginning of the boating season.”

Opening day generally consists of a color guard, the Pledge of Allegiance and a choral group singing the national anthem. Next, club commodores and directors are introduced.

Some clubs have races that day and others have parties that last several days, with food, drinks and dancing.

At the Balboa Yacht Club, Saturday’s schedule included an awards ceremony and a barbecue buffet.

Bahia Corinthian celebrated with a Marine Corps color guard, bagpipers and lunch.

The American Legion Yacht Club celebrated its 50th opening day on May 1, and the Newport Harbor Yacht Club hosted its 100th opening day at the end of April.