TERRANCE PHILLIPS -- The Harbor Column

There are many sizes and shapes that float in the harbor.

Everything from sailboats, powerboats, kayaks, canoes, windsurfers and

even human bodies. Each one of these toys can cost a lot of money to keep

afloat. Without an infusion of many “dead presidents,” they will all

eventually sink.

Most of the above are readily found in the Boat Trader, classified ads in

newspapers or at any number of boating dealers and brokerages along West

Coast Highway. There is one item, however, that cannot be replaced if it

sinks -- a human being.

Keeping a human afloat can be the most expensive undertaking. Not only

does this device require a great deal of preventive maintenance, it also

goes through life with additional burdens. Emotional maintenance,

technical maintenance, fine tuning, trial runs, competition and the most

basic item -- fuel.

Such is the case of a body that has floated many an hour on our harbor,

beaches and local swimming pools. Aaron Peirsol is 16. He’s a sophomore

at Newport Harbor High School, and he floats faster than almost any human

on Earth. When he first began floating on his back, he started to move

his arms backward, faster and faster, to a point where he looked like a

windmill in Holland during a hurricane. He continues doing this for 200

meters and now is ranked No. 1 in the United States in the 200-meter

backstroke. His time of 1:57:03 is the fifth-fastest time in recorded

history and has only been beaten by two other men.

Currently in training for the September Olympic trials in Indianapolis,

Aaron’s family and support team face the expense of travel, both

nationally and internationally.

Therefore, a group of Newport Harbor High School families is stepping in.

“We wanted to help,” said Michele Mullen, a Newport Harbor PTA member.

“We decided to raise some money to offset the heavy costs associated with

traveling to Sydney for the 2000 Olympics. It’s going to be very

expensive, and without some support, Aaron’s family and support team

wouldn’t be able to participate in the event and races. His time is less

than a body length of the world record, and we think it’s great that a

Newport Harbor 10th-grader could represent the United States at the

Olympics.”

An afternoon of fund-raising is scheduled from 5 to 8 p.m. on Sunday,

June 11, at the Newport Beach Yacht Club, 1099 Bayside Drive. The event

will include guest speakers including Olympic coaches and medalists, a

band, silent auction, dancing, dinner and beverages.

Actor Michael Villani, who has appeared in the movies “Up Close and

Personal” and “Man on the Moon,” will preside over the festivities.

* TERRANCE PHILLIPS is the Daily Pilot’s boating writer. You can leave a

message for him at (949) 642-6086 or via e-mail at

[email protected].

FYI

For more information on how you can participate in the event supporting

Olympic hopeful Aaron Peirsol, Newport’s fastest floating machine,

contact Michele Mullen at (949) 645-8988.