WHAT’S AFLOAT

* WHAT’S AFLOAT runs periodically in the Daily Pilot on a rotating

basis. If you know of an event or activity that could appear in this

column, please mail the information to Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa

Mesa 92627; fax it to (949) 646-4170; or e-mail it to o7

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SAILING CLASSES

Spectacular Puget Sound educational cruises have been scheduled for

this summer aboard OCC’s Norwester, a classic 75-foot wooden motor yacht

that introduced actor John Wayne to yachting five decades ago. It will

mark the third summer that Norwester has taken students and community

members on cruises through Puget Sound. Excursions are set Aug. 5-11,

Aug. 14-19, Aug. 25-31, Sept. 2-8, Sept. 12-20 and Sept. 23-Oct. 1.

Reservations and costs: (949) 645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s School of Sailing and Seamanship has scheduled

six noncredit intermediate Lidos sailing classes beginning July 22.

Classes will meet from 1:15 to 5:15 p.m. at the Sailing Center, 1801 W.

Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Evening classes will run from 5:15

to 7:45 p.m. Registration is $95. For more information, call (949)

645-9412.

Orange Coast College’s School of Sailing and Seamanship will offer a

noncredit class that teaches intermediate-level sailors skills necessary

to operate a mid-size auxiliary cruising boat beginning July 23. The

class will be taught aboard the Islander 36, “Andiamo,” and is limited to

six students. The Sailing Center is at 1801 W. Pacific Coast Highway,

Newport Beach. Registration is $215. For more information, call (949)

645-9412.

Learn to sail or windsurf at Resort Water sports. You can also rent

windsurfers and 14-foot sailboats at $15 per hour. (949) 729-1150.

Sailboat rentals and private lessons are available at Marina Sailing

in the Balboa Fun Zone. Advanced classes include navigation, big boat,

power boat, introduction to heavy weather and first-mate instruction. For

more information, call (949) 673-7763, the Blue Dolphin Sailing Club at

(949) 644-2525 or the Lido Sailing Club at (949) 675-0827 for rentals.

BOAT RENTALS

Balboa Boat Rentals can put you on the water in so many ways. Single

and double kayaks, electric boats, 14 holder sailboats, pedal boats and

runabouts for offshore or to cruise the bay. Have a party? On the Water

Scavenger Hunts are a hit aboard the ever-popular electric boats. For

more information, call (949) 673-7200.

Enjoy a day cruising the harbor with Duffy Electric Boats at 2001 W.

Coast Highway, Newport Beach, a full-service manufacturer, sales, rental

and service provider of boats. Duffy offers electric boat rentals by the

hour, seven days a week. All boats are equipped with CD players and

window enclosures. Ice and cups are provided. Reservations are suggested.

One hour is $60, however, midweek specials are occasionally available.

Call for details. Free parking. Information: (949) 645-6812.

Sail airborne outside the harbor, pulled by a motorboat, courtesy of

Balboa Para-sailing near the Balboa Fun Zone. A 90-minute trip costs $45.

Information: (949) 673-1693.

Spend a day relaxing in a motorized lounge chair rented from Resort

Water sports inside Newport Dunes for $25 an hour. Pedal boats, electric

boats, boogie boards, kayaks, inflatable rafts, beach furniture and wet

suits are also available. For more information, call (949) 729-1150.

Balboa Boat Rentals offers pedal boat, sailboat, motorboat and

electric boat rentals in the Balboa Fun Zone. For more information, call

(949) 673-7200.

Rent a party pontoon, chaparral runabout or family pontoon at Anchors

Away Boat Rentals in the Balboa Fun Zone. For more information, call

(949) 673-3372.

The Harbor may not be Venice, but you can always pretend. Spend an

hour on a gondola tour offered by the Gondola Co. of Newport, 3400 Via

Oporto, Suite 102B. Cost is $75. Price includes a basket of bread,

cheese, salami, ice, glasses, blanket, music and a Polaroid picture. Wine

is available for purchase. For more information, call (949) 675-1212.

Gondola Adventures/Newport, 3101 Coast Highway, also offers one- and

two-hour gondola cruises. A one-hour tour with champagne costs $70. A

two-hour tour with dinner and champagne costs $180. Pickup at waterfront

restaurant is available. For more information, call (949) 675-4984.

Irvine Coast Charters in Lido Marina Village offers two-hour electric

boat cruises with a gourmet dinner. Cost is $180 for two people. Other

cruises are available, complete with free champagne. For more

information, call (949) 675-4704.

Zip through the water on a sea motorcycle -- it’s called a Sea-Doo --

at a cost of $65 for a single/double-seater. A three-seater is available

at $75 an hour. For more information, call Walk on Water (949) 675-6800.

It is next to the ferry on Balboa Island.

Streamline, center-console fishing boats may be rented at Balboa Boat

Rentals on Balboa Peninsula. These new 19-inch boats are equipped with

live bait tanks, fish-finders and VHF radio. Available by hour and

half-day rates at $170. Full-day rates are $240. U-Drive offshore boats

equipped with VHF radios can be rented by the hour, half-day or full-day.

Rates range from $40 per hour to $195 for the day. Call Balboa Boat

Rentals at (949) 673-7200.

CRUISES

The Newport Landing Belle is available for weddings/receptions,

cocktail/sightseeing cruises and meetings at a cost of $250 an hour

(minimum two hours) and $150 each additional hour. For charters, call

(949) 361-3640.

Individuals and small groups can enjoy Saturday and Sunday champagne

brunch cruises with food from the Cannery. Cruises run from 10 a.m. to

noon and from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Cost is $31 per person. The Cannery also

offers a dinner cruise for groups of 30 to 60. Cost is $63.50 per person.

For more information, call (949) 675-5777.

Fun Zone Boat Co. runs 45-minute cruise (adults $6, children $1) and a

90-minute cruise (adults $8; children $1), departing the Balboa Fun Zone

every half-hour, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. A 60-minute showboat sunset cruise

leaves the Fun Zone at 7 p.m. at a cost of $6 per adult and $1 per child.

Private charters are available. For more information, call (949)

673-0240.

Catalina Passenger Service also runs 45-minute harbor cruises (adults

$6, children $1) and 90-minute cruises (adults $8, children $1),

departing the Balboa Fun Zone every half-hour, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and

on the hour until 7 p.m. For information, call (949) 673-5245.

Cruise the harbor aboard the Electra, a 100-foot Classic Fantail

vessel. Charters with catering are available for up to 145 guests. For

more information, call (949) 723-1069.

Enjoy a three-course dinner and dancing while cruising the harbor.

Friday and Saturday night voyages depart at 7 p.m., Hornblower Dining

Yachts, 2431 Pacific Coast Highway. Cost is $56.95 per person. Brunch

cruises are also available. For more information and reservations, call

(949) 631-2469.

The Catalina Flyer departs the Balboa Pavilion at 9 a.m. and leaves

Catalina Island at 4:30 p.m. Cost is $36 for an adult round trip and $20

for a child’s round trip. For reservations, call (949) 673-5245.