Yacht race canceled for high winds

A group of avid offshore racers gathered Saturday for the inaugural

race of the 66 Series at Balboa Yacht Club but took one look at the

choppy waters and called it off.

Ben Benjamin, the sailing administrator at the club, said the

conditions were too dangerous to race. The canceled race was scheduled to

start just west of Newport Pier. Racers would have traveled to the

Huntington tidelands and back.

Five races remain in the traditional six-race series and are scheduled

on various Saturdays through June.

The 66 Series was started by a group of Balboa Yacht racers in 1960.

Their goal was to get people back on the race course to have fun. The

name was inspired by its founders to indicate six races, each no more

than six hours.

Next weekend, boaters will race around Catalina. Start time is

scheduled for 11 a.m.

Information: (949) 673-3535, Ext. 131.

Pants on fire in Newport Beach

Newport Beach fire and police officials responded to a call of smoke

Saturday on Tustin Avenue to find a pair of pants on fire in a garage.

Fire fighters stomped out the flames then doused the hot pants with a

garden hose, officials said. Prepared for the worst, police were called

to block off the street so fire fighters could roll out the hoses.

Fortunately, it never got to that point.