The Harbor Column:

Ahoy,

It is almost that time again for Newport Harbor come alive with Snowbirds. No, wait, that was in 1936. Now, it is time again for the bay to come alive with the 74th annual Flight of the Lasers. A very popular sailboat race, and hosted by the Commodore’s Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

Originally, the race was called the Flight of the Snowbirds and later changed to the Flight of the Lasers. The event is chaired by Seymour Beek, who has organized the race longer than I can remember.

The race is July 26, and sailors still have time to enter as the Flight is open to everyone who can beg, borrow or steal a Laser or a Byte sailboat. Sailors can go to www.NewportBeach.com for more information and to download an entry form.

Tip of the week is for every boater to make safe passage through the harbor with the hundreds of sailboats in the summer classes and races.

First, the harbor is open to everyone, and technically no one can block any portion of navigable waters unless granted a special event permit by the United States Coast Guard.

With that said, I have noticed that sailing programs are making an effort to leave room between their buoys and the shore for “sea room” passage. However, in a few instances I have been blocked, not by the participants, but by the committee or spectator boats drifting into the passage lanes.

Boaters cruising through the harbor need to plan ahead to avoid the sailboats by planning a course outside of the markers. Please watch for the beginner sailors who may drift in front of your vessel. Sometimes it is impossible to avoid the fleet, and then everyone needs to be courteous, as prescribed by maritime law and allow safe passage of all vessels.

The sailors do not need to be waving and yelling for the boat to move, and harsh words do not need to be exchanged. Everybody should stay calm and try to get the vessel through the fleet without tempers flaring. Prudent seamanship and good sportsmanship are what we need to be instilling as boaters, and remember, there will always be another day.

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