WHAT’S AFLOAT

* WHAT’S AFLOAT runs periodically in the Daily Pilot. 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 [email protected] .

WHALE WATCHING

Davey’s Locker operates whale-watch cruises daily through the end of

March. Operating hours are 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m., noon

and 2:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays. The cost is $14 for adults, $12

for seniors, $8 for children ages 4 to 12, and no charge for kids 3 and

under. Special discounts are available for groups of 12 or more,

community youth groups, service organizations and schools. Private

charters also available. Guaranteed sightings of whales or dolphins, or

all passengers will receive a free pass. Davey’s Locker is at 400 Main

St., Newport Beach. For more information, call (949) 673-1434.

Bongo’s Sportfishing Charters offers private party whale-watching

excursions daily. The cost is $125 for one hour, with a six-passenger

maximum and a three-hour minimum. Bongo’s is at 2130 Newport Blvd.,

Newport Beach. For more information, call (949) 673-2810.

Newport Landing Sportfishing offers a low-cost way to whale-watch, from

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. weekends and holidays.

The cost is $14 for adults, $8 for seniors and children under 12. Special

discount rates are available for schools, churches and community youth

groups. Newport Landing is at 309 Palm St., Newport Beach. For available

dates and information, call (949) 675-0550.

Fun Zone Boat Co. guarantees whale or dolphin sightings during its

excursions, or the next trip is free. Daily trips weekdays are at 10 a.m.

and 1 p.m. and weekends at 9 a.m., noon and 2:30 p.m. Cost is $14 for

adults, $12 for seniors, children ages 3 to 11 are $8, ages 2 and under

are free. Groups rates also available for schools, youths and groups of

15 or more. Discounts available on the Web at o7

www.newportwhalewatching.comf7 . The Fun Zone Boat Co. is at the Fun

Zone in Newport Beach. For reservations, call (949) 673-0240.

SAILING / RENTALS

OCC’s Sailing Program has scheduled a non-credit intermediate shields

class that meets during February and March. The course will emphasize

seamanship and finite sail trim and sail shape. It also covers man

overboard and anchoring, and students will have an opportunity to do some

racing. Conditions permitting, offshore sailing will be permitted. The

five-week session meets from 1:15 to 5 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 12, 19, 26,

March 4 and 11 at OCC’s Sailing Center, 1801 W. Pacific Coast Highway,

Newport Beach. Registration is $115. For more information, call (949)

645-9412.

A five-part advanced shields class will be offered in February and March

by OCC’s Sailing Program. The course is designed for sailors with

intermediate shields skills. Students must have basic boat handling,

terminology and points of sail mastered before taking the course. Taught

in shields sloops, the non-credit course focuses on refining helm work

and sail trimming skills. The class meets on Sundays, Feb. 13, 20, 27,

March 5 and 12, from 1:15 to 5 p.m. at OCC’s Sailing Center, 1801 W.

Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Registration is $125. For more

information, call (949) 645-9412.

OCC will offer a four-week keelboat class, designed for women who have

been on boats, but are beginning sailors. The course will be offered

Saturdays in February and March at the schools’ Sailing Center, 1801 W.

Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach. The course will meet Feb. 12, 19,

26 and March 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is $215. The course

will be taught by Coast Guard licensed women sailors and will cover

terminology and rigging, basic sail theory, points of sail, man overboard

retrieval, steering techniques, docking and reefing. For more

information, call (949) 645-9412.

OCC’s Sailing Program has scheduled two non-credit “Introduction to

Shields” sailing classes that will meet in February and March. The class

is a transition course, taking students from small boats to keel boats of

27 to 30 feet. The five-week classes will meet on successive Saturdays or

Sundays, from 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. One shields class will begin Saturday

Feb. 12 and the other on Sunday, Feb. 13. They will conclude the weekend

of March 11/12. Registration is $105. Classes will be held at OCC’s

Sailing Center, 1801 W. Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Students

will learn seamanship skills, skippering, reefing, right-of-way rules,

jibing a large boat and safe handling. For more information, call (949)

645-9412.

A non-credit class that teaches intermediate-level sailors skills

necessary to operate a mid-size auxiliary cruising boat will be offered

this spring by OCC’s Sailing Program. Titled “Bareboat Chartering,” the

class will be taught aboard OCC’s Islander 36, “Andiamo.” The course is

limited to six students. Classes will meet Sundays, Feb. 13, 20, 27 and

March 5, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the schools’ Sailing Center, 1801 W.

Pacific Coast Highway, Newport Beach. Registration is $215. Students will

learn to identify and operate all deck gear safety gear, engine controls

and below deck responsibilities. Students will also learn docking,

mooring, anchoring, rules-of-the-road, sail trim, reefing, man overboard

recovery and basic maneuvers under sail and power. The last session will

consist of a cruise to a local harbor. For more information, call (949)

645-9412.

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

windsurfers and 14-foot sailboats at $15 per hour. Call (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.

KAYAKING / CANOEING / SCUBA

KAYAK CLASSESBeginning sea kayaking, rolling clinics and private lessons

are offered. Kayak and sea ski rentals are also available. For more

information, call (949) 675-1215 for Paddle Power, 1500 W. Balboa Blvd.

Two-hour kayak tours begin at 10 a.m. Sundays from Newport Dunes. Cost is

$20 per adult, $15 per child. Kayak rentals and classes are also

available. Fro more information, call (949) 729-1150.

Single ($10 per hour) and double ($15 per hour) kayak rentals are

available in the Balboa Fun Zone. Call Balboa Boat Rentals, (949)

673-7200. Paddle Power also provides kayak, surf ski and canoe rentals.

For more information, call (949) 675-1215.

Back Bay canoe tours are offered by Upper Newport Bay every Saturday.

Meet at 8:30 a.m. on Shellmaker Island. For more information, call (949)

640-6746.

The Newport Aquatic Center offers sweep rowing (one oar), sculling

classes (two oars) and canoe rentals. Classes run for four weeks and cost

$75. Introductory clinics are also available Saturdays and Sundays at a

cost of $10. For more information, call (949) 646-7725.

The Aquatic Center, 4537 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, offers scuba

training consisting of six evening and two weekend day classes. Cost

ranges from $200 to $310. The center also offers scuba rentals, special

trips, repairs and air fills. For more information, call (949) 650-5440.

At Dive-in Scuba, 2482 Newport Blvd. in Costa Mesa, certification classes

for beginning to instructor level scuba divers are available. Other

services offered include local boat charters, equipment sales, rentals

and repairs. For more information, call (949) 631-9288.

OTHER RENTALS

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.

For more information, call (949) 673-1693.

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

Watersports 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 Seadoo -- 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.

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.

Enjoy a lavish Sunday brunch aboard the Pavilion Queen. Harbor cruise

begins at 10:30 a.m. Cost is $28 per adult, $15 per child. For more

information, call (949) 673-5245.

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 $33 for an adult round trip and

$16.50 for a child’s round trip. For reservations, call (949) 673-5245.

FISHING

Fishing classes leave Balboa Pavilion at 6 a.m. and return at 4 p.m.

Monday and Tuesday each week. Cost is $125 per person. For more

information, call (949) 673-2810.

Get to the Newport Pier/McFadden Square early to watch the fleet return

with the fresh catch of the day. Fish are prepared for sale at the

open-air market.

Fishing supplies and boat charters (open party and private) are available

at these locations: Newport Landing Sportfishing, 309 Palms, Suite F,

(949) 675-0550; Falco Fishing Charters, (714) 832-7708; and Davey’s

Locker, 400 Main St., Balboa, (949) 673-1434.

Day and night fishing charters are available for groups or singles. Call

Bongos Sportfishing Headquarters on Balboa Peninsula, (949) 673-2810.

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.