A full weekend of harbor events ahead

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy,

Newport Harbor will be alive with nautical activities this

weekend, and I have two events plotted on my radar screen. The first

event begins Saturday at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum with the

Family Boatbuilding Weekend. The next activity is the Flight of the

Lasers that will sail on Sunday.

I am pleased to know that both of these events are

family-oriented. That fits nicely with the national survey that

showed boating and fishing as the No. 1 choice for spending quality

family time together.

Glenn Zagoren, museum president, is proud to present the second

annual Family Boatbuilding Weekend after the first one sold out last

year. I think that Glenn might be well qualified, or should I say

overqualified, to organize this event from his previous consulting

experience on the production of Millennium 2000 and Fourth of July

events at the Statue of Liberty.

This will be a two-day event where teams will attempt to build an

actual, floatable, nine-foot rowboat from scratch. Quick question:

since the vessels are over eight feet, do the vessels need to be

registered with CF numbers? (Answer in the Tip of Week)

The teams are meant to be family-oriented, so children and adults

should build together. However, children need to be over 5 for

safety. The museum will supply all the materials, supplies and tools

to each team, so that everyone will compete on the same playing

field. Therefore, no one has to worry about the “Toolman” Tim Allen

or Norm Abram from “New Yankee Workshop” showing up with a truckload

of the newest and fanciest tools so that they can build the Queen

Mary II.

The boat building will start on Saturday and finish on Sunday in

time for the grand finale, when the weekend builders will have to

test the seaworthiness of their crafts in the harbor. How many will

float, and how many will, shall we say, spring a leak or two or

three?

There will be a barbecue, lots of laughs and tons of fun at the

Family Boatbuilding Weekend at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum,

151 East Pacific Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, or call (949) 675-8915.

I mentioned in last week’s column that the Commodores Club of the

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Harbor Yacht Club

are hosting the 96th annual Flight of the Lasers this Sunday. As a

member of the Commodore’s Club, I can attest to the challenges that

race chairman Seymour Beek must face as he tries to steer motley

Commodore committee members.

The most notable committee member is Art Gronsky, who has the task

of firing guns and blowing horns, and there are rumors from a

previous year that he almost shot down an airplane. Pete Barrett is

tasked with hoisting the flags -- last year, he had about 70% hoisted

the correct side up. Plus, Seymour has the help of other motley

Commodores in Norm Witt, Bill Barrington, Lee Sutherland, Brett

Hemphill, Chris Wyncoop and Bill Pierpoint. Finally, a few

non-Commodores assist to make the event run smoothly -- Barbara

Stewart, Rick Othmer and Pat Beek.

“I expect about the same number of Lasers as usual, between 60 and

70,” Seymour said. “The Byte class, which will start 10 minutes after the Lasers, has grown this year, and we expect 20 or so.

“If our current weather pattern continues, conditions will be

perfect. Warm air, warm water and nice afternoon breeze. Just right

for competing in or watching a sailboat race.”

You can call NHYC at (949) 673-7730 or the chamber at (949)

729-4400 for further information and to sign up for the Flight of the

Lasers.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Answer: Those that said “no” are correct and your award is a free

tour of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. Vessels do not have to be

registered in California if said vessels are propelled solely by oars

or paddles (www.dmv.ca.gov/ boatsinfo/boatreg.htm).

Recognized as the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation,

“Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” airs every Saturday

from noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell

and Eric Hovland on my radio show by calling the listener line at

(888) 344-1170.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your thoughts and story suggestions by e-mail to

[email protected].