Ahoy!
Attention all boaters: be sure to navigate safely this weekend by the temporary docks extending out into the harbor from Lido Marina Village. It will be hard to miss the temporary docks filled with boats for what is dubbed the West’s most prestigious in-the-water boat show.
The Newport Boat Show has kicked off this boating season at the Lido Marina Village, and the show is celebrating its 39th year. This is the one show that features big boats and trawlers, and where you can “kick the tires” of more than 300 yachts. Not to mention that there will be exhibitors’ booths along the village’s boardwalk and on the floating docks.
The boardwalk area is free to the public but there is a fee for you to walk the docks to see the spectacular yachts. The remaining show hours for Friday and Saturday are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday until 6 p.m. The admission is $12 for adults and free for kids 12 and younger, but there is a bonus with free offsite parking. I always recommend using the free offsite parking and free continuous shuttle service from Hoag Health Center at 500 Superior Ave. in Newport Beach. You can visit www.newportinwaterboatshow.com for details about the show, exhibitors, yachts on display, and the free parking.
Additionally, let me answer a few common questions that you can see on the show’s website. Well, I have already answered two questions with the info on the hours of the show and the free parking.
However, many people also wonder what forms of payment are accepted? How about using cash – but who carries cash these days? So also accepted are Visa, Mastercard, and American Express at the show.
If I order online or with my smart-phone, do I need a printed ticket? Yes, you must have a printed ticket as each ticket has a barcode that is scanned as you enter the docks.
Lastly, especially since the show is in Newport, I think you will appreciate this question for man’s best friend: Is Fluff-Fluff allowed in the show? But of course dogs are allowed on the docks, as this is an outdoor family venue. However, Fido must be on a short leash and may not be allowed aborad many of the boats on display. Remember to pick up after Fi-Fi, and that Rocky can overheat so bring a portable dog watering dish. Lastly if your Zeus is a chewer then he will be in shoe chewing heaven, because many boats require visitors to remove their shoes before going onboard.
As I have mentioned many times in the past, the community needs be supportive of Newport’s local boat shows because of the very positive economic impact they have on the city and local businesses. Additionally, the shows make a nice day outing for the whole family, and you can grab a bite to eat, as well.
Tip of the week is if you have already visited the Newport Boat Show, or boat shows are not the cut of your jib, then there is another event on Sunday which I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. A kick-off party for the Lexus Newport-to -Ensenada Race is scheduled at the Balboa Fun Zone on Sunday (April 22) from noon to 4 p.m.
There will be entertainment from Mark Wood and his Parrot Head Band at the Village of Balboa, Woody cars will be on display, and there will be a kids’ boat-building craft area, and a few race boats on display. Plus, you can tour the ExplorOcean Nautical Museum, ride the Ferris wheel for a dollar less, and some local businesses are offering discounts during the event.
The start of the Newport-to-Ensenada will be next Friday, April 27, and you can watch the boats cross the starting line from the Balboa Pier starting at 11 a.m. The crews will be closely watching the wind, weather, and the seas to determine whether to sail inside or outside the Coronado Islands – but never between the islands.
Lastly, skippers and crew need to know their limitations and sailing abilities to travel the course safely down and safely home. The whole crew needs to talk about emergency produces and wear the proper sailing attire for the conditions including lifejackets. Bad things can happen, as the sailing community is saddened by the tragedy last Sunday in the San Francisco Yacht Club’s Full Crew Farallones Race.
During that race, a vessel, Low Speed Chase, was battered by large swells that, according to reports coming in, swept some crewmembers off the boat. Then the boat was pushed onto the rocks as other crewmembers went into the ocean. As of my deadline, there are four sailors missing, one dead, and three rescued, of the eight people onboard.
And don’t forget: Tune in to the No. 1 boating radio talk show in the nation, Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show, broadcasting coast-to-coast on the CRN Digital Talk Radio syndicated network every Saturday at noon, Pacific Time and replayed on Sunday at 10 am Pacific. Join Chandler Bell and me as we talk about “all things boating.” You can find the station listings, cable TV channels, live streaming on the Internet, and now available are apps to listen to the show for your iPhone, Blackberry, iTouch, Android, Palm, and Windows Mobile at www.BoathouseTV.com or www.BoathouseRadio.com.
Until next week, Safe Voyages!
