June Casagrande
Organizers of the largest in-water boat show in the West are declaring
success for their innovative idea to separate the sailboats from the
power boats.
Boat lovers who showed up at the Newport Dunes Resort and Marina for
the Newport In-Water Boat Show, which ended Sunday, got an eyeful of
impressive power boats -- from some compact and efficient fishing vessels
to some eye-popping yachts. But that's not all, those who wanted it also
got a free ride on a double-decker bus to the Newport Harbor Nautical
Museum, where more than 50 sailboats were on display.
"The sailboats can't get under the bridge, but we want them to have a
spot in the show," said boat show organizer Duncan McIntosh, who
explained that the Dunes Lagoon can be accessed by water only by going
under the Coast Highway bridge. "It's been working pretty well."
Don Franken, also a planner and promoter for the show, said the
experiment with the split exhibit could allow the boat show to grow
indefinitely.
"It's only about a six-minute ride, unless they're stopping off for a
drink at a bar," Franken joked. The bus stops only at the two boat show
sites. "Really, though, we've been trying to expand the show and this
looks like a way to make it work."
The Newport In-Water Boat Show just wrapped up its 29th year -- its
biggest ever with 360 boats in the water (an increase of 15% from last
year), including 150 vessels 40 feet or larger, and with 16% of
additional dock space. In fact, the sailboats at the nautical museum were
attached to a portable dock set up there just for them.
