NEWPORT BEACH — Since he was a young man, Balboa Peninsula resident Craig Smith has been a sailor.
Although he's rented boats and sailed off and on since he was young, his hobby really developed once he bought his dream sailboat, aptly titled Dreams, about 10 years ago.
Smith has another hobby that's important to him: writing. Over his long career as an engineer he wrote and edited seven books about his trade, and since his retirement, he's completed two books aimed at the general public.
On Sunday, the merging of both those hobbies will be on display when Smith's latest book "Extreme Waves" will be the attraction at the first of four programs in the Balboa Performing Arts Theater's "Season Without Walls."
The theater is embarking on a $6.5-million restoration project, which is under Coastal Commission review, but the show must go on, said Balboa Performing Arts Theater foundation's executive director Mary Lonich. The foundation has partnered with arts organizations including the Pacific Symphony and Opera Pacific.
"We thought, 'Why are we waiting? Why can't we partner with these organizations right now, and instead of using our venue, why don't we go out in the community to other venues?" Lonich said.
Smith, who serves on the foundation's board, was a natural choice for the season's opening show, Lonich said. The event will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Beckman Center in Irvine — the three others will be held at a Newport Coast villa, the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana and the Orange County Performing Arts Center. The Surfrider Foundation and the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum sponsored the program featuring Smith.
"Extreme Waves" tells the story of mariners, surfers and others who have encountered giant waves in their travels. He explores with scientists the causes of huge ocean waves that have been known to swallow up boats on the high seas.
"I had just finished ["How the Great Pyramid Was Built"] and one of my sailing buddies e-mailed me about an idea," Smith said. "And I thought, 'I ought to write a story about these rogue waves.' "
To tie all the stories together, Smith weaves in tales of adventure aboard his own boat— a heavy duty Hans Christian sailboat he uses to sail the coast and Channel Islands.
During his research he found studies based on European satellites that show huge waves, which can measure up to 100 feet, popping up more frequently.
