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| Attendees in costume enjoy last year's Paddle for Privates off of Lido Isle. (Paddle for Privates / October 17, 2013) |
By Len Bose
October 17, 2013 | 11:18 a.m.
Don't give up on summer yet — we still have two big events in October. The first is this weekend's NAC Hovie SUP Festival hosted by the Newport Aquatic Center (NAC). The second event is the fourth annual Paddle for Privates on Oct. 26.
The fourth annual Hovie is a fundraising event for the Junior Waterman program. This is one of the best deals to get your kids out on our harbor.
To quote the NAC program, "The NAC Junior Waterman Academy will educate and train young individuals in a variety of water sport disciplines and assist in implementing those skills in a variety of expeditions across the United States and internationally. Our objective is simple: to educate and assist young individuals to be the most healthy, active and adventurous watermen and waterwomen that they can be. Why? To live and live life to the fullest! Our new NAC Junior Waterman Academy will educate, inspire and assist young individuals to lead the most healthy, athletic and adventurous lives as possible in, on and under the water."
I never knew that children can sign up for this program and receive credit for physical education within the Newport- Mesa Unified School District.
The Hovie is a SUP (stand-up paddle) race event with two race courses and a class for every age group.
The long course is 6.5 miles in the lower bay and the short course is four miles in the upper bay. The entry fee is $40 with kids under 12 free, with the beach sign up from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. The race starts at 9 a.m., and after the racing there will be food, prizes and awards. The NAC is located at 1 Whitecliffs Drive in Newport Beach.
So before your kids go into lockdown with their video game controllers for the weekend again, grab them by the ear and take them down to the NAC. This is a perfect way to introduce them to the outside again. If you cannot make the race, come by for the awards and fun and just hang out.
One of my favorite events of the year happens Oct. 26, and that is the Paddle for Privates.
This year, the event has been moved to the beach under the Lido Isle bridge, with all proceeds going to Athletes for Cancer.
The event is geared toward an adult costume party, but I am sure you have the Discovery Channel at home anyway, and it will be a lot of fun for your teenagers. What teenager would not have fun SUP-jousting with their parents?
At 9:30 a.m., you can drop your paddle craft off at the beach, find parking and give a minimum $20 donation to Suplove. Keep in mind, if it floats and you can paddle it, you are welcome.
You will have up until 10:30 a.m. to get into costume before departing for the paddle parade around Lido Isle. The SUP-jousting will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with awards given for costumes and flotilla.
This event is the creation of, and organized by, Mandy McDonnell, and before last year's event, she explained, "I want to bring awareness to all parts of cancer."
So if you are, like me, looking through that box in the garage for the perfect costume and cleaning off that pedalo you stole from the Fun Zone years ago, just plan on having some true Newport Harbor fun and convince your kids they will enjoy knocking you off your board.
If you are having trouble coming up with a costume or want to get a better flavor of the event, look it up on Facebook and go through all the photos from the past three years. Also, make sure you give a big shout out to McDonnell for making it fun.
Sea ya.
LEN BOSE is an experienced boater, yacht broker and boating columnist.
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