Marina Fest Offers a Variety of Water Activities

The third annual Marina Fest was held May 19-20 and introduced visitors to a variety of recreational activities in Marina del Rey, including boating, fishing and underwater adventuring. Crowds at the compact, easy-to-navigate show were modest, giving exhibitors a chance to chat extensively with visitors in detail.

The star of the show was teenage sailor Abby Sunderland, who was there with her book, Unsinkable, about her attempt to become the youngest person to sail solo around the world.

A highlight of Marina Fest was the 136-foot-long Bill of Rights, a tall ship that was open for deck tours and sunset sails at Fisherman's Village.

The vessel is a four-decade-old replica of a 19th century gaff topsail Gloucester schooner and operated by the American Tall Ship Institute.

Coast Guard Auxiliary representative Robin Neuman was at Marina Fest to recruit students for the range of safety classes offered at Cal and Del Rey Yacht Clubs from June to December. Classes include How to Read a Nautical Chart, Boating Skills and Seamanship: an Introduction to Boating Safety, and Suddenly in Command: What to Do if Your Skipper Becomes Incapacitated. In addition to valuable information, attendees received a discount on boating insurance.

Neuman became a member of the auxiliary, “Because we have many opportunities to learn, about how to work a boat, knots and telecommunications. In fact, I’m working on passing my U.S. Coast Guard Six Pack Captain’s Exam.”

With that certification, Neuman will be able to charge for paying passengers, a great gig for those who love the water. 

Phillip Winter, the Vice President of Visitor Operations and Marketing for Two Harbors in Catalina Island, said he was at Marina Fest to urge people to visit the island destination. For those venturing to nearby Isthmus Harbor for the first time, he warned boaters of the “reef that lies just off Bird Rock. Be sure to consult your charts and watch for the lights before coming in.”

He encouraged boaters to head to Catalina Harbor, on the back side of the isthmus. "Cat Harbor is one of two harbors in California that’s protected from virtually all weather directions. There’s practically no way to get a swell. The waters are always flat."

Despite its expensive reputation, boating has a relatively low cost threshold to clear. The Whitehall Spirit Rowing Club of Marina del Rey was offering one-hour introductory lessons on its fleet of rowboats, complete with sliding thwarts, easy-to-feather composite oars and a bow-view mirror to see where you're heading, for $25. Owner Stephen Phinney explained, “Once a member qualifies, he can prepay for blocks of rental hours, usually at about 60 hours at $14-$15 each, even booking the boats on line to cruise around the marina. The boats are in the water when people want. They don’t have to worry about docking, cleaning it or caring for it. We take care of everything.”

Phinney stressed rowing is great exercise, burning 800 calories an hour.  

Representatives from Del Rey, Cal and Pacific Mariners Yacht Clubs were recruiting prospective members. PMYC Members Curt Bersche and his wife, Roxann Mehle, were there. They moved to Los Angeles from Chicago and adopted the club as a second home.

“The atmosphere is very welcoming at PMYC. It's like a family,” he said.

There were several informative seminars on cruising Catalina and Baja, engine maintenance, and running a boat efficiently, as well as presentations on how to begin sailing and boat buying. Attendees at the latter session could walk across Bali Way to apply their newfound knowledge, choosing from an enticing array of water boats for sale, from fishing vessels to forty-foot blue water sloops.

Guests could even try scuba diving at the show in a temporary pool on the premises.