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Photos and prose from Newport Beach's annual on-the-water aquatic bash.

Newport Beach Boat Tie-up Summer Singles Party!

The party of the year in Newport is the annual boat tie-up in late July.

For the ultimate party in Newport Beach's suntanned summer, just add water.

It's the annual boat tie-up, held on a Saturday in late July in the middle of the Newport Channel. There are boats, boat drinks, a floating band, babes, boys and beer. And it's a splashing, smashing hit.

Yachts, offshore boats and pleasure craft, line up side-by-side, tied together by pride and a partier's pursuit. The first beers are popped around noon and there's a full frenzy by 2. Guzzling guests, in attire suited to such an event, arrive via a hired shoreboat known locally as a Duffy with regularity throughout the afternoon. Eventually hundreds are on dozens of decks, walking on water from boat to boat, party to party.

Some go into the drink between drinks – intentionally or not – as they make their way from one end of the scene to the other.

The instigator: OC Al, in his distinguishable yellow shirt, is the heart of the party.

The star of this buoyant bar is OC's man about town, someone we refer to simply at "OC Al." He is the instigator, the organizer, the one to know to get that elusive invitation.

By 5 – tie-up veterans say they can set their watch to it – the Orange County Sheriff's boat comes along to decide enough fun is enough and chases away the mild-mannered revelers like a barbecue chef swatting flies at a picnic.

All this does is send the boats down the channel to a dock at Balboa Peninsula where two bars await the afterparty. After all, the attitude here is be nice because, well, it's just another shitty day in paradise.

Because of the limitations of the channel, tie-up space is limited, making this an invitation-only event. "I'm sure if a boat of girls come along we can fit you in," the pre-event e-mail announcement announced. "But if you're four guys on a speedboat, keep on going."

Since pictures often speak better than words, PubClub's prose now bows out to allow these photos to anchor our event coverage. Enjoy!

Boat drinks were plentiful and people surrounded the floating band.

The "After Party" at Woody's Wharf Dock

After the inevitable intrusion by the OC Sheriff, the tie-up party moves down the channel to rock at the dock of Woody's Wharf.

It is here than anyone not a part of the party can at least observe the aftermath – and afterglow from the deck or ramp at Woody's or the balcony of Kantina on the Balboa Peninsula.

Next stop on the Party Bus: Newport Beach Bars