Mainland boaters may think Hawai`i has no seasons, but we know better. Just a quick glance at all of the offshore activities going on this month is a sure sign that Spring has sprung.

Fishing:
The Hawaii Yacht Club held its 18th Annual Senoritas' Jackpot Fishing Tournament last weekend, sponsored by Sea-Land Service Hawaii. One of the first major fishing competitions of the year, it is also billed as the state's largest "modified International Game Fish Association women's tournament."

For two days - and with flat, Kona-like sea conditions - the 23-boat fleet fanned out from the Penguin Banks to the Waianae Coast. The mahimahi were biting, but so were a few marlin and the winning fish was finally boated on Sunday about 20 miles off Nanakuli.

At the official awards banquet on Monday night, tournament master of ceremonies and prominent charter boat captain Dudley Worthy presented $7,800 in prize money to the following top five teams that had all captured marlin:

• Fifth place and $390 went to Captain Al Bento's Alele II for a 73.5-pounder caught by Peggy Barron-Nelson.
• Fourth place and $780 went to Captain Terry Adams' C-Biscuit for a 124.5-pounder landed by Lorri Espinosa.
• Third place and $1,170 went to Captain Art Burt's Audie Too for a 138.5-pounder brought in by Patricia Courable.
• Second place and $1,560 went to Captain Kenneth Kau's Elena K II for a 190.5-pounder caught by Alisha Christenson.
• First place and $3,900 went to Captain Keawe Dowsett's Puanani for a huge 594.5-pound Pacific blue marlin, boated by Jamie Gault after a 40-minute fight.

Yachting:
The same light-wind conditions that were a boon for anglers last Sunday were something less than thrilling for sailors in the J-24 Classboat Regatta held by the Waikiki Yacht Club.

With winds puffing in the two- to six-knot range, first through third place were captured respectively by Ken Kaan's Spine Care, Bob Ale's Negative Cash Flow and Ashley Lee's Toy Boat.

In the Soling Class, Jon Stanley's Valkyrie took first place, Phil Roach's Eleluwaapalani second and Mike Rothwell's Nothing Works third.

SeaFest for Junior Sailors: Contrary to popular belief, sailors aren't necessarily rich, they are just people who got hooked on the joy of racing with the wind on the water. They choose to spend whatever time and money they can on sailing, but often - and particularly with younger sailors - they find the expenses can be somewhat overwhelming.

For this reason, each year the Hawaii's Commodore's Association, which has representatives from the seven major yacht clubs, organizes and supports a fund-raiser for the state's junior sailors called SeaFest.

SeaFest '97 - a carnival-like event open to the public - will be held at the Kaneohe Yacht Club on Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Activities will include sailboat and outrigger canoe rides, radio controlled boat races, face painting for the kids, food booths, a bake sale, Coast Guard safety demonstrations and a harbor cruise around Coconut Island.

The SeaFest will also feature a silent and live auction of many donated items and there will be a Portuguese Bean Soup-making contest. The entry fee is just $10 per person.

For more information, call 247-4121.

Water Ways