Yachtsman

The grueling sea odyssey of Newport Beach yachtsman Scott McClung ended Friday when a federal judge freed the ailing mariner, five weeks after he was arrested for having guns aboard his vessel. Looking drawn, McClung, 36, embraced his father, girlfriend and attorney after he was informed that Judge Alfredo Torres--who deliberated 28 hours over three days--had dropped weapons charges that could have meant a five- to 30-year prison sentence.

The grueling odyssey of Newport Beach yachtsman Scott McClung ended here Friday when a federal judge freed the ailing mariner, five weeks after McClung was arrested for having guns aboard his vessel. Drawn and wan, McClung, 36, embraced his father, girlfriend and attorney after he was informed that Judge Alfredo Torres--deliberating for 28 hours over three days--had dropped weapons charges that could have meant a 5- to 30-year prison sentence.

C. Clifford Hakes Jr., 89, real estate developer and Orange County cultural leader. A native of Los Angeles, Hakes was educated at USC and served in England with the Army Corps of Engineers during World War II. A builder as well as a developer in Los Angeles and Orange counties, Hakes was an active yachtsman and supporter of musical organizations. He honed his interest in music when he was a college student and sang with local bands.

A British yachtsman whose boat overturned during a storm recounted his ordeal from aboard the Australian warship that rescued him from icy Antarctic seas. Tony Bullimore, 56, was competing in a round-the-world yacht race when the keel of his boat cracked during a storm. "It just went snap, and within seconds--literally within a few seconds--the boat was sitting upside down with me sitting inside the boat, sitting and standing and sliding around on the roof with water slowly seeping in," he said.

Kevin Hall is used to navigating unpredictable situations. Each time he competes as a sailor he faces a perplexing set of variables, when an error in judgment might cost several places in the standings. Beginning today Hall, 26, from Ventura, faces such circumstances off the coast of Savannah, Ga., as he attempts to best 49 other sailors and earn the only U.S. Olympic berth in the Laser class. But waves and sudden wind shifts are not the only obstacles Hall will face.

Richard Steele, 77, a yachtsman who helped found the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. A native of Pittsburgh who was brought up in Pasadena, Steele graduated from Pomona College and served as a Navy captain during World War II. He was a lifelong sailor and won several trophies in the Trans-Pac Race to Honolulu. In addition to helping create the nautical museum, Steele became a major contributor and recently obtained its new location aboard the historic stern-wheeler Pride of Newport.

An elderly sailor en route from San Diego to Hawaii has been rescued after spending a week adrift on his yacht in the Pacific Ocean while drifting in and out of consciousness, authorities said Sunday. Kirk Lightbourne, 82, of Scottsdale, Ariz. was brought ashore Saturday. He had been found unconscious last Tuesday aboard his 36-foot yacht, Cazador, about 885 miles southwest of San Diego, U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Erin MacDonald said.

A Japanese yachtsman landed Friday in the southern port city of Pusan after three months drifting at sea, the Yonhap news agency reported. Moroi Kiyoji, 56, was on a solo journey across the Pacific from Japan to Los Angeles when his mast broke in rough seas near Hawaii on March 8. He was rescued by the 17,161-foot freighter Vienna Wood last week.

Frank Simpson III, 67, a lawyer and a charter director of the Los Angeles-St. Petersburg, Russia, Sister Cities Committee. A third-generation Californian, he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and USC Law School, and spent his legal career with the firm Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton.