Shipping Out to See the Cup Finals

While the masses wait for delayed messages from Down Under that Stars & Stripes has made it through another masterful challenge in the America’s Cup, and others are going bleary-eyed watching ESPN into the wee hours, some just live right: They’re the Southern Californians who are getting a firsthand view of Cupmania.

Neurosurgeon Fred Pitts and his wife Dolores lead a contingent of 48 from the Los Angeles Yacht Club, leaving Sunday. They’ll be joining Helen and Donald Salisbury of Alamitos Bay, who have been there since New Year’s. The crowd flies Qantas to Sydney for four days, then to Perth. They have reservations aboard the Yachting Observer for the first two races of the finals between Stars & Stripes and Kookaburra, but will spend a week in Perth. You can be sure they’ll finagle a premier view when Dennis Connor and the Sail America crew move into following races. “Wildly excited,” chortles Pitts.

Then the LAYC group splits, some going to Fiji, some to New Zealand, some to Hong Kong for play. The Pittses and Dr. and Mrs. J. Carrol Ramseyer and Dr. Charles Janes and Mary Murray are chartering a 42-foot yacht from Whitsunday Bay near the Great Barrier Reef. The Ben Holts and the William Scotts are doing the same, planning to drop anchor at inlets, scuba dive and dine at little restaurants. Dr. Vincent and Judy O’Donnell of Manhattan Beach will tour New Zealand.

More in on the fun are architect (and LAYC staff commodore) Al Martin and his wife Dorothy of Alamitos Bay, Bill and Linda Ainsworth of Newport Beach, William and Joan Carmichael of San Marino, Bill and Virginia Scott of Los Angeles, Don Clothier and John and Marilyn White of Rancho Palos Verdes, Bud and Mary Gardiner of Hermosa Beach, George and Beatrice Hart of Long Beach, Robert and Sue Hatch of Rolling Hills, Ben and Virginia Holt of South Pasadena, Craig and Sally Norton of Pasadena, John Freiburg of San Diego.

International cruising has become a way of life, sort of, for LAYC. Over the years, members have cruised together in Tahiti, Tonga, the Virgin Islands, Yugoslavia, have taken canal boats in France, sailed Ireland’s River Shannon.

Elsewhere, Frank and Nancy Payne of Pasadena and Davis and Sue Whiting of Arcadia are booked for an 18-day Royal Viking cruise. That gives them Feb. 5-7 at Perth. They’re expecting to see finals races. One night aboard ship is dubbed the America Cup’s Ball--”an opportunity to meet the competition.” Also on the Viking will be Mary Warfield and golf and tennis chums.

Wishing they were back in Australia are Wynn and John Griffith. He was commodore of the Newport Harbor Yacht Club and founding director of Newport’s Eagle syndicate. The Griffiths returned Jan. 10 from six weeks in Australia (after Eagle was eliminated), so that he might participate in the 25th anniversary of the Masters Fishing Tournament in Palm Beach (“fishing was not good”). Newport, however, is still represented by Clifford Heinz, viewing the races with his children from his 85-foot motor sailer, Sybarite. Jim and Vicki Warmington of Balboa Peninsula have been there. So have Valerie Morgan, daughter of NHYC staff commodore Dr. Morgan Morgan, and lots of the bigwigs on the Eagle Syndicate: Phil Ramser, Don Koll, Forest Olson, Robert Grant.

LITTLE SEASON: In January’s “little season,” chums have been gathering for little luncheons. Erlenne Sprague invited friends to the Bistro Garden, including Audrey Six, Ginny Milner, Bunny Wrather, Marion Jorgensen, Jean Smith and Chardee Trainer. . . . Marion hosted her own luncheon at the Garden. . . . Natalie Robinson feted Caroline Singleton on her birthday with a Bistro luncheon, surrounded by Onalee Doheny, Betty Wilson, Marion Scharffenbarger and Beverly Morsey. And this weekend the Henry Singletons and the Dr. Norman Spragues will be houseguests of the George Scharffenbergers at their residence at Snowmass, Colo.

MAJOR DATE: The annual benefit for the Associates of the House Ear Institute at the Beverly Hilton is March 24. It honors Ross McCollum and Mrs. Lon V. Smith.

FOLDOUT POPCORN: Unique invitations--silver and four-color in a fold-out popcorn box design by Gerry Rosentswieg--are being mailed to the entertainment community for the Moving Picture Ball on Feb. 21 at the Hollywood Palladium.

That’s the evening friends and supporters of the American Cinematheque gather to honor Bette Midler and very likely raise $250,000 for the international cultural center devoted to presenting quality film and video. The night commemorates the 100th anniversary of Hollywood; party designer Terri Aronson is promising “sumptuous menu and highly original decor.”

Sherry Lansing and Jackie Applebaum are benefit co-chairs. They and Dianne Feinman, president, Premiere Patrons, emphasized “this is a gala which honors artists on the cutting edge of the entertainment industry” the other evening at their kickoff party at the new restaurant 1000 Wilshire in Santa Monica.

George Schlatter will produce the tribute. Barry Manilow will perform. Expect surprises. Tickets are $250.

FASHION FLARE: Las Candelas features designer David Hayes at its benefit fashion show luncheon Feb. 5 in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton. Mrs. John Butler is chairman and Mrs. Jack McCormick is patron and reservations chairman. Proceeds will support child psychiatric clinics at Camarillo State Hospital, Los Angeles County/USC Medical Center and Verdugo Mental Health Center.

HOLLYWOOD: The Centennial Committee of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce plans “Hollywood’s 100th Birthday Party and Celebration” on Feb. 1 at noon at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Centennial Sunday will be produced and hosted by Johnny Grant. The 11:30 a.m. Walk of Fame ceremony will posthumously honor Natalie Wood. An invitational Moet & Chandon champagne reception follows at the hotel. The official Hollywood Birthday Cake will be cut, and the Hollywood Centennial Time Capsule will be unveiled and dedicated.

MORE HOLLYWOOD: Trustees of the Hollywood Arts Council, formed in 1978 to nurture Hollywood arts, present their first (they’re planning to make it annual) Charlie Awards on Friday, spotlighting sponsors of “Discover Hollywood: A Summer Festival of the Arts.” The outstanding sponsor award will be given to Stephen J. Cannell Productions for creating and funding a two-day Children’s Festival of the Arts in 1985-86 under auspices of the Junior Arts Center. But lots of Charlies will be given. Inspiration for the affair: Charlie Chaplin.

AND MORE: Several hundred will gather Feb. 11 at the Bonaventure to honor Councilman Gilbert Lindsay at a luncheon. Proceeds from the event will be used to establish the Gilbert W. and Theresa Willis Lindsay Scholarship Endowment Fund at Southwestern University School of Law, according to Dean Leigh H. Taylor. Trustee Sol M. Marcus is chairman. . . .

Henry Winkler will be honor guest at the Los Angeles chapter of Hadassah’s Youth Aliyah Luncheon Monday in the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton, according to president Bess Karniol.

DUCKY: That gastronomic clambake for Bennet Spector in Malibu was catered by Duck Duck Mousse. We should have told you.

RAINBOWS: Janice Wallace is now wielding the gavel for the Rainbow Guild, fund-raising arm for the Amie Karen Cancer Fund for Children at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She takes over from Jennifer Goddard and will be installed today at a luncheon at Jimmy’s in Beverly Hills.