Waterman’s Ball Goes With the Flow

Forget tuxes with wingtips. Never mind billowing ball gowns. For the 800 people who christened the Pacific Ballroom at the new St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, style had more to do with flip-flops and sarongs than traditional black-tie silhouettes.

On hand to help raise about $300,000 for environmental causes at the annual Waterman’s Ball, guests dressed down while they whooped it up at the just-opened $350-million Tuscany-inspired resort.

Beneficiaries from the gala sponsored by the Surf Industry Manufacturers Assn. included the Alaska Wilderness League, Heal the Bay, American Oceans Campaign and the Surfrider Foundation.

First wave: A reception on the 400-room hotel’s main floor where appetizers and mai tais were served as guests cruised a silent auction showcasing everything from collector surfboards to exotic getaways.

Guests were also exposed to exhibits touting the preservation of the environment. Printed on one colorful display poster: “Is that a tide pool or a cesspool? Help stop beach pollution because a day at the beach shouldn’t end with a trip to the doctor.”

After descending the resort’s marble grand staircase, guests dined on salmon, filet mignon and fruit tarts at tables crowned with oversize, ball-fringed straw hats.

Recognized at last weekend’s gala were pioneering surf filmmaker Bud Browne, winner of the 2001 Waterman Achievement Award, and conservationist Donna Frye, who was named Environmentalist of the Year.

“Our goal is to raise funds and continue to increase awareness of ocean-related environmental causes,” said Paul Naude, co-chairman of the gala with Dick Baker and John Warner. The association is a nonprofit group of 350 manufacturers and distributors of surfboards, surfwear and other products used by beach and board-sport consumers.

Since it was founded in 1989, the organization has donated more than $1.5 million to environmental causes.

Guests included Scott Daley, Dave Gilovich, Gary Valentine, Joel Cooper, Seamus McManus, Veronica Bullard, Joy Horwitz, Erica Gray, Kelly Slater, Fernando Aguerre, Graham Stapelberg, Bob McKnight, Lori Kisner, Bob Mignogna, Rob Machado, Mike Parsons, Peter Mel, Ken Collins and Brad Gerlach.

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Information for Social Circuits can be directed to Patt Diroll in Los Angeles or Ann Conway in Orange County. Diroll is at [email protected]; Conway at (714) 966-5952 or, by fax, (714) 966-7790.