Another successful Make-A-Wish cruise

Ahoy.

Last week in Newport Harbor was a special holiday cruise for some

very special children. The fourth annual Make-A-Wish Holiday Cruise

was held aboard the yacht Destiny for the children and their

families.

I was honored to join in on this evening, invited by Newport

Harbormaster Capt. Marty Kasules, who organizes this annual event.

The cruise was personally hosted by Orange County Sheriff Mike

Corona, who took time to visit with the families.

All this was made possible through the proceeds of a fishing

tournament organized by Dave New of Basin Marine Shipyard and his

wife, Jan, and daughter Nicole. Their tournament donated the

proceeds, including some from people who just donated without

entering the tournament.

Providing the vessel Destiny, along with the food and beverages,

were Randy Goodman and Lynda Guinther, owners of Electra Cruises in

Lido Village.

They had the vessel festively set up on the main deck with a tasty

buffet, ample table seating and a pianist. A short walk up the stairs

to the 01 deck, there was a Christmas tree complete with a big chair

for the soon-to-arrive Santa. What made the charter yacht special was

that the entire crew volunteered to work the voyage, as they have

done for the past few years, in this very busy charter period.

While cruising the harbor, close-up magic was performed by Chris

Wynkoop, who kept the crowd amused. All of a sudden, a fire boat was

circling us with its lights flashing and the siren sending a message,

something special is about to happen.

With the waters lighted by a police helicopter from above, the

fireboat had Santa Claus and Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer aboard,

since there was nowhere to land a sleigh.

Stepping aboard as Santa was local gondolier Jim Mahoney, who is

known as the boat parade’s famous Santa. John Birer was Rudolph. They

led everyone up to the 01 deck, where every child was able to visit

with Santa and receive a gift.

Others joining the cruise were Mark Pilar, president of the Orange

County chapter of Make-A-Wish, and Michelle Knight, the special event

coordinator. Photographer Jerry Manson of the Sheriff’s Department

was busy capturing the moments, while Donna Muleady braved the

holiday crowds to purchase gifts.

It was in true Christmas spirit that everyone involved asked for

nothing in return but a smile on a child’s face and to hear the

famous words “to all a good night.”

Tip of the week is to read my article -- “All Aboard! Boy Scouts

welcome a crowd to help break ground on a new Sea Base” -- in the

January issue of Sea Magazine. I give an in-depth explanation of the

Newport Sea Base’s ambitious $5.2-million renovation project with all

the funding from your donations.

The Sea Base, which had its humble beginnings in 1937, is now

destined to become one of the world’s premiere nautical facility

providing public coed maritime programs.

The base has partnered with Chapman University to provide the

school’s rowing crew team a presence on the water and with the

schooner Lynx so that its crew can offer elementary school programs.

Lastly, in the article, I recap the groundbreaking ceremony that

was held in the biggest tent I had ever seen pitched by the scouts.

Still need a tax write-off before the year’s end? Well, there are

still donor opportunities to help the Sea Base dream become a

reality. Have a classroom named after you, have your name on the

sponsor wall or your family name on one of the walkway bricks or

underwrite audiovisual equipment, computers or furniture.

Check out the Sea Base’s Web site at www.SeaBase.org. We are

trying to get a Web cam so you can watch the progress (anyone with a

spare Web cam lying around not being used?).

Christmas Boat Parade reminder: Tonight and Saturday night, the

parade will follow the original, longer route. This includes both

areas -- the first between Lido Isle and Lido Peninsula up to the

Lido Bridge, and the second past Peninsula Point out to near the

former Gillette homes, and then over to China Cove and back along

Bayside Drive.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist.

Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story

suggestions via e-mail to Mike@BoathouseTV.com or visit

BoathouseTV.com.