Marisa O’NeilBoat Parade spirit wasn’t confined to...

Marisa O’Neil

Boat Parade spirit wasn’t confined to water-going vessels this year.

More bay-front homeowners than ever got into the act, adding to

the atmosphere of the annual event. In fact some houses put up so

many decorations, the reflection of lights sparkled off the water

from one side of the channel to the other.

“The houses across the bay from us -- I’ve never seen that many

homes lighted,” said Gay Wassall-Kelly, who lives in a harbor-front

home on the Balboa Peninsula that, year-in and year-out, is among the

most decorated in the city. “The reflection was coming all the way

across the bay. Every house had something on it.”

Though organizers compacted the Christmas Boat Parade from seven

days to five days starting last year, more people than ever saw it,

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce President Richard Luehrs said. He

estimated that roughly a million people came to see the parade from

the water’s edge, other boats and from some of the decked-out homes.

“People are doing a superb job of decorating their homes for the

parade, which makes it a much nicer experience,” Luehrs said.

Despite some rain showers Saturday night, he estimated it was the

biggest night ever. And all five nights went by uneventfully, said

Sgt. Dave Ginther with the Sheriff’s Department Harbor Patrol in

Newport Beach.

“It went pretty smooth for the most part, other than general

confusion and mass of boats,” Ginther said. “It seemed to be a

popular parade and pretty orderly. Luckily it was nothing out of the

ordinary.”

Ninety boats registered and participated in the parade, decorating

their boats in this year’s theme “A Christmas Beach Celebration.”

Palm trees, dolphins and Santas in beach chairs graced some of the

boats but, Wassall-Kelly said, she didn’t see anyone brave the cold

in a bikini.

Wassall-Kelly and her husband, Bill Kelly, go all out each year,

decorating their home, dock and tugboat. They’re already drawing up

plans and buying half-price decorations for next year.

Judges handed out awards to winners in a variety of categories

last week, but everybody has a favorite.

“One boat from Sasco Electric started on Dec. 1 and has gone by

our house every night,” Wassall-Kelly said of El Navegante, which won

Best Power Boat. “It was decorated on both sides of the boat from the

top of the mast to the water line, from front to stern.”

But big crowds mean little parking in residential areas, which can

add up to more parking tickets for some.

“I’ve seen people come up to ask how much is a ticket for parking

in a red zone,” Newport Beach Police Sgt. Rob Morton said. “Sometimes

they say they’ll just pay it for a premium parking spot.”