Quickly now, get to the harbor

Ahoy.

The 97th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is here, along with a beautiful full moon and great weather for the more than 1 million people anticipated for the parade. The slight chill in the air gives that wintertime feel, so everyone can be in the spirit -- plus it gives a chance for Southern Californians to wear winter attire.

The folks viewing the parade on the Balboa Peninsula have remarked how well they like the addition of the parade announcing that I am doing this year. The Chamber of Commerce’s announcing booth is set up nightly on the boardwalk along the seawall directly in front of the Balboa Fun Zone’s carousel.

The parade typically arrives there about 8 p.m.; however, many people come early to find a parking spot and for their family to stake out a spot to watch. Those arriving early aren’t bored, as there is a plethora of things to do while waiting.

The fun zone is open with all the attractions that are great for the kids -- which reminds me, I was thinking of bribing the Ferris wheel operator to stop the wheel with me at the top to do the announcing one night.

The restaurants and most of the shops are open, and you might get lucky to find the last remaining rental boat available. Do stop by our tent to say hello.

For boaters in the parade, have you sent in your boat’s profile sheet? Please fax you profile to me at (949) 631-7223. Include a brief description of your boat, including make, model, year, colors, home port, length, beam, draft, and anything unique. Most importantly write your parade number on the form, and please print large and very legibly.

Remember, I am trying to read these forms in the dark as each boat floats by me. We do not light up the tent as we would loose our night vision.

Also, it is very important that your boat’s parade number is clearly displayed on the starboard side of your boat, and that the number is not -- and I repeat is not -- covered by your decorations. My spotters are watching down the parade of boats trying to identify numbers and then match it to your corresponding profile sheet before you cruise by all the excited spectators.

A huge hint for all boaters in the parade is to wave and cheer to all the people watching from the shoreline. The boats with dancing, waving, cheering and singing people onboard give a festive feel to the parade and they get a great reaction from the crowd.

TIP OF THE WEEK

The tip of week is for those skippers on the water during the boat parade: Help the on-the-water parade control volunteers who you see in the vessels with the flashing yellow lights and displaying parade control banners. Every year members of the Chamber’s Commodore’s Club volunteer to help keep the parade flowing smoothly. They actually complete the route around almost all of Newport Harbor.

This is no small feat to accomplish every night, and they need every skipper’s cooperation and patience.

Parade control members will try to direct every boat displaying a parade number to be in between the lead boat and the finish boat. All the unregistered boats will be directed to follow after the finish boat, which is a great spot if you will be pulling out of the parade before the finish. Parade control is there to help, and you can hail them on channel 68 with your VHF marine radio.

Also, you will see parade control boats at the turning and rounding points in the route, helping you see where to go next.

Lastly, every skipper needs to control speed in the parade. Speeding boats zip by the spectators who want to admire the decorations, and speeding boats create wakes that cause damage and rock docks where people are standing.

Be safe, be courteous, and have a wonderful time at the parade.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by e-mail to mike@boathousetv.com or visit www.boathousetv.com.

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