Talking up a parade

Christmas boat parade commentator Mike Whitehead provides the verbal color -- the boats do the rest -- for spectators at the Balboa Fun Zone. On top of all the sparkling lights and imaginative decorations, this year’s Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is topped with something special.

For the first time in the parade’s 97-year history, spectators are being treated to a live commentary, broadcast from the Balboa Fun Zone on loudspeakers.

Veteran boater and radio host Mike Whitehead was chosen as the parade commentator. Whitehead tested the waters Wednesday as he kicked off the show on the first night of the parade.

“It was fun being out there,” said Whitehead, who is a Daily Pilot columnist.

The first night of the parade was a test run; Whitehead said he plans to make some minor changes, but for the most part the show went well.

“Each night I’ll know more and more about the boats so that’ll be easier,” Whitehead said. “I think we can build off this; I really do.”

The parade committee decided to add the live commentary as another way to improve the parade, said parade chairman Ralph Rodheim.

“The parade committee is always trying to make it a better parade for the spectators,” Rodheim said.

The committee searched the harbor for the best spot to headquarter the commentator. The Fun Zone, with a large city parking lot nearby, was a user-friendly choice that is easily accessible to spectators, Rodheim said.

Centering the commentary at the Fun Zone also provides spectators with a point to watch the parade from each year, Whitehead said.

“This year with the city celebrating 100 years and the [Balboa] Pavilion celebrating 100 years, it was appropriate,” Rodheim said.

In preparing for the live commentary, Whitehead asked registered boaters to send in an informational sheet with facts about their boat and the decorations. Using the corresponding registration numbers displayed on the boats, Whitehead broadcast each boat’s information as it passed by his headquarters in front of the Fun Zone carousel.

To help him identity the boat numbers, Whitehead was assisted by two “spotters” -- Shirley Young, of Costa Mesa, and Wendy Hooper, of Orange -- both ambassadors of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

As soon as the lead boat came into view Wednesday, Young and Hooper scanned the water with their binoculars.

It was a team effort as the spotters scrambled to find the correct information sheet and pass it on to Whitehead.

“Santa’s having a good time up there -- looks like he caught himself a swordfish,” Whitehead said, of a yacht decorated in an ocean theme.

Several boats down in the line, a boat decorated in tropical holiday hues, caught Whitehead’s eye.

“The palm trees off the aft deck ... that’s a nice touch, makes me think of summertime,” Whitehead said.

From the big yachts to the tiny dinghies, Whitehead had something to say about nearly every floating vessel. For boats that didn’t provide information sheets, Whitehead ad-libbed comments, adding in a personal story here and there.

The crowd gathered at the Fun Zone seemed to enjoy Whitehead’s commentary. The Dutch family, all 13 of them, decided to watch the parade from the Fun Zone because they heard the commentator would be there.

“We like knowing about the boats and the history,” said Richard Dutch, of Newport Beach. “It just brings a whole new dynamic to the boat parade.”

When the parade was over, the Dutch family unanimously said they’ll return to hear the commentary next year.

“By far the best ever,” Dutch said.

Even the kids weighed in.

“He was very observant,” said Richard Dutch’s 15-year-old daughter Taylor. “He was pretty funny.” 20051216irkevencKENT TREPTOW / DAILY PILOT(LA)Mike Whitehead provides live commentary during the Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade on Wednesday night.