THE HARBOR COLUMN:Deck the hulls for Christmas Boat Parade

Ahoy.

The day after Thanksgiving is known as one of the biggest shopping days of year. But I think it really signals the start for all boaters to decorate their vessels for the rapidly approaching Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. The parade is recognized as one of the top-10 holiday season events in the nation, and our local parade should be on your calendar to visit at least one of the five nights.

The Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is responsible year after year to organize this huge event and to make sure that the parade sails for the five nights from Dec. 13-17. This year’s theme is “Holiday Magic Through the Eyes of a Child,” so you must bring your kids to the harbor this year. I must disclose that I have been an active member of the Commodores for 10 years now, and my thanks goes to the Commodores who volunteer to bring you the parade.

The boat parade, however, might not happen without sponsors (who need to be recognized for helping to bring a little Christmas cheer). I personally want to extend my appreciation to sponsors who include Simple Green, Traditional Jewelers and Fidelity Investments, and to the Official Sponsors of Orange Coast Yachts, Kimco Staffing Services, the Daily Pilot, McKenna Yachts and Starbucks Coffee.

Once again, I will be the voice of the parade who announces the boats, and this year I might have a special co-host nightly, so stay tuned. I still feel a little strange standing on land while the hundreds of decorated boats participate in the parade, because I have been a professional captain operating all sizes and types of boats for over 20 years in this parade. Believe me when I say that I have seen a lot of interesting things happen on the water, including topless Elves, collisions, dock fights, vessels tangled in the mooring fields and Santa sightings.

This year, if you will not be on the water then join me with your family and out-of-town guests as the parade comes to life with narration about Newport’s history, friendly jokes, and, of course, talking about the decorated boats.

I do have breaking news that we might add an announcing location as proposed by Ralph Rodheim, who is the parade chairman for the second year. Therefore, the announcements might begin at the start of the parade at 6:30 p.m. by the Balboa Island Bridge. After which, we run across Balboa Island to ride Seymour Beek’s auto ferry across the bay to the Fun Zone. The parade goes by the Fun Zone at around 8 p.m. This year, I will be next to the carousel at the new home of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum.

Museum Director David Muller will host the announcing booth and provide the necessary speaker placements and electrical hook-ups. Maybe I will broadcast my Boathouse Radio Show from the museum on the Saturday of the parade, Dec. 16, where you can join in the fun. I will keep you posted on that.

Yell and wave when you sail by the announcing areas as the onshore crowd goes wild and everyone enjoys the interaction between the boaters and spectators.

The tip of week is very important for those who have entered their vessels in this year’s parade. I need you to fill out the informational sheet in your registration packet, and return it to the chamber or me. I need this information to talk about your boat and to enlighten the crowds with your tidbits. This year I will have the Harbor Patrol boats blast you with water cannons as you cruise by if I did not receive your vessel’s information.

The chamber has set up a website for the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade at www.ChristmasBoatParade.com.

Until then, tune in to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs from noon to 1 p.m. Saturdays on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170. This Saturday I will be on a remote broadcast in Cotati, which is north of San Francisco off the 101 near Petaluma.