THE HARBOR COLUMN:

I know that you have been waiting for my annual New Year’s Captain’s Log, past to future. I wish everyone a Happy New Year!

Captain’s Log:

Time: 0001 Uniform Time

Date: Jan. 1, 2008

The radars show that we are all alone on the moonless ocean tonight as we cruise back to Newport Harbor.

But, all of a sudden out of nowhere a nameless, ghostly ship sides in on a very close parallel course.

I can hear the New Year’s celebrations onboard the ship, so I try to peer through their porthole. It looks like a reflection of New Year’s past aboard an ancient wooden brigantine.

I see the captain trying to steer the large, wooden wheel as he fights each passing swell while watching a crude compass and reading hand-drawn charts that resemble worn treasure maps. I can see the crew cheering in the New Year with mugs of rum being poured from barrels while someone is playing a fiddle.

Oops, I almost bumped the side of the ship.

I correct my course and check my electronics. Once again, I glance in the porthole where now I can see what looks like the reflection of New Year’s future with a modern yacht that has five-star accommodations aboard.

Now, the captain is touching flat display panels to control everything on the vessel. A virtual 3-D display is showing systems, communication, charts, radar and much more that appear to be floating in the air.

In lieu of the fiddle for entertainment, the crew is listening to the Boathouse Radio Show on satellite radio.

Hey, is that a — oops, I almost skimmed the side of the yacht.

I am suddenly awakened when I hear the beeping alarm of the GPS chart plotter warning that we are nearing the harbor entrance. I glance from the bridge’s soft, leather couch to see my first officer standing his watch.

I know we are getting close to the harbor, as I can see the lights on the high rises at Newport Center out of the bridge windows.

As I rise to take the conns to enter the harbor, I wonder: Was I sleeping, and was it all a dream?

I cannot stop thinking about that nameless ship with the past-to-future as I steer our yacht in the harbor to our slip.

Finally, our yacht is secured in her home slip.

End Captain’s Log.

Remember to tune in every Saturday at 11 a.m. to Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show on AM 830. Safe Voyages!

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to mike@boathousetv.com or go to www.boathousetv.com.