THE HARBOR COLUMN:

Ahoy,

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving, and after the daylong feast, I better be careful stepping on the gunwale of any small craft. It reminds me of the long-distance yacht deliveries where I am known by my crew for stocking the vessel’s bridge with munchies to help us keep alert on watch in the wee hours of the morning, at least until the chef wakes up to prepare breakfast.

Looks like the passing storm will leave the ocean uninviting for cruising this weekend with anticipated 3- to 5-foot swells and chance of showers with shifting winds. However, harbor cruising is always an option as the sun is expected to shine, but keep an eye out for floating debris. These types of weather patterns are notorious for waterspouts, so keep your other eye on the cloud formations for a spout forming.

For your weather lesson, waterspouts are tornadoes over water. Waterspouts are fast-rotating air columns that form during unstable conditions such as when cold fronts move though the area. A waterspout can be dangerous to boats and piers — and then to mobile home parks when a waterspout moves onto land to become a tornado.

Tip of week is that you have only a few weekends to have your boat decorated to be in the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

Furthermore, every boater should sign up for the parade with the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce (www.ChristmasBoatParade. com) even if you only go out one night.

The $25 entry fee helps support the parade, as there are costs associated in producing this event annually.

Also, I need your boat information sheet completed so that I can announce you when you cruise by Balboa.

Every night (Dec. 17 to 21) starting at 6:30 p.m., I will be announcing the boats that are in the parade from the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum at the Fun Zone, and the announcing booth will be set up next to the carousel. Balboa is an excellent focal point for spectators who want to watch the boat parade from shore, and listen to professional commentary about the boats and parade happenings.

Lastly, there has been a change in the parade route, so consult the parade map with the new times.

Remember to tune in every Saturday at 11 a.m. to “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” broadcasting on KLAA-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.