The Harbor Column:

The world lost a true yachtsman and gentleman when Roy E. Disney died Wednesday at the age of 79. Roy was the nephew of Walt Disney, and a very avid big-boat sailor. I remember the first time I met Roy in his office at the Disney Studios in Burbank, when I interviewed him on my TV show.

He was gracious and a down-to-earth person who made you feel comfortable even when the cameras were not rolling. Ocean sailing was one of his great passions in life with his boat, named Pyewacket, which he donated to Orange Coast College in 2006, but he loved to sail the oceans, especially the Transpac Race from the mainland to Honolulu.

Additionally, Roy became friends with Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, and he permanently lent to the museum the Transpac’s elapsed-time trophy. Roy asked Andrea Favilli to design and create the 4 1/2 -foot trophy for the 1997 Transpac Race, and the trophy will visit Hawaii if someone breaks the elapsed-time record.

I enjoyed the times that I chatted with Roy about sailing, and I can honestly tell you that he was a great gentleman and a true sailor.

Tip of the week is to come see the 101st Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade that goes nightly and concludes Sunday with a special fireworks display. The fireworks will blast off about 9 p.m. from the Balboa Pier, and the display should be visible from all around the harbor to end this year’s parade.

The weather is perfect, and the boats are decorated to the max, so remember that I will be announcing nightly from the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum in the Fun Zone to those along the sea wall and to the parade boats. On Wednesday and Thursday nights, the crowds were entertained with Christmas music by Doug Prichard with his ukulele, and his sister Katherine joining him for the first night.

Reminder to all boaters in the parade: Please slow down when you cruise by the announcing area, and the crowds can hear you so make some noise when you go by. Lastly, I would like to give a personal thanks to all the volunteers who make the parade happen.

Tune in to my radio show, Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show, every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. on the syndicated radio network CRNTalk.com reaching Coast to Coast.

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 .