TERRANCE PHILLIPS -- The Harbor Column

Pirates boarded the Balboa Island Ferry on Sept. 10, transforming the

ferry from its normal task of transporting cars and customers between the

island and the mainland into a large traveling platform for 98 partying

peninsula residents.

Much to the surprise of the hosts and guests, two pirates boarded the

ferry demanding a “scurvy wench.”

One of the party organizers, Gay Kelly, was immediately turned over to

pirates Jim Mahoney, owner of Gondola Romances, and John Hammond, captain

of the riverboat Angela Louise.

Captors and party guest had a brief discussion -- which had something

to do with, “we be hoping for a wench a wee bit less traveled” -- and the

Peninsula Pirates said they would exchange the wench for food and grog.

Sandwiches and an adult beverage commonly encased in aluminum were handed

over to the pirates.

The group was once again safe to continue its cruise of the harbor

without interruption. That was until several uncomfortable guests

wandered the ferry deck looking for nonexistent “facilities.”

This potential calamity was resolved when the vessel made a quick pit

stop at American Legion Post 291 to alleviate the inevitable coastal

catastrophe and runoff. This is just one more reason -- a very important

reason I might add -- why the American Legion Post should stay put in our

community.

The origin of the ocean entourage was the Holiday Parade of Lights

awards banquet and silent auction. Bill and Gay Kelly received the “Ring

of Lights Sweepstakes Award” for decorating their home and decided to

enlist their friends, who live on Edgewater Drive on the peninsula, in

the silent auction bidding process.

“We bid on the ferry boat party in past years and never got it, so

this year a bunch of us joined together and bid as a group,” said Gay

Kelly.

The Balboa Island Ferry donates the boat each year for the silent

auction. The transformed vessel trades cars for cocktails for a two-hour

harbor cruise in an effort to raise money to offset expenses incurred by

the Parade of Lights, a Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce event.

Edgewater residents Katie Stewart, Betty Schock, Pat McCoy, Pat

Harrigan, Wayne and Maryanne Zippi, Bob and Jean Schimmer, and others

invited their friends and families to join them on the cruise.

The decorated ferry was seen cruising all over the harbor with

shoreline onlookers cheering and wondering what was going on. The event

was named “The Cruise to Nowhere,” and the official hosts were dubbed the

Edgewater Gang.

“We’re definitely going to make this an annual event,” Kelly said.

Newport Harbor Master Marty Kasules had a patrol boat close at hand to

assist if needed, as the ferry is not the most maneuverable vessel in

tight quarters.

And thanks to the American Legion’s room of porcelain, the event

proved a great success.

* TERRANCE PHILLIPS is the Daily Pilot’s boating writer. You can reach

him via e-mail at o7 [email protected] .