A final loop around the harbor

Bryce Alderton

Friends and family gathered around Geoff Landon’s 61-foot yacht Sunday

night, ready to sail around Newport Harbor for the final night of the

93rd annual Newport Harbor Christmas Boat Parade.

The 11-time overall winner has decked his boat in lights and figures

for the past 13 years for the annual parade put on by the Newport Beach

Chamber of Commerce, and this year came away with first place in the

humor and originality category for his “Unpretentious Too” entry.

It depicts a scene from ground zero after the terrorist attacks on the

World Trade Center.

“We thought the firemen needed a shot in the arm and it keeps with the

patriotic theme,” Landon said.

The theme for this year’s parade was “Let Freedom Ring.”

One boat titled “Quick Hammer,” decorated by Don and Kathie Haidl, had

a laser light at the top of the mast and had lights made into patterns of

American flags, caught the eye of judges and was recognized with the

Sweepstakes Award.

“It had flags all around and was in tune with the patriotic theme,”

said Seymour Beek, one of the 32 judges and a member of the Commodores

Club of the Chamber of Commerce. “It had good music too. There were some

great entries this year, lots of small boats were decorated and they did

a great job.”

They put the show on and the crowds came.

“It’s been about the same as in the past, not bigger or smaller,” said

Richard Luehrs, president of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

“With the Thursday rain it was a little softer than usual.”

Luehrs estimated crowd sizes to be about 100,000 to 150,000 viewers

each night, which equals about 1 million for the seven nights.

Parade watchers include residents hosting private parties, people

watching on docks, and spectators going out on yacht charters, Luehrs

said, adding that registered boats were up 5% compared to last year and

that boaters have followed the parade route.

“We’ve had minimal complaints and I’m pleased with this year’s

parade,” Luehrs said.

All award winners from the Christmas Boat Parade competition and the

accompanying Ring of Lights home decorating contest can look forward to a

dinner and awards ceremony Jan. 25 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport

Beach.

“It’s our way of saying ‘thank you’ to the all the people that put in

so much time decorating and providing a spectacle for all the visitors to

come and see,” Luehrs said.

But Sunday could be the last time boaters take their boats along a

route used since the 1960s.

Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce leaders are expected to meet

sometime after the awards ceremony to reconsider the changes they made to

the boat parade’s route and duration in August, which has caused an

outcry of opposition from residents used to the parade sailing past their

homes.

The chamber announced in August it will change the parade route next

year cutting out the westernmost portion between Lido Island and Lido

Peninsula, and part of the route at the harbor’s entrance. It also

announced plans to shorten it by about 30 minutes.

Concern about boat owners that began the evening but dropped out of

the parade before its conclusion prompted officials to look at how parts

of the route could be trimmed, shortening the time boat owners have to

commit each night.

The parade currently begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 9 p.m.

It also reduced the parade to five nights from its current seven-night

span and is set to begin the third Wednesday of December next year.

* Bryce Alderton is the news assistant. He may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .