THE HARBOR COLUMN:Announcing the arrival of the parade

Ahoy.

It is that time of year again for the annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade to light up Newport Harbor. The weather was perfect for the first night of the parade and the boats looked great with some very creative decorations. The National Weather Service is predicting rain for Saturday night and Sunday morning; however, I am doing my best to bribe Mother Nature.

So, let’s hope that any rain will arrive late Saturday night, after the parade. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has issued special weather statements for boating on the Pacific Ocean through the weekend, so I recommend that you stay in the harbor to join the parade each night.

I do have a few new details to share about the parade. First, we have added a second announcing location on Balboa Island for the start of the parade. At approximately 6:40 p.m., I will announce the arrival of the parade to those watching by Onyx Avenue on the North Bayfront. Then I will run across the island and take the ferry to the main announcing location — the new home of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum at the Fun Zone on the Balboa Peninsula. I will be at the Balboa Island site most nights unless the weather is not cooperating, and I will not be on the island on Friday night.

Friday night I will be broadcasting the boat parade live on the radio with a special Boathouse Radio Show. I want to thank KLAA 830 (AM) for sponsoring 90 minutes of airtime for the parade. KLAA has a powerful signal with 50,000 watts blasting to Los Angeles, Orange and Riverside counties, and the live coverage is from 8 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Also, the station is the new home for my Boathouse Radio Show beginning Jan. 6.

The first half of the live radio broadcast will focus on parade coverage as the boats sail by Balboa, and the second half is where I will interview guests and talk about all things boating. My co-host on Friday night is Rags Laragione, president of the Maritime Institute. He is very knowledgeable about the nautical world and he does a great job on the radio.

This will be another first for the Christmas Boat Parade, with a running live radio commentary to everyone in Southern California. In addition, the boats in the parade can listen to the station as they cruise by Balboa. Tip of the week is to post your parade registration numbers on your boat so that we can easily see the number from shore. You should post the starboard number forward or midship on the vessel and unobstructed by the decorations or lights. Many boats have posted the number behind the Christmas lights or blending in with the decorations. The starboard-side pilothouse window is good, or low on the hull toward the waterline will work. You have to keep in mind that we need to quickly find your number and then the corresponding informational sheet with the details about your boat.

Also, slow down when you cruise by and wave to the spectators onshore. I wish everyone a good time during the parade — please be extra careful on the water at night since there will be hundreds of boats out on the bay.

Remember to tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation at noon every Saturday. “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” is on KCBQ 1170 (AM) and we are moving to KLAA 830 (AM) in the new year.

Safe voyages.