The Harbor Column:

The first of November triggers the annual start of the Right Whale Ship Strike Reduction Rule.

It requires skippers to slow down their vessels that are 65 feet or longer to 10 knots or less when cruising in areas known for whales’ migration.

You may hear of this rule, but it really affects only boaters operating in the Mid-Atlantic waters to reduce the threat of ship collisions with critically endangered whales.

The Office of Protected Resources has lots of information at www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/shipstrike.

Closer to home port, it is time again to think about the fast-approaching 101st annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade, scheduled this year from Dec. 16 to 20. All boaters can begin planning their vessels’ decorations, and I will give you my annual safety tips in an upcoming column.

The Chamber’s Commodores Club, of which I have to declare that I am a member, organizes the parade, and this year’s theme is “The Joys of Christmas Toys.”

To me, this theme allows enormous room for creativity for you to decorate your boat, and for the homes and businesses around the harbor to be decorated for the Ring of Lights.

The boats and homes are judged for the numerous awards to be given out Jan. 22 during the Boat Parade Awards Dinner and Auction.

The dinner is open to everyone and will be at the Balboa Bay Club & Resort.

Tip of the week is for all boaters to sign up for the boat parade, whether your boat is in the parade or not. The $25 fee helps to pay the expenses of hosting an event of this caliber and gives us a more accurate count of boats on the water. Businesses and the public can help the parade continue year after year by sponsoring either the parade or the awards dinner.

Contact the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce to register for the parade at www.christmasboatparade.com, or call (949) 729-4400.

Lastly, I will be announcing nightly again at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, and I am planning to host another live broadcast on my Boathouse Radio Show one night during the parade.

Remember Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show is on the syndicated radio network CRNTalk.com broadcasting at 11 a.m. every Saturday.

MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating columnist. Send marine-related thoughts and story suggestions to [email protected] or go to www.boathousetv.com .