The Harbor Column:

Ah, Christmas is here. This year’s Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade was spectacular, and I tip my captain’s hat to the hundreds of boat owners who did a fantastic job of decorating their boats ranging from less than 12 feet to more than a hundred feet in length.

The weather was perfect for the parade, and the crowds who came to hear my announcing at the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum in the Fun Zone were larger than I expected.

I did have Ray Tsuneyoshi, California’s Boating & Waterways director, join me Dec. 18 for announcing.

Tip of the week is my annual Christmas poem, and as I weigh anchor for Christmas, I wanted to leave you a slightly modified version from last year:

’Twas the Day Before Christmas Upon Ocean

’Twas the day before Christmas, And all through the Ocean

You could see a few boats sailing on the water

And sea lions were resting on top of their buoys

And the bell was clanging with each passing swell.

The fish were happy as no hooks were around

And the sea birds were eating, being fed by a shore crowd.

When all of sudden there arose such a clatter

The Mermaids swam up to see what was the matter.

The sea lions dove into the water and the boats sailed away from the splatter.

When shore crowd looked out to see such a sight

but the birds just continued eating their supper.

All of a sudden but what should appear

the King of the Sea bringing his own Christmas cheer.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

As King Neptune held up his scepter for all to see,

And out of the scepter came a lightening bolt so grand

it made a clap when it hit the land

And to everyone’s amazement as you looked around

Disappearing were all the storm drains that drained into his sea from the land.

His gift for Christmas was no more polluted water

But I heard him exclaim, ere he swam out of sight

What starts at the drain, feeds the harbor when it rains

And Merry Christmas to all and to all a safe voyage.

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