Awards give top boat parade, home-decorating entries one more chance to shine

When Doug Westmyer decided to enter The Short Dog, his 24-foot Chaparral boat, in the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade for the first time last month, he wasn’t looking for accolades.

The 41-year-old Garden Grove resident said he thought the parade, in which dozens of lighted boats sail around Newport Harbor for five nights, simply would be a fun holiday activity for his family.

It took Westmyer, his wife and their four children about 2 1/2 weeks to string 6,000 lights on the family boat. But the work seemed to pay off.

By the third day of the event, Westmyer had sailed away with two awards — one for the best boat under 30 feet and the other for the best first-time entry — as well as bragging rights until next year’s parade.

“I was so happy when I found out that we had won,” he said. “We thought it would be something fun to participate in, and it was.”

Westmyer and the rest of the boat parade award winners, along with winners of the Ring of Lights holiday home-decorating competition, were honored Friday night at a dinner at the Island Hotel.

About 65 boats, from power to tug, participated in the parade Dec. 16 to 20. About a third of them were sailing in the event for the first time.

Owners decked out their vessels with multicolored lights, inflatable Santas and reindeer, bows, wreaths and lighted snowflakes for the holiday tradition, which dates back 107 years.

“I’m hooked now,” Westmyer said. “I’ll definitely be back next year.”

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Boat parade winners

Sweepstakes: El Navegante, SASCO Electric

Non-commercial Sweepstakes: Traveler, Michael and Barbara Lawler and Rhonda Tolar and Bill McNamara (Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club)

Best Powerboat: The Rose Maria, Ron and Rose Cram

Best Sailboat: D25, Peter Barbour

Best Lights:

• First place: The Last Hurrah, Rob and Elizabeth Meadows

• Second place: DoveOcean, Scott Eaton

• Third place: Hang Time, Landon Martin

Humor and Originality:

• First place: Jontika 2, Clayton and Kim Robinson

• Second place: Amazing Grace, Ed Koll

• Third place: Two Are Better Than One, Kyle Miller

Animation and Special Effects:

• First place: Paradise Found, Greg Killingsworth

• Second place: Quitena, Paul Fruchbom

• Third place: Anchor of Hope, Christopher Domino

Best Music: UCI, Kayla Lynne

Best Boat Under 30 Feet: The Short Dog, Doug Westmyer

Best First Time Entry: The Short Dog, Doug Westmyer

Best Yacht Club Entry: Traveler, Michael and Barbara Lawler and Rhonda Tolar and Bill McNamara

Yacht Club with the Most Entries: Balboa Yacht Club

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Ring of Lights award winners

Best Overall: Phil and Mary Lyons, Harbor Island

Lights and Animation:

• First place: Shirley Pepys, Balboa Island

• Second place: Bill Uncapher, Balboa Island

Best Theme: Donna DiBari, Balboa Island

Chairman’s Choice: Robert and Christyne Olson, Balboa Island

Best Traditional Lights: Jim and Kathy Busby, Balboa Island

“Green” Entry Award: Chuck and Mary Brennan, Lido Isle

Photographer’s Choice: Dennis and Patty Vitarelli, Balboa Island

Humor and Originality: Marcy Cook, Balboa Island

Rookie Award: Donna Kostland, Balboa Island

Best on Lido: John and Essie Bootsma, Lido Isle

Founder’s Award: Viviana and Bruce Fabrizio, Corona del Mar

Daily Pilot Award: Kevin and Jeanne Lewand, Balboa Island

Best Yacht Club: Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Corona del Mar

Hi Tech Christmas Charm: Jim and Peggy Rich, Balboa Island

Best on Peninsula: Bill and Gay Wassall-Kelly, Balboa Peninsula

Judge’s Award:

• First place: Barry and Karen Meguiar, Balboa Island

• Second place: Geoffrey Wickett, Balboa Island