THE HARBOR COLUMN:

The 100th annual Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade was one of the best with just less than a hundred registered boats, but hundreds of boats actually on the water. The Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce did a great job, and thanks to the Chamber staff and the hundreds of volunteers for their countless hours.

Additionally, I want to thank all the boat parade sponsors — and especially KLAA-AM (830) — for providing me with an hour and a half of prime radio air time Wednesday night, even though the parade was canceled.

Just try broadcasting a live boat parade special on the radio without a boat parade.

However, special thanks go to the staff of the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum, which assisted with my announcer’s booth and the equipment.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas.

Here it is, my annual Christmas poem:

‘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 lightning 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.