A little fun on the radio

MIKE WHITEHEAD

Ahoy.

What are you doing at 8:30 this morning? Sipping your coffee while

reading the Daily Pilot? Driving to work? Sitting in your cubicle?

Well, I have something to brighten up your morning.

This morning, Chandler Bell, my show manager, and I will be

in-studio guests on the radio show “Mark Larson Live,” which is a

very popular weekday morning radio program on KCBQ AM (1170). Mark

Larson was chosen as San Diego’s “Best Talk Show” host by the

Achievement In Radio Awards, and additionally, he is in his sixth

term as president of the San Diego Radio Broadcasters Assn.

I feel honored to be on his show with the opportunity to promote

the wonderful world of boating and all things nautical.

Immediately after Larson Live, Chandler and I will start an

adventure: We’ll go to Ensenada using only public transportation. We

are heading down to the Hotel Coral and Marina to take command of a

Carver 444 for a delivery of the vessel back to Newport Harbor.

I’ve checked the sea conditions, and the seas are relatively flat

with little wind. Those conditions are expected to change, and

estimates show the sea conditions will deteriorate Saturday, either

that day or night.

After preparing and fueling the vessel Friday, we are planning to

cast off the dock lines just before sunrise on Saturday morning with

our first stop at U.S. Customs check in San Diego Bay.

If you read my column last week, I mentioned that I delivered a

yacht to Ensenada, but I did not tell you about the wait time at the

U.S. border when I walked across after a wild Mexican taxi ride: no

wait, none. However, I think the low pedestrian traffic was because

of the horrific fires in San Diego, which most likely changed

people’s minds about traveling to that region.

Up our way, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce is anticipating

nearly 1 million visitors to this year’s 95th annual Christmas Boat

Parade, as reported in the chamber’s monthly Lookout magazine.

Is it too soon for you to be thinking about the boat parade,

scheduled this year from Dec. 17 to 21? No, and now is the time to

start preparing for the parade. Boaters can begin planning your

vessel’s decorations. In an upcoming column, I will give you safety

tips for decorating your boat.

The Chamber’s Commodores Club, of which I have to declare that I

am a proud member, organizes the parade. The theme this year is “A

Holiday Beach Celebration.” To me, this theme allows an enormous room

for creativity for you to decorate your boat and for the homes around

the harbor to decorate for the Ring of Lights.

Both the boats and the homes are judged for the numerous awards to

be given out Jan. 16 during the Boat Parade Awards Dinner and

Auction. The dinner is open to everyone and will be held at the Four

Seasons Hotel in Newport Center.

I call on all the boaters to sign up for the boat parade, whether

your boat is actually in the parade. The nominal $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 alike

can help the parade continue year after year by sponsoring either the

parade or the awards dinner.

You can contact the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce for any of

your questions about the parade at (949) 729-4400 and online at

https://www. NewportBeach.com.

Lastly, I cannot overlook this opportunity to give a big thanks to

all the volunteers who make this event as wonderful as it to the

community.

I was hoping to have a live broadcast on my Boathouse Radio Show

during the parade, but my show finishes just before the parade

begins.

Also, tie a string around your finger so you will remember to

tune-in to my show this and every Sunday from 4 to 5 p.m. on KCBQ AM.

Also, you can call-in during the show to (888) 344-1170 and join in Southern California’s only boating talk radio show, but first, your

call has to get past my call screener, John Hammond.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send

him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by

e-mail to [email protected] or visit https://www.boathousetv.com.