Boat Parade breeds small wonders

Deirdre Newman

NEWPORT HARBOR -- When James Collins II paddles his kayak into Newport

Harbor for the annual Christmas Boat Parade, he makes sure he packs the

one thing that will make his boat sparkle -- duct tape.

Collins, 32, has the dubious distinction of operating the smallest

craft in the parade and experienced some technical difficulties with his

makeshift mast -- an 8-foot pole strung up with 150 glow sticks --

earlier in the week.

Undeterred, Collins paddles on, holding his own against boats seven

times his size.

Collins and his fellow small-boat skippers represent the spunkiest

participants in the parade. What the boats smaller than 30 feet lack in

size, they make up for in sizzle with their creative decorations.

“It’s incredible,” Collins said. “You’re up with the biggest boats in

the harbor. It’s just a lot of fun.”

The boat parade, which has been wending its way through Newport Harbor

for the past 93 years, owes its origin to a small boater -- John Scarpa,

an Italian gondolier. The first lighted boat parade took off in 1908,

when eight canoes followed Scarpa’s gondola around the bay, illuminated

by Japanese lanterns.

Last year’s small-boat winner, Neil Roush, went all-out to reflect

this year’s patriotic theme -- “Let Freedom Ring.” The Back Bay resident

decorated his 11 1/2-foot-longtrimaroon, which he describes as an alien

watercraft, with four toy soldiers standing guard at the corners of his

boat and a Santa Claus adorning the 15-foot-high center dome. Below the

toy soldiers are four Uncle Sams.

And to pay homage to the traditional nautical theme of the parade,

Roush coiled two “cute, little” sea serpents around the generator for the

lights in Santa’s sleigh.

Roush, 60, says he revels in the attention the small boats garner as

they pass their larger counterparts.

“The bigger boats honk their horns, they can’t believe it,” Roush

said. “It’s just amazing, the response.”

Balboa Island resident Greg Clarke said the boat parade provides the

perfect incentive to get into the Christmas spirit.

Clarke, 38, decorates his 18-foot Grady White powered fishing boat

with icicle lights, a Christmas tree on the bough and a wreath on the

center console.

“It’s really fun to do,” Clarke said. “I enjoy decorating the boat and

seeing the different boats that are decorated.”

Clarke said he definitely gets more popular around the time of the

boat parade as his friends start calling to hitch a ride through the bay.

And while Collins is confined to his solitary kayak, he is everyone’s

favorite party guest as he passes by.

“Everyone sits and talks,” he said. “They ask me if I need something

to drink. The camaraderie between the boat guys is just incredible.”

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .