I just finished assembling the calendar and events section for the Nov
1 issue.

Here in the Pacific NW we have several "lighted boat parades" (nobody
officially calls them "Christmas lights" anymore- they're now "holiday
lights"), in communities large and small. The biggest one is probably
the Chet Gibson Memorial cruise, sponsored by Queen City Yacht Club but
open to all participants whether they belong to Queen City, some other
club, or no club at all. That parade takes place over two days (!), the
evenings of December 8 and 9 this year.

One of the most satisfying things to do with your boat in early
December in the Pacific NW is participate in the Seafair Holiday
Cruise. (Used to be called the "Special Peoples' Cruise", and is still
informally referred to by that title among a lot of participants). This
event is scheduled for December 3. Hundreds of boaters will decorate
their boats with lights and host developmentally disadvantaged children
and adults on a 90 minute parade out to Lake Washington, around a
"Santa ship" on the far side of the lake, and back to the dock. Several
organizations have "radio Santas" on different VHF frequencies, so the
"kids" (some are in their 30's and older) can radio their wish lists to
the Jolly Old Elf.

For many years my wife and I participated in the Seafair cruise as part
of a yacht club we belonged to at the time. We had a couple in that
club who would dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and when the kids came
back from the boat ride they got a chance to talk to Santa. This
particular couple was absolutely convincing, in fact if you met them on
any of the other 364 days of the year and somebody suggested they
seemed a bit like Santa and Mrs. Claus, (white hair, happy demeanor,
beaming smiles, not particularly thin) few would disagree.

One year we had a boatload of "special people" and we were rounding the
Santa Ship at the midpoint of the parade. As always, the special guests
thought this a particular highlight, and our little 36-foot boat took
on something of a list as everybody rushed to the port side to look out
the cabin windows and wave to Santa. This particular year, we had a
skeptic aboard. While everybody else was hopping up and down with
excitement, waving, and blowing kisses to Santa one fellow shouted
"That's not the real Santa! That's not! They're trying to trick us!
That's not the real Santa Claus!" He got pretty animated about his
point, and to try to calm him down a bit I asked him why he thought the
Santa on the bow of the old Chris Craft at the turn point wasn't the
"real" Santa.

He said, "I was on this same cruise last year. The *real* Santa is back
at your clubhouse!"
I shared that incident with the couple who played Mr. and Mrs. Claus
every year, and doing so earned me a great big smile from "Santa."

The Seafair Cruise is only about 6 weeks away, scheduled for December
3.

Who else has holiday boating traditions?

On 20 Oct 2006 07:28:27 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

I just finished assembling the calendar and events section for the Nov
1 issue.

Here in the Pacific NW we have several "lighted boat parades" (nobody
officially calls them "Christmas lights" anymore- they're now "holiday
lights"), in communities large and small. The biggest one is probably
the Chet Gibson Memorial cruise, sponsored by Queen City Yacht Club but
open to all participants whether they belong to Queen City, some other
club, or no club at all. That parade takes place over two days (!), the
evenings of December 8 and 9 this year.

One of the most satisfying things to do with your boat in early
December in the Pacific NW is participate in the Seafair Holiday
Cruise. (Used to be called the "Special Peoples' Cruise", and is still
informally referred to by that title among a lot of participants). This
event is scheduled for December 3. Hundreds of boaters will decorate
their boats with lights and host developmentally disadvantaged children
and adults on a 90 minute parade out to Lake Washington, around a
"Santa ship" on the far side of the lake, and back to the dock. Several
organizations have "radio Santas" on different VHF frequencies, so the
"kids" (some are in their 30's and older) can radio their wish lists to
the Jolly Old Elf.

For many years my wife and I participated in the Seafair cruise as part
of a yacht club we belonged to at the time. We had a couple in that
club who would dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and when the kids came
back from the boat ride they got a chance to talk to Santa. This
particular couple was absolutely convincing, in fact if you met them on
any of the other 364 days of the year and somebody suggested they
seemed a bit like Santa and Mrs. Claus, (white hair, happy demeanor,
beaming smiles, not particularly thin) few would disagree.

One year we had a boatload of "special people" and we were rounding the
Santa Ship at the midpoint of the parade. As always, the special guests
thought this a particular highlight, and our little 36-foot boat took
on something of a list as everybody rushed to the port side to look out
the cabin windows and wave to Santa. This particular year, we had a
skeptic aboard. While everybody else was hopping up and down with
excitement, waving, and blowing kisses to Santa one fellow shouted
"That's not the real Santa! That's not! They're trying to trick us!
That's not the real Santa Claus!" He got pretty animated about his
point, and to try to calm him down a bit I asked him why he thought the
Santa on the bow of the old Chris Craft at the turn point wasn't the
"real" Santa.

He said, "I was on this same cruise last year. The *real* Santa is back
at your clubhouse!"
I shared that incident with the couple who played Mr. and Mrs. Claus
every year, and doing so earned me a great big smile from "Santa."

The Seafair Cruise is only about 6 weeks away, scheduled for December
3.

Who else has holiday boating traditions?

We have a Christmas Boat Parade here on the Occoquan River.

Apparently, some of the Seattle folks have received word of the political
incorrectness of using the word "Christmas".

http://www.sailing-in-seattle.com/christmas_parade.htm

This one looks like a pretty big one!

On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 10:35:58 -0400, JohnH wrote:


We have a Christmas Boat Parade here on the Occoquan River.

Apparently, some of the Seattle folks have received word of the political
incorrectness of using the word "Christmas".

http://www.sailing-in-seattle.com/christmas_parade.htm

This one looks like a pretty big one!

Whoops. I should have said "have NOT received word..."!

JohnH wrote:


We have a Christmas Boat Parade here on the Occoquan River.

Apparently, some of the Seattle folks have received word of the political
incorrectness of using the word "Christmas".


http://www.sailing-in-seattle.com/christmas_parade.htm

This one looks like a pretty big one!


The parade you see in the photo is a group of boats that follow one of
the commercial charter vessels around the lake, including the
"Whoodat", the subject of that particular blog.
While most groups with a diverse membership (where everybody may not be
a Christian) and groups with any sort of government funding use the
term "holiday cruise" (there are a number of various religious holidays
all about the same time each year) or "lighted boat cruise", a private
organization such as the charter company can certainly declare their
event a "Christmas" cruise, and more power to them. The charter company
hosts choral groups from local schools, cruises near the shoreline, and
stops at regular intervals for the choirs to sing Christmas carols.

I did this once, and won't again. As you can see in the photo, there is
no order among the informally "trailing" boats. They just mill around
in a jamb, and night vision goes straight to heck as the "Christmas
Ship" is covered with bright white light bulbs. A certain portion of
the
skippers are fortified with hot buttered rum, etc, and the
fortification continues to improve as the evening progresses. When it's
time for the Christmas Ship to motor down the lake a mile or so for the
next stop, all of the trailers start taking off in different directions
and at different speeds. Fun for the passengers and shoreside
spectators, maybe, but a needless risk to the boat considering the
conditions.

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 20 Oct 2006 07:28:27 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

Who else has holiday boating traditions?

I have taken my one of my boats out on the lake the day after
Thanksgiving if there isn't ice on the lake.

And even then a couple of times. :)


----------------
Disclaimer: This is a boating post and applies to boaters. It is not
intended to provoke, annoy, irritate, bother, aggravate, anger,incite,
inflame, infuriate or create controversy resulting in unacceptable
behavior on the part of other posters nor is it intended to generate
political commentary or off-topic debate.

Ice on the lake? How can you live like that? ;(

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...
I just finished assembling the calendar and events section for the Nov
1 issue.

Here in the Pacific NW we have several "lighted boat parades" (nobody
officially calls them "Christmas lights" anymore- they're now "holiday
lights"), in communities large and small. The biggest one is probably
the Chet Gibson Memorial cruise, sponsored by Queen City Yacht Club but
open to all participants whether they belong to Queen City, some other
club, or no club at all. That parade takes place over two days (!), the
evenings of December 8 and 9 this year.

One of the most satisfying things to do with your boat in early
December in the Pacific NW is participate in the Seafair Holiday
Cruise. (Used to be called the "Special Peoples' Cruise", and is still
informally referred to by that title among a lot of participants). This
event is scheduled for December 3. Hundreds of boaters will decorate
their boats with lights and host developmentally disadvantaged children
and adults on a 90 minute parade out to Lake Washington, around a
"Santa ship" on the far side of the lake, and back to the dock. Several
organizations have "radio Santas" on different VHF frequencies, so the
"kids" (some are in their 30's and older) can radio their wish lists to
the Jolly Old Elf.

For many years my wife and I participated in the Seafair cruise as part
of a yacht club we belonged to at the time. We had a couple in that
club who would dress up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and when the kids came
back from the boat ride they got a chance to talk to Santa. This
particular couple was absolutely convincing, in fact if you met them on
any of the other 364 days of the year and somebody suggested they
seemed a bit like Santa and Mrs. Claus, (white hair, happy demeanor,
beaming smiles, not particularly thin) few would disagree.

One year we had a boatload of "special people" and we were rounding the
Santa Ship at the midpoint of the parade. As always, the special guests
thought this a particular highlight, and our little 36-foot boat took
on something of a list as everybody rushed to the port side to look out
the cabin windows and wave to Santa. This particular year, we had a
skeptic aboard. While everybody else was hopping up and down with
excitement, waving, and blowing kisses to Santa one fellow shouted
"That's not the real Santa! That's not! They're trying to trick us!
That's not the real Santa Claus!" He got pretty animated about his
point, and to try to calm him down a bit I asked him why he thought the
Santa on the bow of the old Chris Craft at the turn point wasn't the
"real" Santa.

He said, "I was on this same cruise last year. The *real* Santa is back
at your clubhouse!"
I shared that incident with the couple who played Mr. and Mrs. Claus
every year, and doing so earned me a great big smile from "Santa."

The Seafair Cruise is only about 6 weeks away, scheduled for December
3.

Who else has holiday boating traditions?


Don't ask us Great Lakes boaters. ;-)

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On 20 Oct 2006 07:28:27 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

Who else has holiday boating traditions?

I have taken my one of my boats out on the lake the day after
Thanksgiving if there isn't ice on the lake.

And even then a couple of times. :)


----------------
Disclaimer: This is a boating post and applies to boaters. It is not
intended to provoke, annoy, irritate, bother, aggravate, anger,incite,
inflame, infuriate or create controversy resulting in unacceptable
behavior on the part of other posters nor is it intended to generate
political commentary or off-topic debate.

LOL at your sig line!

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
news
On Fri, 20 Oct 2006 17:41:35 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:


"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
. ..
On 20 Oct 2006 07:28:27 -0700, "Chuck Gould"
wrote:

Who else has holiday boating traditions?

I have taken my one of my boats out on the lake the day after
Thanksgiving if there isn't ice on the lake.

And even then a couple of times. :)


----------------
Disclaimer: This is a boating post and applies to boaters. It is not
intended to provoke, annoy, irritate, bother, aggravate, anger,incite,
inflame, infuriate or create controversy resulting in unacceptable
behavior on the part of other posters nor is it intended to generate
political commentary or off-topic debate.

Ice on the lake? How can you live like that? ;(

Shut up. :)


----------------
Disclaimer: This is a boating post and applies to boaters. It is not
intended to provoke, annoy, irritate, bother, aggravate, anger,incite,
inflame, infuriate or create controversy resulting in unacceptable
behavior on the part of other posters nor is it intended to generate
political commentary or off-topic debate.

Supposed to get to about 82 today. Yesterday, went up to the Sac Delta area
to help in the Special Kids fishing day. Last year it rained at the end of
the day, yesterday, cloudless and about 75. Looking at lots of boating
fishing next week. Wife is going to Houston for her UH sorority luncheon.

"Chuck Gould" wrote in
ups.com:

Who else has holiday boating traditions?


Hell, ours is even in the Federal Register with Coast Guard sanctioning:
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPA...-09/i28535.htm
http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2....access.gpo.go
v/cfr_2002/julqtr/33cfr100.721.htm

http://v1.charleston.net/columnists/...ection=whaynie

http://www.usps.org/localusps/cps/

http://www.ci.charleston.sc.us/dept/...id=561&cid=792
"27TH ANNUAL CHARLESTON PARADE OF BOATS
Saturday, December 2: 5:00pm-8:00pm
Parade begins along Mt. Pleasant at 5:00pm; Viewing from the peninsula
begins at 6:30pm; Fireworks begin at approximately 6:45pm
Get on board with a Lowcountry holiday tradition as this display of lighted
and festive boats proceeds from the Cooper River, through the Charleston
Harbor and into the Ashley River, culminating in a brilliant fireworks
display over the harbor. View the procession along Charleston’s waterfront
or decorate your own boat and join the parade. Info: call 843-724-7305."

Look for "The Grinch" in lights from "Lionheart", Amel Sharki ketch. Pay
no attention if it looks like there may be drinking going on, aboard....(c;

"Chuck Gould" wrote in message
ups.com...

I just finished assembling the calendar and events section for the Nov
1 issue.

Here in the Pacific NW we have several "lighted boat parades" (nobody
officially calls them "Christmas lights" anymore- they're now "holiday
lights"), in communities large and small.

Who else has holiday boating traditions?


My first December in Florida was the year I took the Navigator to Jupiter.
We were awaiting the closing on the house we bought and I was staying on the
boat by myself for a couple of weeks, until Mrs.E. flew down for the
closing.

One evening a bunch of people who had boats in the marina came by and
invited me to walk over to a beach on the ICW to watch the annual holiday
boat parade. It was just after dark and it was fabulous. We all sat on
beach chairs with coolers full of beer and wine coolers watching the
decorated and beautifully lit boats go by. It last for over an hour, with
fireworks and the traditional Santa in a sleigh bringing up the rear. Never
saw anything like it here in the northeast.

Eisboch