southern yacht club boat parade

Curtis Christensen Sailing Photography

[email protected].

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade

Stay tuned, the eastport yacht club's lights parade to celebrate its 42nd year in 2024.

The magical Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade takes place along the Annapolis Harbor and Spa Creek on the second Saturday in December every year. This annual tradition has been delighting holiday revelers for 40 years!

It all began in the 1980s when  Eastport Yacht Club  (EYC) started. Back then, the club was based in a fourth-floor room with a tiny bar in a complex in what is now  Annapolis City Marina . Some of the earliest members lived on boats in that marina and used the club as their living room, especially after the weather got cooler. Feeling the spirit (pun intended) one December night, a few took to their boats and tooled around the harbor, singing Christmas carols.  1

Because it was so much fun, the EYC members decided to build upon the parade by adding lights to decorate their boats, making it an annual tradition. Although several tour operators sell packages during the lights parade, where you can watch the event on the water, the event is free. (Click here for more tours.) Now, it is an officially sanctioned and sponsored event on the Annapolis & Anne Arundel County holiday calendar.

Where to Watch

Book a cruise, join a friend's boat or watch from the Annapolis city front or Spa Creek Bridge. More great viewing spots are at the end of any street in downtown Annapolis that ends at the water. Pocket parks in Eastport and Murray Hill are also great vantage points for sipping some cocoa and watching the boat parade sail by.

To learn more about the parade's history, read this great blog on Annapolis Discovered .

1  Quote taken from the blog:  Behind the Mask: Tom Stalder & the History of the EYC Lights Parade

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The 2023 St. Lucie County Christmas Boat Parade delights large crowd

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Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade

The Palm Coast Yacht Club is proud to announce that the annual Palm Coast Holiday Boat Parade, considered the largest boat parade in Central Florida, will be back for its 38 th year on December 18, starting at 6 p.m.

          Under a full moon, brightly decorated boats large and small will parade down the Intracoastal Waterway.  Marked by enthusiastic parties all along the Parade route, once again the annual event will be broadcast live by Flagler Broadcasting on KOOL-FM.  Grand Marshalls will be Sheriff Rick Staly and Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin.

          Departing from the Cimmaron Basin, the Parade will pass the Tidelands, Marina Cove, the Hammock, Yacht Harbor Village, and the Palm Coast Legacy Vacation Resort.  It will then proceed under the Hammock Dunes Bridge along St. Joe's Walkway and Canopy Walk, pass by Island Estates, Waterfront Park, and Grand Haven before dispersing at the Clubhouse Waterway.  The Parade will be escorted by the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, Tow Boat US, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

This year spectators will not have access to parking at Waterfront Park due to a city construction project to enhance water-based activities.  Parking is available near European Village for viewing along St. Joe's Walkway, Canopy Walk, and at Waterfront Park.

Registration for boaters is required and is free.  Club membership is not required.  For registration forms contact Parade Captain Robert Ulis at 386-283-5166 or at [email protected] .  Forms and details about the parade are also available at the Palm Coast Yacht Club website at www.palmcoastyachtclub.com and on Facebook.  Rain Date is December 19.  Official notice of any change to the Parade status will be posted on the Palm Coast Yacht Club website by 4 p.m. on December 18. 

The Palm Coast Yacht Club inaugurated this popular city tradition in 1985 and has sponsored the official Parade every year since except 2020 because of the pandemic.  The Club offers a wide variety of social activities for boaters and non-boaters alike.  The Club was established in 1979 and welcomes new members every month. 

Chesapeake Bay Magazine

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• Bay Boating
• Events & Features

Lighted Boat Parades Start Earlier than Ever in 2023

The new Deep Creek Parade of Lights will be the earliest holiday lighted boat parade.

For more than 40 years on the Chesapeake Bay, boat owners have been rigging their vessels up with Christmas lights and parading them around on cold winter nights. And the lighted boat parades you can find in so many Bay port towns just seem to continue to grow in popularity.

New boat parades have been established in recent years. In addition to the long-established parades, Middle River started one up six years ago. Bear Creek, off the Patapsco River, began a parade four years ago. The Bohemia River Boaters Lighted Boat Parade in Chesapeake City, Maryland, began last year and is returning for its second annual event.

And on Deep Creek off the Magothy River, nearly two dozen boats will participate in the very first running of the Deep Creek Parade of Lights—an event that distinguishes itself as the earliest lights parade to kick off the holiday season on the Bay. It’s scheduled for this Saturday, Nov. 11, at 6 p.m.

It was the brainstorm of local community leader Jack Bahen in Arnold, Maryland, just north of Annapolis. Teaming up with waterfront restaurant Donnelly’s Dockside, Bahen has organized 22 boats and counting into a parade that will start in the Lake Placid Channel, go to the mouth of Deep Creek, and end at Donnelly’s for an ugly holiday sweater party afterwards.

Bahen says the early date was chosen in hopes of milder weather, making the parade more doable for smaller boats and center-consoles. He also hoped to avoid conflicts with the Bay’s many other parades.

Donnelly’s Dockside has 22 slips, and organizers ask that outside slips be saved for the larger boats participating in the parade. Inside slips are for boats up to 25 feet. Chesapeake Bay Magazine recently tried out Donnelly’s for a Dock & Dine you can see here .

Whether you’re inspired to kick off lights parade season on Deep Creek, or you’re looking for a new parade to cruise to this year, here’s our full list of lighted boat parades on the Chesapeake.

Let us know if we’ve missed your favorite parade of lights by emailing  [email protected] .

Deep Creek Parade of Lights , Nov. 11, 6pm beginning at Lake Placid.

Details are above. For a map and notes on where participants should go, see Magothy River Association’s Facebook post.

Middle River Parade of Lighted Boats , Nov. 25, 5:30-8pm at Stansbury Yacht Basin.

Touted as one of the five largest lighted boat parades in the country and the largest in the mid-Atlantic, up to 90 boats are expected to participate in Middle River’s 35th parade.

Pasadena Lighted Boat Parade , Nov. 25, 5-9pm beginning on Nabbs Creek. The annual boat parade starts in Nabbs Creek, near the Broken Oar Bar & Grill, goes up and down Stoney Creek, and ends on Rock Creek at PYY Marine.

Bohemia River Boaters Lighted Boat Parade in Chesapeake City , Dec. 2, 5-11pm at Chesapeake Inn & Marina.

In this second annual parade, boats will run down the C&D Canal headed into the basin at approximately 5:30pm. A heated tent will be set up for an after party at the Chesapeake Inn where prizes will be awarded. If you come, canned goods will be collected for a local church’s food pantry.

Baltimore Parade of Lighted Boats , Dec. 3, 6-8pm at Anchorage Marina.

Baltimore’s 35th annual lights parade will be visible along the waterfront promenade from Canton to Fells Point and the Inner Harbor. The parade is sponsored by Anchorage Marina and Sail Baltimore. Free dockage for participants is included at Anchorage Marina.

Bear Creek Lighted Boat Parade , Dec. 2, 5pm at Hard Yacht Cafe.

Organized by the Bear Creek Sailing Association, this parade is back for its fourth year. It will start and end at the Hard Yacht Cafe, going out of the creek and through the Peninsula Expressway drawbridge. Viewing spots include Peach Orchard Park, Inverness Park, local restaurants and both Peninsula and Wise Avenue bridges.

Christmas in St. Michaels Lighted Boat Parade , Dec. 9, 6pm at St. Michaels Harbor.

This lighted boats parade is part of the Hallmark Movie-esque, weekend-long Christmas in St. Michaels event. Breakfast with Santa, decorated homes tours, musical performances, and more will get you in the spirit for this parade, visible up and down the St. Michaels waterfront.

Eastport Yacht Club Lights Parade , Dec. 9, 6-8 pm at Spa Creek Bridge, Annapolis.

See the more than 40-year tradition EYC Lights Parade for yourself. Two fleets participate and switch places mid-event: one circling in front of Eastport, the City Dock and the Naval Academy seawall, the other circling the length of Spa Creek, inside the bridge.

Solomons Lighted Boat Parade , Dec. 10, 6pm at Solomons Island Yacht Center.

Part of the Solomons Christmas Walk festivities, the lights parade begins at dusk is expected to arrive at the Riverwalk around 7:15 p.m. Coordinated by Solomons Island Yacht Club, Southern Maryland Sailing Association, Patuxent River Sail and Power Squadron, Solomons Yachting Center and Sail Solomons, this parade caps off a day of Christmas Walk events including a new vendor village in 2023.

Deale Parade of Lights ,  Dec. 12, 6pm, at Rockhold Creek.

This Tuesday night event puts lighted boats on display in a parade beginning at Hidden Harbor (or Happy Harbor or Shipwright Marina, for the boats who can’t fit under the bridge). For the first time, the community will choose the best in show by submitting their favorites online, so be sure to watch the whole parade.

Washington D.C.

The District’s Holiday Boat Parade , Dec. 2, 6-9pm at The Wharf District Pier

It’s the 30th anniversary of the District’s Holiday Boat Parade presented by Washington Gas. Celebrate the holidays with this iconic DC event that features over 60 beautifully decorated boats parading along the Washington Channel. There will be ornament decorating and face painting at Recreation Pier, s’mores at the Camp Wharf fire pit and a lighted 45-foot Christmas tree. The Wharf Ice Rink will be open on Transit Pier.

Colonial Beach Lighted Boat Parade , Nov. 25, 5-7pm at Potomac River Marker #2.

This lighted boat parade organized by Colonial Yacht Club begins at Marker #2, just off of the Colonial Beach Point. An after party will be held at Dockside Restaurant and Tiki Bar, with winners announced at 7:30 p.m. and cash prizes handed out.  

Lights on the Creek Parade , Nov. 25, 5-6:30pm, on the Rappahannock River in Irvington.

The Rappahannock River Yacht Club hosts this parade open to members and non-members, no registration required. A BYOB after party will start at the club at 7pm (registration required) which includes chili, cornbread, salad and dessert.

Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade , Dec. 2, 6-8pm at the Yorktown Waterfront.

This year marks the 27th annual Yorktown Lighted Boat Parade. Pre-parade festivities begin at 6 p.m. and include caroling around the lights, a musical performance by the Fifes and Drums of York Town, and complimentary hot cider.

Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights , Dec. 2, 5:30-8 pm

Old Town Alexandria’s historic waterfront will shine for the 23rd annual Alexandria Holiday Boat Parade of Lights sponsored by Amazon. Beginning at 5:30, dozens of brightly lit boats will cruise along one mile of the Potomac River shoreline. In Waterfront Park from 2 to 8 p.m., parade-goers can enjoy a pop-up beer garden from Port City Brewing Company, food, activities and more. Watch boats arriving from the North Waterfront at Canal Center and Oronoco Bay Park parade assembly and take in artist vendors, music, food and drink, interactive demonstrations and kids activities.

Downtown Hampton Lighted Boat Parade , Dec. 16, 6-7:30pm at 710 Settlers Landing Rd.

The Hampton River will come to life as a fleet of decorated boats parade past the Downtown Hampton waterfront. The boats will make two laps for better viewing. The parade, presented by Towne Bank, concludes with an awards ceremony at 8:00 pm as Santa makes a dockside visit to meet with children.

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California's Boating & Fishing News

This is the 60th Annual L.A. Harbor Holiday Afloat parade which is also a fundraiser and toy drive. Image courtesy of Harbor Parade Planning Committee

‘Tis the Season: A List of Southern California’s 2022 Holiday Boat Parades

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA— It is once again the most wonderful time of the year. Southern California celebrates it on the water with festive holiday boat parades up and down the coast. The  Log  has made its list and checked it twice— here are all the holiday boat parades from San Diego up to Santa Barbara.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY

52 nd San Diego Bay Parade of Lights

Date: Dec. 11 and 18

Time: 5:30 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: The San Diego Bay Parade of Lights 2022 theme is FantaSEA on the Bay. The parade route starts at Shelter Island and travels west past Harbor Island, then south along the Embarcadero, Seaport Village, and Cesar Chavez Park before turning parallel with the Coronado Bridge to the west side of the bay. The parade then proceeds past the Coronado Ferry Landing to the finish line. It takes about two hours to complete the procession, and there are many comfortable waterfront viewpoints along the route. Viewing areas span across multiple areas of the San Diego Bay. Prepare for traffic and parking ahead of time. The approximate arrival time of the parade at various locations are:

• Shelter Island (start of parade) 5:30 p.m.
• Harbor Island 6:00 p.m.
• The Embarcadero 6:30 p.m.
• Seaport Village 7:00 p.m.
• The Pier at Cesar Chavez Park 7:15 p.m.
• Ferry Landing on Coronado 7:30 p.m.

For more information and parade details, visit sdparadeoflights.org . For those interested in becoming a sponsor, contact Larry Baumann at [email protected] .

Missions Bay Christmas Boat Parade of Lights

Date: Dec. 10

Time: 5:30-9 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: Mission Bay will have festive viewing areas along the parade route. Enjoy views of the decorated boats while you enjoy holiday Mission Bay hospitality, including food and beverage service, holiday music, bonfire seating, entertainment for kids, giveaways, and a visit from Santa. The parade celebration will kick off at 5:50 p.m. in the bay behind SeaWorld, where guests can watch the fireworks. The boats will then depart for:

– The Dana on Mission Bay which has viewing points,

– Bahia Resort and Paradise Point Resort & Spa, which have viewing points on each side,

– Mission Bay Yacht Club (no viewing point),

– Catamaran Resort Hotel & Spa, which will have viewing points,

– And will finish at the Mission Bay Beach Club, which has viewing points.

For a map of the parade route or more information, visit  https://www.discovermissionbay.org/boat-parade-2022/ .

Oceanside Harbor Parade of Lights

  Date: Dec. 10

Time: 7-9 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: The parade will take place at the Oceanside Harbor. It is recommended that you arrive early as this is a popular event. There are several parking lots located throughout Oceanside Harbor. Please read all parking signs since each area has different restrictions. Give yourself plenty of time to park and walk to the viewing area—View  City of Oceanside Parking Map . Guests can bring lawn chairs but are asked not to block walking pathways. For more information, contact the Oceanside Yacht club at (760) 722-5751 or visit https://visitoceanside.org/blog/oceanside-harbor-parade-of-lights/ .

ORANGE COUNTY

47 th Dana Point Harbor Boat Parade of Lights

Date: Dec. 9-11

Time: 7 p.m. on Dec. 9 and 6 p.m. on Dec 10-11

Route/Viewing/Details: The Harbor’s anticipated 47th annual Boat Parade of Lights will have a “Surfin’ USA” theme. Boaters will decorate their vessels to the parade theme for a chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes across several award categories, courtesy of Dana Point Harbor Partners. Award categories include Best Use of Theme, People’s Choice, Supervisor’s Cup, Mayor’s Cup, and more. Boaters can sign up at The Marina at the Dana Point office.

The City of Dana Point’s Jolly Trolley will run from 5 – 10:30 pm on Dec. 9 and from 4:30 -10 pm on Dec. 10 & 11. Visit the  Dana Point Harbor Partners website  to view the trolley routes throughout the Boat Parade of Lights. Visitors are encouraged to park throughout the Harbor and at Doheny State Beach and catch the free Jolly Trolley shuttle to the Harbor. The best areas to view the parade include Harbor walkways on the Wharf near Wind & Sea, The bridge, and the island.

114 th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights

Date: Dec. 14-18

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: The 114th Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade will move through the Newport Harbor. With the leadership of The Commodores Club of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade Committee will continue with its parade route starting and ending point at Tip of Lido Isle. The parade will begin at approximately 6:30 p.m. each night from Dec. 14 – 18.

Parade participants will start from the east end of Lido Island following the celebrated route, with the first public viewing destination at Marina Park. The community park offers 177 parking spaces. It is also the largest public viewing area along the parade route, creating an optimal location to gather and enjoy the festivities.

Residents and visitors will have optimal viewing of the beautifully decorated yachts, boats, kayaks, and canoes that sail in the parade from the Dine & Watch waterfront and Dine & Walk dining options within walking distance of the many public viewing spots. Please reference the  printable site map  with the times the parade passes various destination points. The boat parade features an unforgettable firework display from the Newport Pier at 6:15 p.m. on opening night and from the Balboa Pier at 9 p.m. on closing night.

60 th Annual Huntington Harbour Boat Parade

  Date: Dec. 10-11

Time: 5:15 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: The parade will line up at 4:30 p.m. and will take off at exactly 5:15 p.m. The parade will start across from Humboldt Island and will finish at Coral Bay. A map can be downloaded from the 2022 Boat Parade website. There is limited parking and public viewing at beaches only. You can also watch the boat parade live on Facebook. For more information, visit https://www.hhboatparade.org/#about .

 24 th Annual Villa Park Dry Land Boat Parade

Date: Dec. 11

Time: 5 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: Parade-goers can watch around the entire route, including Villa Park High School and Villa Park Elementary. The parade route is as follows: Start on Taft; left on Center; right on Serrano; right on Lemon; left on Taft; right on Ludwig; left on Santiago; right on Patrician; left on Ballet; right on Marion; right on Carmel; left on Durfee; right on Lemon; left on Santiago; left on Center; right on Francisco; left on Vida; right on Fernando; right on Laconia; left on Aberdeen; right on Providence; right on Lincoln; left on Center; left on Santiago; right on Santiago; right on Taft; end at VP High. For more information, visit https://www.vpcsfoundation.org/ .

LOS ANGELES COUNTY

60 th Marina del Rey Holiday Boat Parade

Time: 6-9 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: The parade route will take place through the main channel of Marina del Rey harbor. Viewing locations are located at Burton Chase Park at 13650 Mindanao Way and Fisherman’s Village at 13755 Fiji Way. The parade will feature boats adorned with lights and decorations to celebrate the winter holiday season, festive drinks and food options, and entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. Before the parade, a five-minute firework show will take place from 5:55-6 p.m. on the jetty near the entrance of the main channel. Event Parking is available between $5 and $15 in County lots.  Pay stations take cash and Visa/Mastercard.  The public parking lots are closest to Burton Chace Park. For more information on the event, please visit  https://mdrboatparade.org/parade-detail/ .

King Harbor Holiday Boat Parade

Route/Viewing/Details: The 2022 theme is, Into the Lights – Honoring First Responders and the Medical Profession for the sacrifices they have made during these times of COVID-19. The best viewing spots are at Moonstone Park and parts south on Mole B – Note that usually, the parade does not go out to the pier. For more information, please visit https://kingharborboatparade.org/ .

60 th Annual L.A. Harbor Holiday Afloat Parade

Date: Dec. 3

Time: 6-8 p.m.; pre-parade events begin at 4 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: This year’s theme is ‘Candy Cane.’ The parade of brightly lit and decorated boats will be on Dec. 3, beginning at 6 p.m. in the Port of LA’s East Basin and ending at approximately 8:30 p.m. in the Cabrillo Marinas in the Port’s outer harbor. A Port Police boat will head the lineup that includes Grand Marshal Mike Lansing of the LA Harbor Boys and Girls Club. Nick Velazquez – a Banning high school senior member of the Wilmington Club for the past 12 years and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s PACIFIC REGION “Youth of the Year” will be our Junior Grand Marshall. The tall ships  Irving Johnson  and  Exy Johnson , the LAFD fireboat, other harbor working vessels, the parade’s banner boat, and approximately 60 decorated recreational boats will be participating.

Officially entered, decorated boats will be judged in several categories by panels of judges at three locations along the parade route, including the Battleship IOWA, which will host children from the Boys & Girls Club who will select the winner of the Children’s Choice Award and Cabrillo Marinas in the Outer Harbor. Skippers wishing to compete for an award can fill out the application on the website, at a skippers’ meeting, or send a completed application by mail or fax. In addition, entry forms will be available at all marinas and yacht clubs in the Port of LA during November.

Non-judged, decorated boats are welcome to join the parade. However, it is highly recommended that skippers who plan to participate attend the skippers’ meeting at the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club on Nov. 28 and Dec. 1, from 6:30–8:30 p.m., for current parade route information and instructions from the Port Police

Winning entries will be announced, and awards will be presented at the Skippers’ Breakfast and Awards Presentation on Sunday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. at the Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, 211 W. 22nd Street in San Pedro.

Sponsored by the Port of Los Angeles, the parade starts in the East Basin near California Yacht Marina Berth 202 in Wilmington. It takes approximately 90 minutes to cover the entire parade route up the Port of Los Angeles Main Channel.

Parade schedule:

6:15 – 7:00 p.m.: Berth 202 California Yacht Marina-Wilmington, proceeding down Main Channel towards Vincent Thomas Bridge

6:45 – 7:30 p.m.: Cruise Ship Plaza, Battleship Iowa (Judges Station), LA Maritime Museum, Port Police Dock proceeding towards Ports O’ Call

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.: West Harbor (old Ports O’ Call Viewing Areas)

7:45 – 8:15 p.m.: Warehouse 1, SS Lane Victory

8:00 – 8:30 p.m.: Cabrillo Marinas (Judges Stations), 22nd Landing, END

Spectators may view the procession from several points along the Main Channel, including:

• Battleship IOWA, 250 S. Harbor Blvd, San Pedro
• Ports O’ Call Village, 1100 Nagoya Way, San Pedro
• Cruise Ship Promenade, Harbor Boulevard and Swinford Street, San Pedro
• Downtown Harbor, between Fire Station 112 and LA Maritime Museum, San Pedro
• 22nd Street Landing, 141 W. 22nd Street, San Pedro
• SS Lane Victory, Berth 46, at the end of Miner Street, San Pedro
• Cabrillo Marina, Holiday Harbor, and Cabrillo Way Marina, San Pedro

The annual LA Harbor Holiday Afloat parade is a fundraiser and toy drive. All toys and proceeds go to harbor area youth organizations and nonprofits for their holiday events. Whether you participate in the parade or not, please consider making an online or by-mail donation or dropping off toys at the Skippers’ Breakfast, Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, California Yacht Marina – Cabrillo Marina, or Pacific Yacht Landing, Berth 203, Wilmington. Toys and funds will be distributed during the second week of December.

For more information, call text, or email:

Henry J. Rivas 323-487-2101  [email protected]

Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club 310-519-1694  [email protected]

VENTURA COUNTY

56 th Annual Channel Islands Harbor Parade of Lights

Time: 7 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: The theme is “Let It Glow.” Entrants are asked to decorate their vessels as brightly as possible with a holiday twist. In addition, there will be free photos with Santa and 36 tons of snow. Pre-parade festivities at the Harbor begin a Harbor View Park at 12 p.m., just south of Marine Emporium Landing. Take your family and enjoy a variety of food options, a holiday artists’ market, live music, and children’s activities. The parade can be viewed from parks and walkways that line the route and from most Harbor restaurants. In addition, boat charters are available for those who want to watch the parade from the water. The parade starts in front of Peninsula Park and heads to the Main Channel, turns at Hobie Beach, loops in front of the launch ramp, then heads back to Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club and repeats the route for a second run. For more information, please visit  https://www.channelislandsharbor.org/event/56th-annual-parade-of-lights/ .

Parade of Lights — Ventura Harbor Village

Date: Dec. 16-17

Time: Pre-parade activities from 4-6:30 p.m.; boat parade beings at 6:30 p.m.

Route/Viewing/Details: The boat parade will make two laps throughout the Ventura Harbor and will conclude at 8 p.m. with a firework show (look northwest for best viewing). The 2022 theme is Parade of Lights— Out of This World and viewers can catch the parade all along the waterfront.  For more information, please visit https://www.venturaharborvillage.com/parade-of-lights/ .

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY

36 th Annual Holiday Parade of Lights at the Santa Barbara Harbor

Route/Viewing/Details: The Human-Powered category competition will be held during daylight at 4 p.m. Dozens of standup paddlers and kayakers dressed in festive attire will loop the harbor and Stearns Wharf spreading cheer for all to hear. At 5 p.m., a tree lighting ceremony, complete with holiday tunes sung by the Dos Pueblos Jazz Choir, will be held on Stearns Wharf next to the Sea Center. Then, at 5:30 p.m., around 30 illuminated watercrafts will light up the night as they make their way from Ledbetter Beach down the coast to the Cabrillo Arts Pavilion, then back along the coast to Stearns Wharf.

A brief fireworks show will cap off the parade. Best viewing locations for the boat parade and fireworks include Stearns Wharf, the breakwater, West Beach, and East Beach. For more information, contact Waterfront Public Information Officer Chris Bell at   [email protected] or visit https://santabarbaraca.gov/events/santa-barbara-harbor-parade-lights .

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Boat Parade

…to everyone who came out to watch or participate in the 49 th Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday, December 9 th , 2023. This lighted, nautical event celebrated the spirit of the holidays, and with the help of our fourteen sponsors raised $15,000 for youth sailing scholarships at the Clearwater Community Sailing Center for young people from the Boy & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast! We would like to extend a special thanks to Laura Moody of Fox13 Tampa Bay who was once again our Grand Marshal aboard Lance Becatti and Jay Coats’ 82’ Monte Fino Yacht Andiamo throughout the parade, and for having CYC on FOX13 News, December 8 th to promote the parade and present the “big check” on live TV!”

Check out this article too!

Drone Footage of the 2021 CYC Boat Parade

Dear Boat Captain,

Join us for the 50th annual holiday boat parade hosted by the Clearwater Yacht Club. This spectacular boat parade is a lighted, nautical event celebrating the spirit of the holidays on the water. CYC is delighted to have you, your boat, and your enthusiastic crew participating in the 2024 CYC Boat Parade.

The competition is growing and so are the categories this year.

Important Mandatory Captain’s Meeting

P.S. There will be a mandatory pre-parade Captain’s meeting Thursday, December 8, 2022, @ 6:00 pm at Clearwater Yacht Club, 830 South Bayway Blvd., downstairs in the drydock area.

A pre-parade captain’s meeting is scheduled at Clearwater Yacht Club, 830 South Bayway Blvd., Clearwater, on Thursday, December 8, 2022. The meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m. Parade information instructions, route map, and boat numbers will be given to the Captain. Refreshments are served compliments of Clearwater Yacht Club. All Captains must attend this important meeting . The meeting attendance has grown to the extent we must restrict attendance to Captain and First Mate ONLY . If you cannot attend, please have a crew member there. Thanks.

Parade Prizes

Powerboats 30’ & Over

• Powerboats 29’ & Under
• Overall Best in the Parade

Awards Guideline

This is a Holiday event and many boats will carry this appropriate theme. However, we encourage you to select your own boat theme. If you want to decorate in another theme, go for it! It is up to you and your crew to be creative, be appropriate and, most of all, have fun creating a theme and decorating your boat the way you want.

Get your crew together now and begin planning how you will transform your boat into something special for the children, the families, the community, and the judges and for yourself. However, whatever you do

HAVE A SAFE AND WONDERFUL PARADE

Registration & Waiver Form

Agreement to assume risk and hold harmless.

In consideration of being permitted to participate in the Clearwater Yacht Club Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade, and being fully knowledgeable of the risks while boating day or night, I agree that the above listed vessel is in compliance with the United States Coast Guard Regulations pertaining to the requirements to carry, store, maintain and use the safety equipment required by the U.S. Coast Guard and to hold harmless Clearwater Yacht Club, their Officers, Directors, and the event committee in the performance of their duties from any and all damages, losses, claims, suits, actions, expenses, or liabilities which may directly or indirectly arise from my participation in the Clearwater Yacht Club Annual Holiday Lighted Boat Parade.

By typing my name below, I understand and agree that this form of electronic signature has the same legal force and effect as a manual signature.

“Our cruising fleet is excited to light up the water again during the Holiday Boat Parade, and it’s going to be an amazing evening with Laura Moody as Grand Marshall for this premier community event. Look for Laura Moody as Grand Marshall on the 82’ Monte Fino Yacht Andiamo throughout the parade”.

The 2023 grand marshall will be laura moody of fox13 tampa bay..

The parade launches just north of the Mandalay channel bridge, following its traditional route heading north, then through the Island Estates community, then to the Memorial Causeway bridge, then back towards the beach, turning around at the City Fuel Dock, and then down to the judging area in front of the Clearwater Yacht Club. Boats will be judged as they pass by the Clearwater Yacht Club. Cash, trophies, and prizes will be awarded for several categories, including a Grand Prize.

CYC Parade Route

Levels of Sponsorship

• For sponsorship opportunities please email [email protected] .

PremiumSponsor – $2,500

Diamond – $1,200

Platinum – $750

Gold – $500

Silver – $250

Slip Information

The Clearwater Municipal Beach Marina has limited overnight slip available for the night of the parade on a first-come, first-served basis for parade participants who prefer not to navigate home after the parade.

For general boat parade information, email us at [email protected] .

Clearwater Yacht Club wishes you and your family the happiest holiday season, and we look forward to your spirited participation in this fun event!

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New York Yacht Club wins third consecutive Hinman Masters Trophy

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By New York Yacht Club

Twenty-five short-course races in three days in winds that rarely topped 10 knots are more than enough to fray the nerves of the most experienced and tranquil sailor. But when it came down to brass tacks on the final day of the  Hinman Masters Team Race , held this past weekend at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court in Newport, R.I., the key was to forget what was on the line and all the hard work required to get to that point and stay calm. “When you’re thinking about that kind of a situation, where everybody’s finishing at the same time in an important race, you’re really trying to relax and just make your boat stay in the right spot, be legal, not foul, and get across the line in front of the competition,” says Brian Doyle (above, center), who led the host New York Yacht Club to its third consecutive win. “When it’s that close, and everyone’s shooting the line, you never know how the results are going to come out. But we came out on top by inches.”

The race Doyle references was sailed earlier today between Southern Yacht Club and New York Yacht Club. After three grueling round robins among all eight teams and going into a mini round robin among the top four teams, Southern and New York were tied at the sharp end of the leaderboard with 17 points apiece. In this race, the advantage repeatedly shifted between the two teams. As all six boats approached the finish line, it was impossible to tell which team had the edge. The race turned on the battle for fifth place, which was ultimately decided within feet of the finish line. While each team still had two races remaining, the odds for the overall win had tipped decidedly in favor of the New York Yacht Club, which secured the victory by splitting its final two races. Southern Yacht Club finished second—on the podium for the fifth straight year. Eastport Yacht Club took third and Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club finished fourth.

The New York Yacht Club helped usher in a new era of adult team racing with the creation of the  New York Yacht Club Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Commodore George R. Hinman Masters Trophy  in 2000. That race, which requires skippers to be at least 45 years of age and crew to be over 40, was soon followed by the  New York Yacht Club Invitational Team Race Regatta for the Morgan Cup , an all-ages event, in 2003 and, in 2010, the  New York Yacht Club Grandmasters Team Race Regatta , which mandates skippers be at least 60 years of age and crew at least 50. The three team races are traditionally held over consecutive weekends in August at the New York Yacht Club Harbour Court, using the Club’s fleet of 22 Sonar keelboats, and annually attract some of the best adult team racers in the United States and Europe. New York Yacht Club Regatta Association sponsors for 2024 include  Helly Hansen ,  Peters & May ,  Hammetts Hotel  and  Safe Harbor Marinas .

To a spectator, team racing can seem loud and contentious, which is at least partially due to the quantity of starts, mark roundings and finishes that go into an average day. There’s simply a lot more racing, in tight quarters, on short courses, than in a typical fleet-race regatta. For the victorious New York Yacht Club team, however, the key to success lay in familiarity and quiet.

“Our team’s been sailing together for several years, and we work really well together,” says Doyle. “We know what each other’s going to do. There’s not a lot of conversation between boats or even on the boats. We’re just boathandling well and consistently making moves to move up our teammates. And with that kind of teamwork, it works out well in the end.”

Of the 13 sailors who raced on Doyle’s squad this year, six raced together in the previous three editions of the Hinman Masters while another three sailed two of the previous three years. That experience and trust was essential for a regatta with predominantly light and variable winds.

“No win was ever secure, because as soon as you turned downwind, anything could happen,” says Doyle. “[On the final day] we had the wind coming over Goat Island, which made it even more tenuous, puffy and shifty all the way down the run. It didn’t matter if you were 1-2-3 [at the top mark], you could get overtaken.”

With the win, its ninth in the 25-year-history of the regatta, the New York Yacht Club widened its commanding lead in the overall win column. Southern stands second, with four. But the competition this year was as close as ever, a testament to the continued interest in this discipline and the growing collective skill level of the competitors.

“Adult team racing, though 25 years of the Hinman Masters, has grown substantially,” says Doyle. “It’s really exciting. There’s more and more clubs now with fleets of boats, particularly Sonars, which is great, because they maneuver well and they’re great for team racing. We just heard that some more yacht clubs are purchasing fleets this year, so adult team racing is going to continue to grow.”

The New York Yacht Club’s 2024 team racing schedule will conclude with the  New York Yacht Club Grandmasters Team Race , which starts on Friday, August 23, and runs through Sunday. Ten teams are scheduled to participate in this event, which mandates that skippers be at least 60 years of age and crew 50 or older.

Winning New York Yacht Club team, above with former Commodore George R. Hinman Jr. (left) and Vice Commodore Clare G. Harrington (right): Brian Doyle (skipper & team captain), Whitney Rugg, Hannah Swett, Shane Wells, Steve Kirkpatrick (skipper), Alice Leonard, Zachary Leonard, Whitney Peterson, Jane Kirkpatrick, Chris McDowell (skipper), Libby Toppa, Brett Davis and Sam Septembre.

New York Yacht Club Invitational Team Race Regatta  for the Commodore George R. Hinman Masters Trophy August 16 to 18 New York Yacht Club Harbour Court Newport, R.I. Final Results Click  here  for scoring matrix and race-by-race results

1. New York (N.Y.) Yacht Club – Doyle, 19 wins; 3. Southern Yacht Club, New Orleans, La., 18 win; 3. Eastport (Md.) Yacht Club, 16 wins; 4. Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club, Centre Island, N.Y., 16 wins; 5. New York (N.Y.) Yacht Club – Singsen, 9 wins; 6. Annapolis (Md.) Yacht Club, 7 wins; 7. Riverside Yacht Club, Greenwich, Conn., 7 wins; 8. St. Petersburg (Fla.) Yacht Club, 4 wins. Photos: Stuart Streuli / New York Yacht Club

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