Award winners shine bright in Newport boat parade and Ring of Lights
To the lovers of lights who saw the erupting volcano and the functional merry-go-round cruise by on yachts during the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade last month and thought, “Those yachts had to win awards” — you were right.
The Last Hurrah (with the merry-go-round) and El Navegante (with the volcano) split the parade’s Sweepstakes award, standing atop the 12 categories in the Newport holiday tradition.
On land, Balboa Island homeowners took the lion’s share of the 15-plus trophies in the Ring of Lights home decorating contest.
A dinner and auction Jan. 25 at Newport’s Fashion Island Hotel will honor the award winners in the boat parade and decorating contest, plus raise money for the 2019 parade.
Here are all the victors in the 2018 Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights, which are presented by the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce:
Boat parade
Sweepstakes (tie): The Last Hurrah, Rob Meadows and Cathy Vick; El Navegante, Sasco
Non-commercial Sweepstakes: Paradise Found, Greg and Nor Killingsworth
Best Powerboat: Two are Better Than One, Kyle Miller
Best Sailboat: Mayflower, Andrew Mayhugh
Best Boat Under 30 Feet: Seaswirl, Steve Shimahara
Best Lights: First place: Valor, Bruce Batcheller; second place: Balboa Bay Club/Alexander Marine, Balboa Bay Club/Alexander Marine/Linda Wilkinson; third place: Simply Bliss, John Saroyan
Humor & Originality: First place: Sea Schooner, Travis Petty; second place: Fan Tail Jr., Paul Fruchbom; third place: Amazing Grace, Jim and Madelyn Bailey
Animation & Special Effects: First place: Seas the Day, Michael Lohman; second place: #Lighttheworld, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; third place: Time Bandit, Richard Parenteau
Best Music: Velocity, David Jubitz and Scott Schubert
Best First-Time Entry: Mayflower, Andrew Mayhugh
Best Yacht Club Entry: Fan Tail Jr., Paul Fruchbom
Yacht Club with Most Entries: Balboa Yacht Club
Ring of Lights
Sweepstakes: Phil and Mary Lyons, Harbor Island
Lights & Animation: First place: Donna DiBari, South Bay Front, Balboa Island; second place: Dennis and Patty Vitarelli, South Bay Front, Balboa Island
Best Theme: Sasco, Via Lido Soud, Lido Isle
Chairman’s Choice: Robert Olson, East Bay Front, Balboa Island
Best Traditional Lights: Barry and Karen Meguiar, North Bay Front, Balboa Island
“Green” Entry Award: Viviana and Bruce Fabrizio, Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar
Photographer’s Choice: Jim and Judy Busby, East Bay Front, Balboa Island
Humor & Originality: Marcy Cook, South Bay Front, Balboa Island
Rookie Award: Van Natta family, South Bay Front, Balboa Island
Best on Lido: John and Essie Bootsma, Via Lido Nord, Lido Isle
Founder’s Award: Shirley Pepys, South Bay Front, Balboa Island
StuNews Award: Janet Curci, South Bay Front, Balboa Island
Best Yacht Club: Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club, Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar
Hi-Tech Christmas Charm: Jim and Peggy Rich, South Bay Front, Balboa Island
Best on Peninsula: Matthew Thomas, East Edgewater, Balboa Peninsula
Judge’s Award: First place: Geoffrey Wickett and Norm Lessard, East Bay Front, Balboa Island; second place: Bill and Maria Uncapher, East Bay Front, Balboa Island
Twitter: @Daily_PilotHD
