Winners take all in Newport’s boat parade and Ring of Lights contests

Red and green may be the colors of Christmas, but many boats and waterfront homes also were adorned with blue ribbons for being top entries in this year’s Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade and Ring of Lights.

The parade began Dec. 18 and ran through Sunday. Judging for the Ring of Lights home decorating contest took place Dec. 16. Both are projects of the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce.

News

After 111 years, Newport Beach still loves a boat parade

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade set sail Wednesday and continues nightly through Sunday.

Dec. 18, 2019

The winners will be feted at an awards dinner and auction beginning at 6 p.m. Jan. 31 at the Fashion Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach.

They are:

Christmas Boat Parade

• Sweepstakes Bill Lusk Award: El Navegante, Sasco/Jimmie Roblero

• Sweepstakes Non-Commercial: Paradise Found, Greg and Nor Killingsworth

• Best Powerboat: My Way, Les and Marilyn Davidson

My Way, owned by Les and Marilyn Davidson, won the Best Powerboat award in the 2019 Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

(Don Leach / Staff Photographer)

• Best Sailboat: Traveler, Michael Lawler

• Best Boat Under 30 Feet: Two Are Better Than One, Kyle Miller

• Best Music: Light the World, Church of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints

• Best Lights: First place: Titus, Jack Suddarth; second place: Alure, Lance Charlesworth; third place: Valor, American Legion Yacht Club

• Humor and Originality: First place: The Rose Maria, Ron and Rose Cram; second place: Seaswirl 2600, Steve Shimahara; third place: Sea Schooner, Travis Petty

Paradise Found, owned by Greg and Nor Killingsworth, won the Sweepstakes Non-Commercial award in Newport Beach’s Christmas Boat Parade.

(Scott Smeltzer / Staff Photographer)

• Animation and Special Effects: First place: The Last Hurrah, Rob Meadows and Cathleen Vick; second place: Seas the Day, Michael Lohman; third place: Relentless II, Jerome Shilo

• Best First-Time Entry: Zodie, Daniel Mehaignerie

• Best Yacht Club Entry: Fantail, Paul Fruchbom

• Yacht Club with the Most Entries: Balboa Yacht Club

Ring of Lights

• Sweepstakes Best Overall: Shirley Pepys, South Bay Front, Balboa Island

• Lights and Animation: First place: Dennis and Patty Vitarelli, South Bay Front, Balboa Island; second place: John and Essie Bootsma, Via Lido Nord, Lido Isle

• Best Theme: Bill and Maria Uncapher, East Bay Front, Little Balboa Island

• Chairman’s Choice: Phil and Mary Lyons, Harbor Island

• Best Traditional Lights: Janet Curci, South Bay Front, Balboa Island

• “Green” Entry Award: Bruce and Viviana Fabrizio (Simple Green), Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar

• Photographer’s Choice: Jim and Judy Busby, East Bay Front, Little Balboa Island

• Humor and Originality: Marcy Cook, South Bay Front, Balboa Island

• Rookie Award: Craig and Jamie Atkins, Via Lido Nord, Lido Isle

• Best on Lido: Dave McIntyre (Sasco), Via Lido Soud, Lido Isle

• Founder’s Award: Robert Olson, East Bay Front, Little Balboa Island

• StuNews Award: Matthew Thomas, East Edgewater, Balboa Peninsula

• Hi Tech Christmas Charm: Jim and Peggy Rich, South Bay Front, Balboa Island

• Best on Peninsula: Steve Sarkisian, East Balboa Boulevard, Balboa Peninsula

• Judge’s Award: First place: Geoff Wickett and Norm Lessard, East Bay Front, Little Balboa Island; second place: Jeanne Lewand, East Bay Front, Little Balboa Island

• Best Yacht Club: Balboa Yacht Club, Bayside Drive, Corona del Mar

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