Parade practice makes perfect

Ahoy.

Next week is Thanksgiving, which means it is time once again to release the holiday shoppers the day-after the feast and to bring out the holiday decorations for both your boat and home.

Also, Thanksgiving weekend is a great time to go boating. You can use this weekend of cruising as a shakedown cruise in preparation for the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

Shakedown cruises are essentially voyages where you practice by testing the boat, equipment, supplies and the skills of the skipper and crew. This is the perfect opportunity to practice the parade route in daylight hours in order to learn to maneuver the turns and learn where the floating buoys and mooring cans are on the route.

Practice stopping in a narrow channel and maintaining your exact position as you will during the parade. The time to discuss with everyone how you will handle an emergency during the parade is while you’re in a relaxed, casual atmosphere -- rather than during an actual emergency.

What would you do if someone fell overboard, and what is the most readily available floating object to throw to someone?

Remember, time is of the essence because during the parade everyone is wearing heavy warm clothes and a jacket for nighttime winter cruising.

Years ago, when I taught for the Newport Sailing Club, we taught the new sailors how to tie a lifejacket near the skipper on the aft lifelines. The skipper in a flash could untie and throw the lifejacket to someone in the water.

Do you know how to drop your anchor in the dark without using the windlass?

Imagine your engines surge, then die; the electrical power goes out; steerage is zip; and you are floating uncontrollably down the harbor. Directly ahead in your drift are the moorings filled with boats, and the current is making you pick up speed. So, drop your hook -- for you landlubbers, the anchor! Sailboats will have some steerage due to their keel; however, most powerboats will be helpless to steer away.

Speaking of emergencies, now is the time to check all your lifesaving equipment and especially that you have enough lifejackets for the number of guests coming aboard for the parade.

Boat owners who normally do not have children aboard may not have the proper number of children’s lifejackets on their vessels. You have the options of the parent bringing the correct lifejacket, but you are still responsible if they bring the wrong size. You can buy a plethora of child size jackets, or your can simply stop by the Newport Harbor Patrol Office to get a lifejacket loaner. Now, you have no excuse for not having the correct size of a lifejacket aboard for child guests, and California law states that for vessels under 26, feet children must always be wearing a lifejacket.

The Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade is only 3 1/2 weeks away.

Tip of the week

Go cruising on the harbor for a couple nights before the boat parade to become familiar operating your boat in the dark and cruising at night. Always keep a flashlight at the helm, as you will notice that finding all the buttons and switches can be a challenge in the dark.

Be careful cruising at night as the harbor’s channel marker lights can become lost in the array of lights from the shore reflecting out upon the water. You think you know where those mooring cans are located, but your day landmarks are not visible at night.

Just try in the dark to stay between the unlit channels markings leading between the highway bridge and the Dunes, plus Dover Shores. Please practice, practice and practice, and besides, Newport Harbor is a beautiful harbor to cruise after dark.

Tune in to the No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation, “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show.” It airs every Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. on KCBQ-AM (1170). You can join me, Chandler Bell and Eric Hovland by calling the listener line at (888) 344-1170. Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by e-mail to mike@ boathousetv.com or visit www.boathousetv.com.

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