BREAKING

After years of winning second and third prizes in various categories, Huntington Harbour resident Joyce Smith was ecstatic to learn her boat was the big winner of this year’s Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade.

“This is great, we had no idea we were going to win the sweepstakes,” she said when she found out On Location, the 50-foot Carver motor yacht, she and her husband own, had won.

Smith and her husband Art Smith, entered the parade in 2003 and 2004, but after a one-year hiatus, were back with their boat decked out with Santa, reindeer and snowmen to complement this year’s theme, “Holiday Magic Through the Eyes of a Child.”

“It takes about a good week to do the lights,” Joyce Smith said.

It took Joyce and her husband, along with seven or eight employees, to create the winning look. But Joyce Smith said the hard work is always worth it.

“It’s a lot of work, but we have a lot of fun,” she said. “We have about 15 or 20 people come out on the boat every day and we have so much fun.”

She said the real fun is to watch her guests wave and cheer at passing boaters and parade watchers. She and her husband have a night for everyone — one night is a family night, one for the employees, one for clients and other guests.

“You feel ... not just like you’re watching the parade, but you feel like movie stars,” Joyce Smith said. “We’re waving and people are clapping and screaming and even yelling our number out ... it’s really a fun time.”

Future parade entrants beware — Joyce Smith said she and her husband plan to enter next year, too.

The On Location was also a winning boat at the Huntington Harbour Boat Parade in Huntington Beach this year.

This year’s winning boats are:

Sweepstakes winner:

Art and Joyce Smith for the On Location

Best Power Boat:

Larry and Deb Woodhams for the Tribute

Best Sailboat:

Robert Sasine and Tommy Bahamas for the Starlight

Best Boat Under 30 feet:

Peter Barbour with the D25

Lights and Animation winners:

1st place: Sasco Electric for the EL Navegante

2nd place: Steve and Marilyn Harvey for the Vitamin Sea

3rd place: Michael Walker for the Aye Object

Humor and Originality winners:

1st place: Bob Metcalf and Dave Skousen for the Scout

2nd place: Woods Maritime for the Lynx

3rd place: Daryl and LaDoris Heinly; Jeff and Mary Ann Welles; and Russ and Lynn Cline for the Watter Baby

Best Display of the Theme winners:

1st place: Scott and Betty Clarke for the Seascapes

2nd place: Emily Vogler and Dan Flynn for the Jolly Mom

3rd place: Armen Muratyan for the My Bebek

Best Music:

Donald Yahn for the Magnanimous

Best First-Time Entry:

Robert Sasine and Tommy Bahamas

Best Yacht Club Entry:

Emily Vogler and Dan Flynn, Balboa Yacht Club for the Jolly Mom

Best Electric Boat:

Daryl and LaDoris Heinly; Jeff and Mary Ann Welles; and Russ and Lynn Cline for the Watter Baby

Best Corporate Entry:

Robert Sasine and Tommy Bahamas for the Starlight