Sailing Provides Warm Winter Glow on the Bay
While the rain and king tides are putting a damper on outdoor activity, we thought it would be nice to bring a warm winter glow to the day by sharing a few more photos from last month’s lighted boat parades. Over the holidays we received some photos of the Coyote Point and Morro Bay parades.
On December 12, Coyote Point YC brought the marina to life with its annual Lighted Boat Parade, a festive evening that drew smiles from both club members and the surrounding community. About a dozen brightly decorated boats took part, transforming the harbor into a moving display of holiday color and creativity.
The parade was led by the sheriff’s boat, which set the tone as it guided the fleet through the marina and past the club, where spectators gathered to enjoy the show. The event was well attended by members of the public, adding to the energy and sense of shared celebration along the docks.
Public voting crowned Kiva (first place), Sweet Grapes (second), and Kailani (third) as this year’s favorites, but the real prize was the spirit of the evening: good cheer, glowing boats, and a marina filled with holiday warmth. It was a simple, joyful way to celebrate the season and share CPYC’s community spirit with the wider public.
– Steve Swanson, Commodore CPYC.
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The annual Morro Bay Lighted Boat Parade on December 13 was again a great success. The event was run by the Rotary Club of Morro Bay with the help of the Morro Bay Harbor Patrol, City of Morro Bay, and Morro Bay Yacht Club. I was a judge this year and there was a lot of great spirit, decor, and creativity amongst the winners.
It was a clear night on the bay and there were only a few hitches. We had a commercial and a recreational category for prizes, and cash prizes ranging from $100-400. Go Dog Go, a well-lit catamaran, won #1 in the recreational category; Pipe Dream from Chablis Cruises took #1 for the commercial category. All of the winners were excellently decorated — it was hard to pick.
In a bit of excitement — during the parade, a sailboat, Yellow Bird, almost crashed into one of the local electric boats that people rent and decorate to enter the parade. I guess Yellow Bird’s driver didn’t realize that each of the contestants makes a loop to show off to the judges before moving on, and were in a bit of a hurry. They did make evasive maneuvers and avoided a collision.
At the end of the parade, there was a sailing dinghy with a single strand of lights and a little outboard motor that was a special delight as it was under sail. There was a possibility of a crash there too, with another impatient sailboat, the Voyager II, but both went their separate ways soon enough. I’m sure it was all in good fun.
Join us for the next Lighted Boat Parade, tentatively set for the first weekend in December.
– Jessica Bailey Weiss