NAWILIWILI — The secret to getting a good seat is to get there really early, a resident representing several local families said Sunday. The Pia, Medeiros, Rivera, Salvador, Kaleiohi, Haumea, Asuncion and Silva families took up almost a third of
NAWILIWILI — The secret to getting a good seat is to get there really early, a resident representing several local families said Sunday.
The Pia, Medeiros, Rivera, Salvador, Kaleiohi, Haumea, Asuncion and Silva families took up almost a third of the spectator area along the jetty wall for the Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s 15th Annual Lighted Boat Parade.
Although numbers were down from previous years, seven boats, lit up in holdiay fashion, sailed across Nawiliwili Harbor. At times, the access road to the jetty area resembled a parking lot as cars lined the road trying to find a space to view the small flotilla that circled the harbor and made a sojourn into Kalapaki Bay.
“It all started in 1995 when Larry Mangold was the NYC Commandant,” said Sharon Gibson, who also serves as the NYC scorekeeper.
Gibson said they’ve been trying to get the boaters to get an earlier start in decorating the boats, but it always comes down to the day of the parade.
Bill Georgi, making his rounds in full Santa regalia, chaired the event. He walked the piers at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor before adjourning to the jetty wall viewing area for judging.
Larry Richardson of the Sea Scouts program was among the crowd at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbor where decorating was taking place.
“We just took delivery of a small sailboat on O‘ahu,” he said. “The Scouts and some of their parents just got through sailing it here from O‘ahu.”
A little further down the harbor two “Fat Elves,” fattened by Personal Flotation Devices, were trying to convince Santa to enter the Zephyr into competition.
“Santa doesn’t want to compete,” Gibson said. “He’s also known as Mike Bailey and has been part of the parade since it started 15 years ago. He just loves to come out and sail.”
Following the parade, boaters and NYC members collected at the NYC Clubhouse for its annual Christmas party.
The 2010 race series hosted by NYC starts in February.
For more information, visit www.nawiliwiliyachtclub.org.
• Dennis Fujimoto can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@kauaipubco.com
