by Ed Herndon

Once again the competition in the annual Clear Lake Christmas Boat Parade was fierce. As we finished there was high anxiety among our crew and our loyal TMCA crowd gathered at Seabrook Shipyard to view the Parade.  It was a general consensus that  three of the top boats were: the Airplane, the Locomotive, and our TMCA "Santa's Fury".  Beyond those three, everyone had different favorites.

At the Award Ceremony there are about 20 groups and each group has three awards. Above these group awards are the Top Four Awards. If you have high aspirations you need to listen through all of the group awards to make sure you did NOT get a Third, Second or First place award in your group.  If you get one of these, you will NOT be in the Top Four.

About half way through the awards breakfast, the Master of Ceremonies read the description Andy Upchurch submitted with our entry form.  All this did was heighten our anticipation by three more notches. After that we waited through the first place awards. When the First place award for "Sailboats 36 feet and over"  went to another boat, we cheered as strongly as all the rest, because we did NOT win it.

We were in the top four....

This was the finishing order:

Most Artistic -- The Airplane... elegant artistic use of lights created the illusion of propeller spinning.  (Photo Right) Most Original -- The Locomotive... boat totally transformed into a steam locomotive with cow catcher, smoke out of the stack, and wheels turning in a clever light simulation. Authentic Whistle for sound effects.

Most Beautiful -- The Sun Set Fisherman.. It was a small power craft transformed into a Sun Set Scene.  It depicted a fisherman ashore and Santa with reindeer crossing the sky.

Most Outstanding -- Santa's Fury by TMCA... A wild and rollicking sleigh ride over a sleepy village below. A 26 foot structure swinging fore and aft on a 36 foot boat, contained Santa in his sleigh and eight reindeer flying high above the water.

Santa's Fury ... TMCA 2002 Boat Parade entry
Randy Russell's Flying Dolphin

Philp Kropf, Lilian and Bert Olaveri, Marion and Ed Herndon, Randy Russell and his Mom
Georgia McWilliams, Andy Upchurch, Doc Wayne Mulloy

Significant Helpers Not shown above are:
Frank Clements, Barbara Owen, Don Tonelli, Marsha Bertling, Birgit Green, JJ Wallace, Luke Sterling

Frank Legrand got us up close from Seabrook Shipyard

Here are more pictures of the construction

(left) Barbara Owen went up to attach lights around the Candy Cane supports. (below) JJ Wallace cranked her up... Don Tonelli is tailing the halyard

(above) Andy congratulates Barbara as she comes down. (right) Boat decorations almost complete.

Andy's Birthday Pizza Marion, Marsha, Monica, Andy and Georgia

"Please Marion, No More Lights!"