From The TMCA Entry Form: Christmas Boat Parade 2002

Dear Tillman,

For this year's Christmas Boat Parade, the men and women of the Texas Mariners Cruising Association (TMCA) once again draw their inspiration from, and give their thanks to, amusement parks everywhere.

WHILE STROLLING the Kemah Boardwalk with his Lady Love one mid-summer night's eve, one of our CEOs (Christmas Engineer Operative) chanced to spy an amusement ride.  It featured a large, swinging gondola which held forty hapless passengers.  It was decorated in an Egyptian theme and named Pharaoh's Fury.  Our Operative, who suffers from an over-active imagination and perhaps propelled by more than his share of Adult Beverages, was suddenly struck by a Vision.  A Vision SO POWERFUL that it stopped him dead in his tracks, and he had to sit down.  

Out came pen and napkin on which he began to scribble feverishly, accompanied by guttural, animalish sounds.  What emerged was the design for the TMCA entry in the 41st Annual Christmas Boat Lane Parade on Clear Lake.  It is based on this ride, but instead of a gondola it features a huge, swinging Santa's Sleigh, complete with eight tiny reindeer!  Built of PVC pipe and Plasticore sheets it is 26 ft. long and has a fore and aft swing of 20 feet.  Over the rooftops of a tranquil Christmas Eve village the lavishly lit structure swoops, under human power.  

The boat; a 36' Catalina sailboat named Flying Dolphin is owned by Randy Russell and was decorated in 2 weeks by about 25 friends.  It is lit by nearly 5,000 lights and is powered by 3 external generators.  The original ride that inspired the theme is named "Pharaoh's Fury".

And our Entry?  "SANTA'S FURY"

Andy Upchurch, Organizer