The 20th Annual Sausalito Lighted Boat Parade and Fireworks was without a doubt one of the best yet. Starting off with the 164' Invader as the Grand Marshall, the 40+ boats that out did themselves with the decorations and then the show from White Holly. The scoring was so close it was heartbreaking to have to choose winners. They were all winners Saturday night. The break in the weather was a blessing and the moon behind the fireworks spectacular made the evening magical.

Following are the list of winners. . . . You can click here for Photos!

1st in Sail: Tambadil: 43" Hans Christian Cutter moored on Libertyship dock in Sausalito. Chad & Carolyn Carvey, they are in the planning stage fro a circumnavigation. They are members of the Seven Seas Association and Ocean Cruising Club.

2nd Sail: Tanagra, 37' Furia sloop moored in the Berkeley Marina and member Sausalito Cruising Club & Modern Sailing. Racer/cruisr bilt in Spain, current owner, Mindy Oppenheim,saw the boat in Miami and fell in love with her. Moved her to the Bay Area 2005. Mindy is a part-time instructor for Modern Sailing Academy.

3rd Sail: tie between Lono & Music.Lono is a 36', 1978 Cheoy Lee Luders moored in the Sausalito Yacht Harbor and owner Bill Evans is a memvber of the Sausalito YAcht Club and the Lighted Boat Parade Committee. The two years the parade was called due to weather Bill was the only boat to come out the first time and one of five who braved the elements the second time. They were the Aliens.

3rd Sail: Music at 37.5', 1987 Hunter that has appeared in nearly every parade. Phil DeGaa lives in Sacramento but comes to play nearly every year. The boat is moored in the Pt. Richmond Marina and he is a member of the Pt. Richmond Yacht Club.

1st Power:Unwined a 32' Grand Banks moored in the Sausalito Yacht Harbor. This was a collaborative effort by owners Meliss Prandi & Jack Damato with Gail Ward and J Rigler, who won last year with their boat in sail, as a fundraiser for the fireworks. Their theme was, Santa Claus is coming to town more naughty then nice.

2nd posre: Five Stars a 75' Custom yacht built in 1982 and moored in the Schoonmaker Marina and is available for charter, 415-332-3150. Owner John Scopazzi donated the use of the boat to SF Bay Adventures & the Chamber of Commerce.

3rd Power: Buzmechen a 50' Ocean Alexander 90 moored in the Sausalito Yacht Harbor and owned by Don & Jenny Seyranian. This is a family effort, the second time they have entered and second time they have won.

Commodores Trophy went to the smallest boat in the parade, Skijay a 20' Searay owned by CJ SPady & Matt Busse, moored in Clipper Yacht Harbor. Theme, Santa Penguins coming to town.

Peoples Choice Award: Theme,Famiglia Santa a 35' trawler built in 1926 by Pasquanucci Brothers in Sausalito with a traditional style Monterey fishing boat conversion. Owner Heather Richards and moored in Galilee Harbor. Theme with the Pilot Houses from the Ferryboat Issaquah, built in 1914.

Sweepstakes Winner: White Holly a 1944, 133' Navy Vessel owned by Vincent Backen and now used as a research/education vessel, moored at th Bay Model. The boat was entered by the Bay Model Association and Vincent. Theme: Flame of Christmas Spirit was a collaborative effort of 300 artists. this was the second time Vince enetred. He had a 30' tongue of flames shooting out of the bow last time. Joanne called to warn me we hadn't seen anything yet and she was right. I don't think anyone was prepared for that show. especially our neighbors on Belvedere who called in a terrorist attack. I guess I should have notified them about the fireworks at least. There is no way I could have described the show from White Holly. They are joining the Sausalito Yacht Club to become more actively involved and told me as long I was approving they had more of a show that we saw last Saturday night.

The 21st Annual Lighted Boat Parade & Fireworks will be on the second Saturday in December 2009.

We just may have to add a spring lighted boat parade to provide a venue for their talents.

Thanks again for your efforts.