A View from the Deck

Boarding the Last Hurrah was how I imagine boarding the Titanic would have been.

And I don't mean all that tragic stuff that came later, but the awe and excitement that people must have felt. The excitement was the same for me on Thursday night, for I was about to to sail on the biggest and brightest vessel of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade. 

The Last Hurrah is an 84-foot, 2009 Ocean Alexander Yacht owned by Bob and Betty Meadows. Normally it is docked in Huntington Harbour, but tonight it is sailing around Newport for its third year in the parade. 

The theme this year is "Lights, Camera, Christmas in Newport Beach," and the Meadows' daughter, Cathleen Vick, wanted to ensure that the Last Hurrah was going to be the most spectacular boat in the parade. She enlisted her friend Neil Caplin, who has a background in children's theater and set design. Together they created what we see as the final outcome of a magical Santa's village behind a lighted theater marquee.

"It's a privilege to do this event, to work with a group of wonderful people, and I get to do something special for my parents," said Cathleen Vick.

It was hard to decide where I was going hang out on the boat. There are multiple levels with sitting areas and viewing points. You could rotate every 30 minutes and still not see the whole boat. Hmm ... I wonder where Leonardo DiCaprio was sitting? Oh, yeah, wrong boat. 

Captain Shaun Crossman has been at the helm of  the Last Hurrah for two years. I thought about him every time we made a turn: "How in the heck is he turning this 84-foot yacht without squashing one of the Duffys down below?" It was perplexing to me. But I decided to leave it to Shaun, a skilled helmsman, indeed. The boat sails at 4 1/2 knots—5 or 6 mph—during the parade. 

On board there was definitely a party going on that was very fitting for a boat of this size and prestige. A server in a Santa hat was asking people for their drink orders. Platters of hors d'oeuvres circled around the boat. And live music? Check! 

Up top, the band performed Christmas classics. Yes, "Feliz Navidad" sounds so much better performed on a yacht. The stage was set with a lighted Christmas background. Guests danced on a platform in front of the stage while others lined the outside of the boat waving to parade watchers on the shore below. 

The best part of the parade for me was seeing all the glowing faces staring at the Last Hurrah in amazement. I waved to kids and adults bundled up in blankets sitting on docks, to people partying on other yachts and to people on the balconies of waterfront homes. And a lot of people waved back at me.

For a moment I forgot I was in the boat parade. Was I a pageant queen in the Rose Parade? Was I the duchess of York? Was I Miley Cyrus? Seriously, this boat turns you into an instant celebrity. I must get one!

And if the lights, music and decorations weren't enough to dazzle the spectators, they were shooting the Last Hurrah T-shirts into the crowd with some sort of hand-held cannon.

Mark Freedman, vice president of business development for Morrows-Meadows, entertained audiences in the harbor with his funny personality. He even gave a shout out to my mom, who was watching from Balboa Island. "Tiffany loves you!" Mark shouted. She couldn't believe it. She was the envy among the neighbors for sure. 

The boat is a showcase for friends and family of the Meadows and for business associates of Morrows-Meadows Corp., an electrical contracting company. The name may not sound familiar, but I'm sure you know their work: USC Galen Events Center, Orange County Performing Arts Center's  Segerstrom Hall, Nokia Theater, and the Home Depot Center in Carson. OK, OK, now I get it. No wonder why this boat is so electrically spectacular. 

Robert Meadows, executive vice president of operations and son of  the Last Hurrah's owners said, "The best part is giving the viewers something unique; it's unique technology. As an electrical contractor, we wanted something that can wow the viewer."

The work to get the boat wired started in June. More than 30,000 LED lights were used.

The Meadows family had been gracious to invite me aboard. As I said my goodbyes, I couldn't help but think about how this boat made so many people smile and so many camera flashes go off. And I'm still wondering how in the heck Shaun maneuvered the mammoth yacht.