TMCA wins Most Beautiful  Boat and

The League City Mayor's Trophy

by Andy Upchurch, Kind & Gentle Chairperson

This year’s parade was a smashing success and a tremendous amount of fun; and no small amount of work!  The boat was the Flying (submerging?!?) Dolphin; a Catalina 36 provided by Randy Russell.  Our theme was ‘Peace On Earth’. 

It featured a large revolving planet which rose and set on the bow and a shooting star on the stern.  The planet also had several unexplored continents upon its surface.  Continents like Karenia, Texonia, Halitosis, Outer Slobovia, Acidophilus, Flatulenturia, and Floribama.  It was designed by Ed Herndon and Bert Olivari and constructed out of PVC pipe and lit to a fare-the-well  The concept of having a large planet as the focus of this years’ parade entry actually was born at the last Commodore’s Ball.  It was conceived during the euphoria and headiness of last year’s Top Honors boat parade win and fueled by strong drink!  I thought, ‘What the hell?  If we can build a functioning Ferris wheel we can build anything!’

The planet featured it’s own moon named Utopia but dubbed the ‘wrecking ball’.  It was made out of a large beach ball, aluminum foil and a casting net. 

The shooting star was expertly designed and executed by one P. Kropf and functioned marvelously.  The light trail was a magnificent tangle of plastic garden fencing, well upholstered with lights and worked on at one time or another by just about everyone!  It featured pyrotechnics as well but they couldn’t safely be deployed due to the North Wind.  More about that later. 

Other main features on the boat were a TMCA sign which can be reused at other events such as the boat show or flea market and the Peace On Earth sign; both expertly designed and built by Bert and Lil.  The ensemble of decorations made one hell of a statement!

The Grand Erection of the planet and other structures was on Saturday Dec. 1.  They all were assembled without much fuss.  We couldn’t wait till dark!  Different ones of us kept leaving ­ and returning ­ to have just one more look!  The work was done at our staging area in Blue Dolphin Marina and was clearly visible from Highway 146.  During the next week, various modifications were made, deck lighting added, and other details performed.  

Saturday Dec. 8.  Day of the Parade.  Awoke 0700 to gentle breeze and mild temperatures.  One hour later I was on the boat in my foulies in pouring rain, sweating down the star lest it be wrested from its moorings by the norther that was howling through!  Star down and intact.  Skippers’ meeting at 0900.  Sh##ty forecast ­ wind 20 knots, rain.  We did our final decorating the rest of that morning and regrouped at the boat at 1600 to motor over to the parade head at South Shore Harbor. 

We found an empty T-head and cooled our heels until the start at 1800.  Boat Parade strategy dictates we garner a strategic place in line with nobody prettier than us in front of or behind ­ in short, ‘get between some dogs’!

This we accomplished, and set off in a glorious cacophony of lights, noise and confusion.  Just out of South Shore Harbor:  Aground.  That north wind just played havoc with our decorations ­ they posed considerable windage and side slippage.  Skilled helmsman Randy backed us off without too much of a fuss and we were again underway. 

Then, in the wasteland between South Shore and Clear Lake Shores, aground again.  We got ourselves out of that one, too.  The third time, we weren’t so lucky.  We ploughed our way into thick mud and slid to a halt.  A large sailboat immediately behind us met the same fate, coming to rest just a couple of feet away.  20 minutes of skillful maneuvering, ballast shifting, and swearing availed us nothing and we finally accepted a tow thoughtfully provided free of charge from Towboats US.

Now for the show!  The spectators were thick from Clear Lake Shores to the end.  We passed the judges with all action toys a-working ­ planet spinning, star shooting, the works!  Portofino got the same treatment ­ many friends in attendance!  The crowds at the restaurant were 10 deep and erupted into thunderous applause as we passed ­ and then we HIT THE BOARDWALK!  Only our pride was wounded; the boat was OK.  We managed to get out to the first set of markers, spun wildly in the swells and wind and made a break for Blue Dolphin where we arrived without further mishap.  A long day but Great Fun! 

We found out the good news the following day at the awards brunch ­ We won ‘Most Beautiful in the Parade’ and we also won the League City Mayor’s Award. 

The boat that won ‘Best Overall’ was a gigantic motor yacht which featured a tribute to September 11; complete with the New York skyline (and the World Trade Towers). It was  very beautifully and tastefully done in lights.  They deserved it.

AND SO a fitting reward for us!  About 20 of us worked on the parade.  It was truly a team effort.  For those who helped:  Each and every one of you has my undying respect, admiration and thanks for a job very well done.  We accomplished our objectives which were to A) have fun, B) produce a parade entry that was beautiful and which would hopefully win, and C) promote TMCA as THE leading boating club and a force to be reckoned with around Clear Lake! 

I got what I wanted, which was just to be a part of this glorious event.  To me, we’d already won even before the parade started ­ whether we actually got any awards or not.  Board, we came in well under budget.  I will provide a complete accounting thereof shortly 


Your Very Good Friend and Faithful Servant

Andy Upchurch

See also Winners from Past Xmas Boat Parades