THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511100207
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY REBECCA A. MYERS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
It may be the best-kept secret in town.
The city of Portsmouth plans to compete in this year's Lighted Boat Parade, but residents won't get a glimpse of the decorated vessel until the night of the event.
``I've been sworn to secrecy,'' said David Culpepper, parade chairman and owner of the 45-foot sailboat being borrowed by the city for the Mayor's Cup competition.
Gloria O. Webb will be one of three mayors vying for the perpetual trophy. The mayor's competition is one of two new categories added this year.
``We're challenging all the cities to bring their mayor,'' said Culpepper, president of Culpepper Radiator in Portsmouth.
About 60 vessels - power and sailboats, military and commercial - will participate in the holiday parade, scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 25 on the Elizabeth River between the Portsmouth and Norfolk waterfronts. The deadline for registration was Friday.
``I really predict this is probably going to be the finest parade we've had,'' said Culpepper, a participant himself for the past six years.
Boaters pay a $50 registration fee to enter the parade, then spend many times that to transform their vessels into floating winter wonderlands.
``We had one group last year to cover the whole front of their boat with cotton,'' said Culpepper, ``and these guys with antlers on were on their knees looking like little reindeer, while Santa stood behind them cracking a whip and saying, `On Dancer, On Prancer, On Comet, On Cupid. . . .' ''
Trophies will be awarded in 10 categories based on the size and type of vessel. About 10 judges, strategically placed on both sides of the river, will vote on the ``best use of lights,'' the ``most creative design,'' and the ``most crew spirit.''
Despite the fact that participants may spend hundreds - even thousands - of dollars on lights, garland, animated figures and nativity scenes, they don't enter for the recognition associated with winning, said Culpepper.
``We're not there for anything other than giving back,'' he said.
During Operation Desert Storm, Culpepper won a plaque for decking his yacht with a huge American flag, 3,000 watts of lights and 200 watts of power to a stadium speaker system blaring ``Proud to be an American.''
``We just brought the crowd down because everybody was in a great patriotic mood,'' he said. ``It was wonderful. The harbor went crazy.''
This year, about 40,000-plus spectators are expected to jockey for position along the Seawall in Portsmouth and Waterside in Norfolk to take in the spectacular view.
The boats will follow a counter-clockwise loop between Portside and Waterside, with one group of boats leaving from the Omni, one from Town Point Park and one from along the Seawall.
The route moves from the Omni past Waterside to Nauticus, then cuts across the river to Crawford Bay, past the Tidewater Yacht Agency, along the Seawall to the flagpole at the foot of High Street, then back around to the Omni.
``That takes 40 minutes,'' said Culpepper, ``because they're only going like two miles an hour.''
In addition to the Mayor's Cup Award, yacht clubs also will have a chance at a perpetual trophy for the best dressed yacht club entry - also new this year.
As an added incentive, the yacht club with the most entries will receive a free night's lodging at the Waterside Marina, said Culpepper.
A fireworks display choreographed to holiday music will follow the parade at approximately 7:15 p.m. The festivities will continue with a dockside party in the amphitheater outside Waterside from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with music by the band Two Can Jam.
For more information about the Lighted Boat Parade, call the Downtown Norfolk Council at 623-1757. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MARK MITCHELL
David Culpepper is chairman of the Lighted Boat Parade this year. He
and his boat, Kandu, also will participate. ``I really predict this
is probably going to be the finest parade we've had.''
by CNB