Santa sails in 37th PYC parade
Published 10:12 am Saturday, April 26, 2008
POULSBO — St. Nick is trading in his sleigh for a more hydro-friendly mode of transportation once again this December as the Poulsbo Yacht Club’s lighted boat parade buoys the shores of Liberty and Ne-Si-Ka bays with holiday cheer.
Dec. 14 and 15 mark the dates the PYC Christmas boat brigade will sail past Poulsbo, Suquamish, Manzanita Bay and Agate Pass, leaving a wake full of festive spirit — and a few messages from Mr. Kringle himself — for those watching the progression.
“They can send in messages to the yacht club and we reply to all of them,” volunteer and parade leader Bob Johnson said of the personalized greetings available to onlookers. “It’s been very well received in the past.”
Many who have heard Santa send them a shout-out in the past are now reserving messages for their own children, a special facet the parade offers as it cruises past a second generation of excited observers, Johnson said.
Now in its 37th year, Johnson has been sailing with the Yuletide fleet since its inception, and now leads the way with the unlit Schottische IV, making sure to steer clear of debris and any other obstacles in Santa’s two-night course.
Club Vice Commodore Mickey Wassinger said at least 15 vessels are expected to join the parade, which will boast sail and power boats decked out in holiday gear. The second in the string, behind Johnson’s Schottische IV, will serve as Santa’s home base for each evening.
“Usually, we get quite a few on Friday night, as many as 16-20,” Johnson said, and while Saturday’s longer route sees fewer boats, Santa’s personalized greetings still come in loud and clear.
Friday at 7:15 p.m., the fleet will parade northwest from the yacht club toward the head of Liberty Bay past Waterfront Park, where the general public is invited for viewing.
Traveling south past Scandia, Pearson and Keyport, the convoy will then turn at Point Bolin and sail past Lemolo on the way back to port, a destination it’s scheduled to reach by 9 p.m.
Saturday’s route is set to span the eastern half of the North End. At 6 p.m., Santa and crew will head through Manzanita Bay toward Agate Pass, then cruise down to Port Madison and out to Point Monroe, finally rounding out the parade sailing past Suquamish’s waterfront beach, where the public is again welcome to watch, before rendezvousing at the yacht club around 8:45 p.m.
For children wishing for a message from Santa, a card or letter with the message, their names, telephone numbers, addresses and specific location where they’ll be watching should be sent to: Christmas Ships, Poulsbo Yacht Club, 18129 Fjord Dr. NE, Suite T; Poulsbo, WA 98370. All cards and letters must be received by Dec. 11.
For more information, call (360) 779-3116.
