The Christmas Boat Parade will be back this festive season with an America’s Cup theme.

The parade committee is hoping that the event, due to take place in Hamilton Harbour on December 12, will be the biggest in its 20-year history, as this will be the last year they organise it.

Treasurer Stephen Thomson said the committee of three was looking for new people to organise the parade.

He added that the goal was to reach a record 100 entrants this year, and he encouraged participants to decorate their boats using the theme of the America’s Cup.

“We already have 42 entrants signed up and we want to have a hundred boats — that is what we are shooting for,” Mr Thomson said. “We are going to invite the America’s Cup people to come in.

“The committee has been doing this for almost 20 years and it is time for us to pass it on. We have been actively looking for a group or association to take it over. We have approached the City of Hamilton and they are looking at it.

“The event always breaks even and it is quite easy to do — the template is all there and the committee would work with and help whatever the next group is.”

The committee is made up of founder Norma Thomson, chairman Ian Coles and Mr Thomson. Many others help with the event, including Jim Butterfield, who runs the parade on the day, Tommy Whayman who is dock master, and the Hamilton Princess & Beach Club, which is the event’s host hotel.

Bacardi will be celebrating its 50th anniversary by leading the parade aboard the ‘Spirit of Bermuda’ this year.

Mr Thomson said: “When we first started thinking about doing a parade, Norma said that Hamilton Harbour was the most idyllic harbour to host a boat parade.

“The nicest thing is our harbour is it is perfectly situated and Christmas in Bermuda is quite temperate. Originally we partnered with the BUEI then we moved down to Fairmont and we have really never looked back.

“More than 20,000 people watch the parade, according to the police, which would make it the largest single-day spectator event of the year.

“Every office building in Hamilton has a party and we found that hosting it every two years works best.”

Asked which parade entrant he remembers best, Mr Thomson said: “Ron Hook for the first year — he had a tiny little boat about 18ft but he created what looked like a little Red Baron’s Biplane that still stands out in my mind. What he can do with chicken wire and lights is incredible.”

This year’s parade is due to take place on December 12 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm in Hamilton Harbour. There will be 20 prizes and the first 50 to enter will get a $300 voucher for Lindo’s. Entry is free. To enter visit the website www.bermudaboatparade.bm. Anyone interested in taking over the parade should e-mail steve@mailboxesunlimited.com or phone 295-0530.