The Yuletide spirit descended on Bermuda well and truly last night when the Annual Christmas Boat Parade brought thousands of people flocking to Hamilton Harbour.

Despite the fact that the colourful display of brightly-lit boats was a day later than planned due to bad weather, the crowds were as big as ever and the entries superb.

Some 55 boats took part in the event, depicting everything from helicopters, monsters, whales and frogs.

Each year, the creativity and technical wizardry seems to surpass all expectations.

Organiser Ian Coles said even though the plug was pulled on plans to hold the parade on Saturday night, most spectators and entrants still managed to make the newly arranged time yesterday.

"Everything went very smoothly," said Mr. Coles.

"We had no problems. It looked to us as though the crowds were as large as ever. We did lose about ten boats, I think, due to mechanical problems and because we had to cancel Saturday's parade, as some people had other commitments, but we didn't have as many people drop out as we thought we might.

"We had 55 boats this year - last year we had 67 - but we were still very, very pleased. It was a great night, and, of course, there was some magnificent entries."

This year, for the first time, there was a People's Choice award. Spectators were asked to call in and say which entry was their favourite.

That award went to Bill Pitman, who decked his boat Sylvester out in the shape of a whale.

Best boat was Nomad, owned by John Carr, which depicted a superb steam train and was even accompanied by realistic sound effects; Best commercial boat was the Biological Station's Henry Stommel, which portrayed a birthday cake and candles to celebrate its 100th anniversary next year; Best small boat was the Nameste, owned by Peter Drew, which illustrated the planets; Best large boat was Gud Tyme, owned by Michael Chilvers, displaying Santa Claus and a moving reindeer; Best sail boat was No Fixed Abode, owned by Anthony Mello, illustrating the moon and a star; Most original was won by Shearwater, owned by Will Cox and showing a huge green frog; Best use of movement went to Dolber, owned by James Davidson, which was a moving parrot fish; Best traditional entry or Christmas message went to Malcolm and Debroah White's Masquerade, which was alight with neon candy canes; and the most humorous entry was Matthew Cairney's Bermuda Oyster, decked out as a yellow submarine, with the accompanying Beatles soundtrack.