Organisers of the Christmas Boat Parade are seeking to boost dwindling numbers of entrants.

Co-founder Stephen Thomson said there were only three confirmed boats so far while in the first year 35 signed up in the same two weeks.

He fears apathy might kill it off but denied he was continually crying wolf over the event which is Bermuda?s biggest crowd spectacle and is now in its sixth year.

This year the Fairmont hotels and the Bank of Bermuda have entered boats and Mr. Thomson hopes other businesses will follow suit, rather than just watch the show from parties at their Front Street headquarters.

He said: ?We want companies to say we?ll assist in launching a boat and put staff in it, or managers or customers.

?We are struggling, we only have three entrants at the moment.?

Organisers are exhausted from trying to drum up interest, said Mr. Thomson, who said many entrants found it hard work to decorate their boat and wanted a break while there weren?t enough people stepping forward to take their place.

In the first year there were 80 boats but the figure fell in each of the following years going to 65, 55, 45 and then 38 last year.

He said 20 boats was the bare minimum while 45 boats were needed to make it a decent parade.

?Last year there were big gaps between the boats because we had to spread them out.

?You can see from the numbers graph we are struggling, if in the first year we spent two man hours trying to get boats then last year we must have spend 700 to 800 man hours.

?We have had a lady calling people from April. There has been an exponential increase in effort and a massive decrease in numbers.?

The event is free to enter and there are no minimum standards on decorations although boats must be over 16 feet.

?One year we had a jet ski and one of the big boats nearly ran him over because they couldn?t see him.?

Organisers have helped hook up boat owners with people willing to decorate them and hope this trend will continue with youth groups getting involved.

Mr. Thomson said the proliferation of generators in Bermuda since Hurricane Fabian made it easier for boaters to power their light shows.

The annual aquatic spectacle is great for Bermuda, said Mr. Thomson, who added that waterfront restaurants were calling from January trying to find out the parade date while the Fairmont Hamilton Princess did a roaring trade in room bookings last year.

?Last year there were 20,000 spectators, although it?s difficult to judge as Harbour Road is rammed and the houses are packed.?

The Hamilton Harbour route has extended over the years to a two-and-a-quarter-mile circuit taking in Darrell?s Wharf and Hinson?s Island.

To register for the December 11 parade visit the website, which will be soon updated, at www.bermudaboatparade.bm