By Peter Mason
AVAST, me hearties, and yo-ho-ho – it’s Christmastime again and the organisers of the Noosa Waters annual boating flotilla are gearing up for what promises to be the Sunshine Coast’s brightest and most talked about nautical event.
The flotilla, which celebrates its 19th anniversary this year, takes place on Friday 23 December.
The event regularly sees up to 100 brightly-decorated watercraft joining in the festivities and vying for a place in the best-dressed-boat roll of honour.
Organisers are looking to make this year’s nautical parade the biggest-ever, and are hoping to better the record turnout of five years ago when more than 100 tinsel-adorned boats of all shapes and sizes took part.
“We are encouraging all Noosa Waters boat-owners to light up their boats and come and join in the fun,” said Warren Burrows, convener of this year’s event.
“Noosa has one of the country’s best waterways and our goal is to provide a special Christmas treat to the thousands of spectators who are expected to flock to Noosa from all over the coast to watch.
“We want this to be the Coast’s best-ever Christmas flotilla.”
The flotilla traditionally attracts big crowds from Noosa and all over the Sunshine Coast with spectators lining canal banks, bridges and parks throughout the canal estate.
The best vantage points from which to watch, and photograph, the brightly-lit ensemble will be the two Saltwater Avenue bridges, the footbridge linking Mermaid Quay with Seahorse Place, or at one or other if the many public parks dotted throughout Noosa Waters.
Noosa Community Radio 101.3 FM is one of the key promoters and will be calling the event as it happens and playing Christmas carols from 6pm to 8pm on the night.
Boats will assemble at the Saltwater Avenue/Masthead Quay bridge from 6.45pm, with the parade scheduled to start at 7pm.
Noosa Coast Guard boats will lead out the parade after signalling the start with two blasts from their air horns.
For more details visit www.noosawaters.org, or phone Warren Burrows on 5473 0545 or 0418 191 505.
