ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove shines in Christmas Boat Light Parade

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Boats, owners and friends were dressed up for the ONE°15 Marina Christmas Boat Light Parade

ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove was a hub of light and activity on Saturday evening (December 4) as it hosted the Christmas Boat Light Parade following a two-year gap due to the Covid-induced cancellation of last year’s event.

Crews joined in the festive spirit

The event acted as a boost to local yacht owners and Sentosa Cove residents and visitors, providing a much-need occasion for getting out and dressing up, marking the marina’s liveliest event since it hosted the Singapore Yacht Show.

Families stopped to watch the boats – and Santa!

Many families and children walking along the boardwalk stopped to watch the boats, especially as the sun went down and the lights started to shine in the dark.

Santa on a jetski beside Abenaki and her giant inflatables

Santa arrived in a jetski at about 7pm, drawing huge cheers from the crowd, as he cruised along the sides of the marina, waving to the children and parents.

It was a welcome return for the Christmas Boat Light Parade

At 7.20pm, the event was officially opened with the Symphony of Horns, with all boats turning on any remaining lights and the marina’s façade lighting up, bringing further cheers from the crowd.

Thuymi Do was among judges

Judges comprised YP Loke, Chairman of the Singapore Boating Industry Association, social media specialist Thuymi Do and Yacht Style Editor John Higginson. With prizes awarded in eight categories, the judging team toured the boats, while the online poll garnered over 200 votes.

Crews dressed up for the event

Abenaki was the star of the show. Located beside Boaters’ Bar and in full view of the public walking along the boardwalk, the sailing yacht took centre stage with three huge inflatables on deck – the Grinch, snowman and a ‘reindeer’, a new addition since the last Christmas Boat Light Parade.

A floating Christmas tree in front of Abenaki

“We generally add one new inflatable each time, so this time we added a red-nosed reindeer, although most people think it looks like an orange dog or a pig,” joked Abenaki’s ‘Captain Olly’.

Verve’s inflatable Santa with Abenaki crew in angel wings

“It doesn’t take long to inflate them, but it takes a long time to tie them up. It took us two days to put up all the lights, so we’re happy we won two prizes this year.”

SUTL CEO Arthur Tay and Jonathan Sit, GM of ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove, present Abenaki with berthing credits

Abenaki won two vouchers for S$1,000 berthing credits after winning the Sail Boat and Best Team Costume categories, with the crew dressing in illuminated angel wings.

Texsin’s decorations

Texsin also won S$2,000 of berthing credits as winner of the Motorboat 46-65 ft and the People’s Choice categories, the latter decided by online voting. The brightly lit boat had a Christmas tree on top and Santas up front, was decorated with lights from front to back, and even hung Christmas stockings along the side of the boat.

Texsin was another double winner

The Azimut 116 Hye Seas 2, winner of the Motorboat Over 66 ft category, had a Christmas tree made from lights on top of the flybridge, a swaying inflatable on its foredeck and a water-spouting Merlion.

The brightly lit Hye Seas 2, an Azimut 116

The elegantly dressed Honest Mistake won the Catamaran category, while Kono 2 and Verve also won S$1,000 berthing vouchers after triumphing in the Motorboat Under 35ft and 36-45ft categories, respectively.

Kono 2 won the Motorboat Under 35ft category

One of the Verve crew wore an inflatable Santa suit, while the dog on board also joined in, donning a Christmas-themed hairband.

Verve crew with Arthur Tay and Jonathan Sit

Across the water, Tarzan, the name of a mobile water-play park run by Splash Adventure, featured crew dressed up in Santa outfits and performing stunts, such as jumping off the boat onto a rope.

Tarzan crew swing into action

Comments such as “brought a much-needed festive spirit”, “uplifted everyone and was needed” and “amazing effort by all who took part” was among feedback from skippers, crew and friends after a lively event.