It may be dark and even cold but that won't stop Barry Wilson from skippering the Kona Kai around Port Moody and Burrard inlets and up Indian Arm for six nights starting Dec. 4.
Leaving Reed Point Marina around 7 p.m., Wilson and 20 other boating enthusiasts will ply the waters from Belcarra to Burnaby, Port Moody and Deep Cove to bring a little holiday cheer to landlubbers.
With their boats decorated from stem to stern, these boats are part of the annual Santa's Christmas Ships that grew out of the Vancouver Carol Ships about 20 years ago.
"We go around giving a light show," said Wilson, who said the only thing the cruisers want back is the knowledge that people enjoy the show and, if they have homes on the water, they have parties on the nights the boats are in the area.
"It all just fell together. We started with a little spark and it grew," said Wilson of the event that has been an annual get-together for the boaters, most of whom moor their crafts at Reed Point Marina in Port Moody.
Beginning, Dec. 4, the ships go out and take slightly different routes each night, although they swing back and forth across the inlet most evenings, beginning and ending at Reed Point.
On Dec. 5, they even stop at Belcarra Regional Park so Santa can disembark and children can sign his Great Book, and on Dec. 12, will cruise to Rocky Point Park.
The following schedule is planned for this year's Santa's Christmas Ships.
• Friday, Dec.4: Cruise the inner harbour in front of Reed Point Marina toward Mill and Timber in PoMo, then over to North Vancouver and up the Dollarton shoreline, returning along the coast of Belcarra Regional Park.
• Saturday, Dec. 5: Ships will cruise past Belcarra Regional Park, with Santa docking at the park at 7:30 p.m., There will also be fireworks.
• Friday, Dec. 11: Cruise toward Cates Park, into Deep Cove and back past Belcarra to Reed Point.
• Saturday, Dec. 12: Cruise to Rocky Point Park and do a colourful parade loop past the park. Hot chocolate is expected to be served by the Rotary Club.
• Friday, Dec. 18: From Reed Point Marina toward Rocky Point Park in a loop around the inlet, joined by crafts from the Vancouver Carol Ships.
• Saturday, Dec.19: From Reed Point, back to toward North Vancouver, Deep Cove, past Brighton Beach toward Camp Howdy, then back past Belcarra park to the marina.
