The Sinclair Inlet Yacht Club, Port Orchard Yacht Club and the Bremerton Yacht Club will all set sail this holiday season to spread a little Christmas cheer.
Sinclair Inlet Yacht Club invites public to vote on decorated boats
Sinclair Inlet Yacht Club invites the community to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Christmas Lane, a Port Orchard holiday tradition where the public is invited to visit the Port Orchard Marina on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 5-8 p.m. to view decorated boats.
The boats hail from here and afar and the public can vote on their favorite display. The community and all visitors to the dock are invited to participate in the enjoyment of seeing all the fancifully-decorated boats and to vote on a favorite. Choosing one is always the most challenging part of the evening.
Though relatively small, the SIYC has showed its huge holiday spirit since its inception in 1974. That spirit shows in this annual event that the club began hosting the same year.
Built in 1974, the Port Orchard Marina was the Port of Bremerton’s first public waterfront port location. It quickly became a popular boating destination and a group of local boaters joined forces to establish the club.
As an inaugural event for both the new yacht club and the new marina, the SIYC and the Port Orchard Marina hosted the first ever Christmas Lane: A decorated boat contest held on the Port Orchard Marina guest moorage dock. This tradition has continued every year since, eventually becoming a beloved part of the Port Orchard Festival of Lights and Chimes that began in 2000.
SIYC and the Port Orchard Marina are proud to sponsor this community event and to open up participation in it on two levels. For any boaters who would like to participate, the marina offers three free night’s moorage Dec. 5-7 to each decorated boat. The moorage does not include power hookup.
SIYC holds daily gatherings as part of the celebration, with a light snack and hot buttered rum served as boats arrive on Friday evening, a light lunch on Saturday at 3 p.m. while boaters decorate and prepare for the event, and a soup buffet and awards ceremony Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. on the party dock. Gift baskets will be awarded to the winners of categories such as “who came the greatest distance” and “people’s choice.”
The club’s website is at www.sinclairinletyachtclub.com.
Port Orchard Yacht Club parade set for Dec. 13
The Port Orchard Yacht Club Christmas Ships Parade will spread Christmas cheer to residents along the shore from Southworth to Port Orchard. Boats will form-up at Southworth at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 13. At 5 p.m. they’ll leave Southworth at a speed of five knots and cruise past Manchester, though Rich Passage and finish at Port Orchard at around 8 p.m.
“We’ve been doing this for over 30 years,” said John Deane, vice commodore for the club.
The Santa boat will stop at the homes that signed up for special message from Santa. Call the club at 360-876-9010 to sign up.
The club welcomes boaters to join them. Visit www.poyc.org to learn more.
Bremerton Yacht Club boat parade Dec. 19-20
The Bremerton Yacht Club has its lighted boat parade on Dec. 19 and Dec. 20.
On Friday, Dec. 19, the boats will sail from the vicinity of Bremerton Yacht Club at 6:10 p.m. and will cruise under the Warren Avenue Bridge and Manette Bridge toward Illahee State Park where they will turn around and return to club by 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Dec. 20 the boats will take a different route and cruise the perimeter of Dyes Inlet. The boats set sail at 6:10 p.m and return to the Bremerton Yacht Club around 9:30 p.m.
For more information visit bremertonyachtclub.org.
