Sailors decorate boats to light up the night
{Submitted photo}
Boats stand out in the night last year during the ninth annual Christmas Boat Lighting and Decoration Party at Prince William Marina in Woodbridge.
When it comes to decorating their boat for Christmas, Lori and Tom Germaine start early.
The owners of Wait for Me II - a 28-foot Sea Ray - start decorating as early as September in preparation for to-night's 10th annual Christmas Boat Lighting and Decoration Party at Prince William Marina in Woodbridge.
"I am painting and glittering and getting everything ready, from September on," said Lori Germaine, whose boat will feature thousands of purple, red and white lights as well as wooden deer and gingerbread men.
Each boat owner who participates has a chance to win $2,500 for best decorations. There are also awards for second best and most creative. Each of the marina's 12 docks also has a best of the dock prize, said marina co-owner Carlton Phillips.
Phillips said as many as 200 boat owners have participated in recent years and the annual prizes total around $10,000.
Saturday's judging will be done between 5 and 7 p.m. with food and refreshments provided to attendees. After the awards are handed out, there will be a fireworks display. And, if the weather permits, a helicopter will do a flyover, with a photographer aboard taking pictures at the lights below.
A 50-inch LG Plasma TV to benefit Fisher House charities will be raffled off and attendees of the free event are invited to bring non-perishable food, clothing, children's gifts and toys for the "Boat Load of Help" charity effort.
These goods are collected and delivered by the Prince William County Sheriff's office to less fortunate fami-lies in our community, Phillips said.
Over the years, Lori and her husband have won multiple awards and have participated since the event's in-ception. She said the looks and the compliments administered to those who spend time giving their boats a holiday makeover is worth all of the hard work.
"After investing hundreds of hours working on the boat and they say, 'oh my God, this is gor-geous,' it gives me goosebumps thinking about it," Lori said.
Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-878-8062.
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