Christmas decorations on board?

[Duffer]

SWMBO would like some tips on how best to decorate our 35 footer for the first time.

Where do you put your tree and do you wrap tinsel round the wheel? Do you hoist twinkly lights up the back and forestays* or just put them round the cabin? Perhaps you hoist a fairy up the mast? Does Santa come down the forehatch? Any tips gratefully received.

Flicking through the back of the Argos catalogue they have a range of singing/dancing santas with motion sensors. These might liven up a chilly beat, or surprise and delight late night revellers walking back down the pontoon!

* Please note that christmas lights should not be illuminated at sea to avoid confusing other navigators who might have been at the sherry. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Twister_Ken]

"Flicking through the back of the Argos catalogue they have a range of singing/dancing santas with motion sensors."

That should scare the bejasus out of the seagulls!

 

[fluffc]

real Christmas Tree at the top of the mainmast is traditional .

The presence of a spiders web of lights merely gets in the way of the sails when sailing...

 

[BrendanS]

In the US, they have some superb Festival of Lights, or Christmas Boat Parades.

Here is one example
http://cgi.amazing.com/david/portfolio/newport-christmas-1999/

 

[Helina]

As Father Christmas lives in Finland, he has given us instructions for christmas decoration:
- start decorating in the morning of the 23th
-park the boat on the beach where a fir tree grows
-wait for a couple of hours so the sea freezes
- wait for an other hour so that the snow covers the tree, the beach , the ice and your boat
- put some candles on the tree
- leash a reindeer to the tree and give it some white moss to eat
- release the Nothern Lights
/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[jonic]

Three years ago we were weather bound in the Florida Keys, two weeks before Christmas. We were due in Nassau for Christmas Eve, but the weather would not break. The only window meant we would be at sea on Christmas Eve.Not how we had imagined spending Christmas. We set off across the Bahama banks and at midnight GMT I put out a Happy Christmas on the VHF. A Scottish voice and a couple of Brits came back, followed by numerous Americans who were also at Sea. There then followed a magical moment as one by one yachts hoisted Christmas lights into their rigging. At 2.00am local we dropped the hook a 100 miles offshore on the shallow (15ft) bank and were joined by an American boat who rafted up for the night. At dawn on Christmas morning we exchanged gifts with our new friends, called home on the Sat phone and tuned to the service from St Pauls on the SSB, as we sailed the last 100 miles till Christmas directly into the Christmas morning sunrise.

This totally unplanned Christmas, far removed from television, high street shopping etc was the most magical and moving Christmas we have ever had.
And look at SWMBO asking me if I want stuffing.

 

[hannahman]

My boat has its own bag of Christmas decs which mainly consists of tinsel which I wrap around the pullpit and pushpit, and also around the lower parts of the shrouds.
I always mean to put fairy lights on her, but I never seem to get around to that. Maybe this year I will! They will probably go inside the sprayhood so that they can be seen through the sprayhood windows. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Doug

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

How about some Turrnii Berry aperitif to accompany the traditional "Tervetuloa"? /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Helina]

Ok, you mean Tyrni-marja liquor ? I think that would taste very nice and wellcomes Christmas in a very good company . /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Duffer]

I'm very impressed by the answers received - I must admit I logged on with some trepidation! Particular thanks to Jonic - it looks like you had an especially tasty bird for Christmas!

My own tips are nightlights in small tumblers (well away from decorations, sheltered moorings only) - good at any time of year but especially now: the flickering light through your favourite bottle of single malt takes some beating. Also if you don't have a working fireplace on board (like some Fifes and Js) or even a solid fuel stove, then a halogen lamp heater (about £20 from garden centres) can add a warm glow (shorepower required) - the Ship's Cat will think it has gone to heaven!

A couple of years ago I spent Christmas on Scotland Island just north of Sydney. After a carol service on the beach, Santa arrived by speed boat (the reindeer were being fed) with presents for the children (he looked a little hot with temperatures in the mid 80s). This was of course followed by a BBQ on the beach...

 

[PuffTheMagicDragon]

[ QUOTE ]
Ok, you mean Tyrni-marja liquor ? I think that would taste very nice and wellcomes Christmas in a very good company . /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

YES, that's the one! It was certainly very welcome up in Oulu /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
I have never managed to find a source outside of Finland.

 

[Duffer]

SWMBO says remember to decorate your bows with, er, boughs of holly!

 

[Stemar]

We got lights from the Range about a month ago. When we went back for more they were sold out. John Lewis had them yesterday, but, well, no. Not on a Snapdragon budget. The economical option is to forget about it this year and see what you can find just after Christmas ready for next year.

 

[Lightwave395]

My little GP14 is lit up at the end of the drive, cheapo battery lights with a timer from the Range, on for 6 hours and off for 18...