Saturday night -- then oohed and aahed as fireworks lit up the sky.

And there were reports that Tourism Minister David Allen was "ecstatic and jumping up and down'' with the show as he watched from the VIP vantage point on Cable & Wireless boat, the Sir Eric Sharp .

Organisers last night agreed with his reaction that the night was a "huge success'' and vowed to make it an annual highlight of Bermuda's Winter calendar -- with a date already set for next year.

After Saturday's grand exhibition, they were confident the event would be a major attraction for visitors as word spread of its razzle-dazzle.

Mr. Allen said it would be "built on'' in future years and more resources would be spent on promoting it to incorporate it into tourists' plans.

Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute spokesman Chris Heslop was still jubilant last night that both residents and tourists had embraced the event with such enthusiasm.

"It was absolutely phenomenal,'' he said of the parade of decorated boats that trailed for almost two miles. We were totally flabbergasted by the number of spectators and how much they got into it.

"There must have been several thousand people cheering and waving and singing Christmas carols.'' He said Front Street was packed with families and other merry-makers, as was Burnaby Hill, Albouys Point, Harbour Road and all the nearby ferry stops.

The atmosphere was electric from the second Miss Wendy -- the lead boat -- blew her ship's horn at 6.15 p.m. to start the parade until the smoke cleared from the last fireworks explosion just after 8 p.m.

Boats of all sizes were decorated with lights, holiday decorations, figurines and animated characters -- and crewed by more than 1,000 people.

Judges and other VIPs sat aboard Cable & Wireless' Sir Eric Sharp boat to watch the festivities unfold.

They voted Red Dog as Best Overall Boat; Sundancer II as Best Sailboat; Big Frigate as Best Boat under 30 feet; Mako 4 as Best Commercial Boat and Shearwater as Most Creative Boat.

Mr. Heslop said a tentative date of December 18 had already been set for next year's parade which would be "even bigger and better''.

Another member of the organising committee, Norma Thomson, was inspired to hold the boat parade in Bermuda after seeing one several years ago in Newport Beach, California.

"She said last night was a dream come true,'' Mr. Heslop said. "And for it all to have gone off without a hitch was amazing -- a testament to the five members of the organising committee who worked very well together.'' Sixty boats were scheduled to take part but four pulled out due to engine troubles on the night. The committee turned away another 15 to 20 boats.

"This year, being our first year, we wanted to really keep things under control but next year we're optimistic about getting 75 to 100 crews together,'' Mr. Heslop said.

SAILING SLG