The annual Christmas boat parade will be back next year – bigger and better than ever before.

That was the message from Steve Thomson, one of the event founders, when he spoke at a cocktail reception at the Bacardi headquarters held for past parade participants.

In his welcome speech thanking them for their efforts over the past ten years, Mr. Thomson said: "We need you to spread the word to business colleagues, to family and to friends, everyone you know who has a boat, that the boat parade is coming back next year for the 400th Anniversary of Bermuda and we want to make it the best one ever."

The parade, one of Bermuda's most popular Christmas events, is this year taking a break after last year celebrating its 10th consecutive year.

Organisers have found that it is usually the same entrants that take part and Mr. Thomson said that when he spoke to participants they said that a break was a good idea.

Participants work hard for the event, and the effort is appreciated by more than 15,000 people who line the shores of the inner harbour.

However, the declining numbers of boats shows the effort takes its toll. In the first year, there were 70 boats, and last year there were 44 boats.

Keith Winter, owner of Playmate, and long-time participant, said he believed the declining numbers were due to the hard work involved in preparing a boat, and said he thought it was a good idea to take a year off so the event did not become stale.

In talking about the future of the event, Mr. Winter said: "Next year we'll all try making it bigger and better. If we can't make a go of it for the 400th Anniversary, the message will be clear."

Seven of the 44 boats last year were corporate entries and Mr. Thomson said: "The organising committee welcomes corporate entries.

"We are seeing a growth in that area. It is a wonderful way for companies to get their logo and their name out in the community."

One such entry was the sloop Spirit of Bermuda, entered by Bacardi Limited, one of the Boat Parade sponsors.

"Bacardi has entered a boat in the parade for the last three years," said Maureen Murray, coordinator for the Bacardi entry. "Employees met on weekends and after work to create the themed decorations for the boat. The effort pays off in satisfaction, excellent team building, and of course a lot of fun on the night of the Boat Parade."

Speaking about the feedback from the Friday reception itself, parade committee member Norma Thomson, who inspired the founding of the event after seeing a boat parade in Southern California, said the past participants were happy to be recognised for their continued support of the event.

"This reception was a great get together to help keep the energy and the spirit of the Boat Parade alive, " said Ms. Thomson.