A simple Saturday afternoon at the end of July started off normal: quiet, calm, cold, with a little bit of a breeze. On a few properties surrounding the marina, there was a slight rustle as residents got busy fitting strings of lights and decorations to boats, houses, kayaks, and anything that floats. The sun was still high.
Earlier the day, a few boaters made a stop at the local filling station, and a strange looking green jeep fitted with a tiller and a rudder came driving up the main road.
At the POYC clubhouse in Browen street the stepladder was out and the cookers on.
Something was definitely brewing…
Then, one by one, lavishly decorated vessels slowly started gathering around India jetty at the far end of the yacht basin. The sun started dipping and soon a loudspeaker appeared. “Testing… testing…”
Robbie, dressed as if he anticipated getting cold and wet (well played, Robbie!), cleared his throat and then started speaking into the microphone: “Welcome, everyone, to the Port Owen Yacht Club inaugural Anything-that-floats Winter Wonderland!”.
It was finally here! The day that the town would come together to celebrate in a magnificent festival of lights and winter-themed decorations!
And boy, did they come together! We are still in awe at the volumes of spectators that came out, in full fancy dress nogal, to cheer, take photos, and just be witness to an event that will not only live in our memories forever, but surely turn into a widely known and attended event, pulling visitors to our sleepy village for a monumentally fun evening year after year!
Robbie ran through all the safety rules, explained the route, and then requested us all to wait until the sun dips a little lower so that our lights would shine brighter.
As we waited, we got an opportunity to inspect each other’s vessels. Teddy bears, stars, snowballs, a motorboat with a whole entire table and chairs complete with dinner and drinks set up in the middle, angels and snowmen, and even a magic dragon precariously balanced overhead an already narrow and somewhat unstable kayak. (We think Dave is still battling sore tummy muscles from trying to calm the magic dragon fighting the breeze!)
Everything covered in little lights. Some white, some bright, some colourful.
The sun dipped lower and cast golden threads among the vessels, dancing around the water. On one motorboat, a whole lot of (hopefully) old CD’s dangling off strings glistened as it reflected light back to the sun and everyone waiting on the footpaths and jetties.
And then: three, two, one! HOOOOOOOOOOT! sounded the horn, and off we went under loud cheer from the crowd: a parade of over 30 brightly dressed vessels slowly snaking their way underneath the Admiral Island bridge and all along the canals of Port Owen.
On balconies, walkways and on verandas, parties of people came together; some gathered around braai fires, some with loud music playing, and many in colourful costumes. All cheering, clapping and gasping at the brightly lit display on the water.
At the front of the parade in the lead boat, Patrick had his loudspeaker now firmly attached to his rubber duck, calling residents from their houses with upbeat tunes as we slowly paddled and motored our way to the far end of the canal before turning around in the now pitch black night to make our way back to the clubhouse where the most delectable curry dinner awaited us. The atmosphere on the water was electric (excuse the pun) and cheers erupted all round with smiling teeth now glistening in the moonlight.
As we entered the clubhouse one by one, still shivering cold and wet, we gladly accepted a glass of glühwein that Nicole lovingly brewed herself a little earlier the afternoon before donning an ice queen costume that somewhat resembled the Statue of Liberty, and getting on the water in one of Canoe & Kayak World’s generously sponsored, equally brightly coloured kayaks.
It was an evening not soon to be forgotten. It surpassed our wildest expectations. And it was all thanks to the phenomenal community spirit that brought hundreds of residents out in the cold to join hands in putting our little town firmly on the map of We’ve got spirit, yes we do, we’ve got spirit, how about you!
Thank you Velddrif!
We dream of people flocking to our town annually to come and join and witness this spectacular new event to grace our annual calendars.
So get your Temu orders in and make sure you have more string lights than you ever thought you would need in your lifetime ready and waiting for the bigger and better 2026 Port Owen Winter Wonderland!
