2014 North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
Winners and Photos
For Immediate Release
Winners: 31st Annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC - Named one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2013, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla celebrated its 31-year anniversary in Wrightsville Beach over Thanksgiving weekend.
An estimated 50,000 visitors, gathering on water and land, cheered on the parade of yachts and motorboats, each decorated with a holiday theme and thousands of glittering lights. The flotilla followed a 4-mile route through Motts Channel, Banks Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway, passing the judges' viewing stand at Blockade Runner Beach Resort.
A panel of judges, including John Boy, of John Boy and Billy's Big Show, carefully selected the winners, all competing for $10,500 in cash prizes, plus holiday bragging rights. Text voting continued this year, with Crowd Favorite and People's Choice Awards determined by spectators.
The evening ended with a stunning 21-minute, 4,000-round fireworks display by Zambelli International, illuminating the night sky, and showering the waterway with sound and color.
Fall weather conditions were favorable with mild wind, clear sky, and fall temperature in the upper 40s.
2014 winners include:
Category: Best Overall
Captain: Mike Spivey
Vessel: Angler Management
Theme: Good Tidings to You, Turtle
Captain: Mike Spivey
Vessel: Angler Management
Theme: Good Tidings to You, Turtle
Category: Peoples Choice
Captain: Ava and Scott Werstlein
Vessel: No Name
Theme: Furtilla
Captain: Ava and Scott Werstlein
Vessel: No Name
Theme: Furtilla
Category: Crowd Favorite
Captain: Skip Wilson
Captain: Skip Wilson
Vessel: The Bottom Line
Theme: Yellow Submarine
Theme: Yellow Submarine
Category: Best Powerboat 31ft. and over
Captain: Bob Bleecker
Vessel: J&B
Theme: Salt Life Santa
Captain: Bob Bleecker
Vessel: J&B
Theme: Salt Life Santa
Category: Best Powerboat 23ft. - 31ft.
Captain: Eric Burns
Vessel: Chuck Norris
Theme: Sleigh Surfing
Captain: Eric Burns
Vessel: Chuck Norris
Theme: Sleigh Surfing
Category: Best Powerboat 22ft. and under
Captain: Brent Jernigan
Vessel: Craig Cat
Theme: Christmas Hummingbird
Captain: Brent Jernigan
Vessel: Craig Cat
Theme: Christmas Hummingbird
Category: Best Costumes & Crew Spirit
Captain: Castle Branch
Vessel: The Jolly Roger
Theme: Peter Pan
Captain: Castle Branch
Vessel: The Jolly Roger
Theme: Peter Pan
Flotilla website: www.NCHolidayFlotilla.org
Contact:
Pres Davenport, Board Chairman
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
info@NCHolidayFlotilla.org
p. 910-256-2120
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
info@NCHolidayFlotilla.org
p. 910-256-2120
Category: Best Overall
Captain: Mike Spivey
Vessel: Angler Management
Theme: Good Tidings to You, Turtle
Captain: Mike Spivey
Vessel: Angler Management
Theme: Good Tidings to You, Turtle
Photo by Beth Watson Hedgepeth
Category: Peoples Choice
Captain: Ava and Scott Werstlein
Vessel: No Name
Theme: Furtilla
Captain: Ava and Scott Werstlein
Vessel: No Name
Theme: Furtilla
Photo By Brad Austin Butler
Category: Crowd Favorite
Captain: Skip Wilson
Captain: Skip Wilson
Vessel: The Bottom Line
Theme: Yellow Submarine
Theme: Yellow Submarine
Photo by Brad Austin Butler
Category: Best Powerboat 31ft. and over
Captain: Bob Bleecker
Vessel: J&B
Theme: Salt Life Santa
Captain: Bob Bleecker
Vessel: J&B
Theme: Salt Life Santa
Photo by Beth Watson Hedgepeth
Category: Best Powerboat 23ft. - 31ft.
Captain: Eric Burns
Vessel: Chuck Norris
Theme: Sleigh Surfing
Captain: Eric Burns
Vessel: Chuck Norris
Theme: Sleigh Surfing
Photo by Brad Austin Butler
Category: Best Powerboat 22ft. and under
Captain: Brent Jernigan
Vessel: Craig Cat
Theme: Christmas Hummingbird
Captain: Brent Jernigan
Vessel: Craig Cat
Theme: Christmas Hummingbird
Photo by Beth Watson Hedgepeth
Category: Best Costumes & Crew Spirit
Captain: Castle Branch
Vessel: The Jolly Roger
Theme: Peter Pan
Captain: Castle Branch
Vessel: The Jolly Roger
Theme: Peter Pan
Photo by Beth Watson Hedgepeth
NC Holiday Flotilla Fireworks 2014
Photo courtesy Brad Austin Butler
NC Holiday Flotilla Fireworks 2014
Photo courtesy S. Butler
NC Holiday Flotilla and Fireworks, November 27-30, 2014, photography by Joshua McClure
31st Annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
A Thanksgiving Tradition
WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC – Named one of the Top 20 Events by the Southeast Tourism Society in 2013, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla weekend, a coastal Thanksgiving tradition, returns to Wrightsville Beach, Nov. 27-30.
Celebrating a 31-year run, the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla attracts 50,000 visitors to its culminating event, a maritime parade featuring thematically decorated power yacht and sailboat floats. The spectacle, reflected in the Banks Channel, glitters with thousands of twinkling lights.
Located directly on the parade route, sponsor and host hotel Blockade Runner Beach Resort launches the weekend with a gala, Thanksgiving Day feast for early arrivals. Soundside, Cape Fear Naturalist Captain Joe Abbate navigates local waters guiding Masonboro Island, Harbor Island and Sunset Cruises for the family.
Friday brings Santa Claus and the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony to Wrightsville Beach Town Hall Park. Children anxiously await, list in hand, for a personal audience with St. Nick. At 7:00 p.m., The Embers – Featuring Craig Woolard, headline Atlantic Marine’s festive Flotilla Launch Party, including dancing, hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar and silent auction of gifts from civic-minded supporters.
“One of the hidden gems during flotilla weekend is Saturday’s Festival in the Park for the children,” said Pres Davenport, Chairman of the Holiday Flotilla board.
From 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the park is bustling with bouncy houses, slides, climbing walls, the Arab Choo Choo, live blue-grass music, an antique auto show, and, an estimated 100 booths featuring local merchants and arts and crafts vendors. Children will have an opportunity to decorate and submit entries in the flotilla boat-coloring contest, and Home Depot will be on site with wooden boat kits, free for young carpenters. Admission is free for the entire family.
Saturday at 6:00 p.m., a short burst of aerial fireworks will light up the sky announcing the twilight parade of beautifully lit and decorated power and sailing vessels. The flotilla weaves a 4-mile route through Motts Channel, Banks Channel and the Intracoastal Waterway, passing the judges’ viewing stand at Blockade Runner, all competing for $10,500 in cash prizes. A panel of judges, including John Boy, of John Boy and Billy’s Big Show, carefully select the winners. Text voting continues this year, with the Crowd Favorite and People’s Choice Awards determined by spectators.
Immediately following the flotilla, a stunning 21-minute, 4,000-round fireworks display illuminates the night sky, showering the waterway with sound and color. “We have a long show by Zambelli International, one of the most reputable fireworks companies in the world,” said Davenport. “We’re able to put on a really impressive display that rivals or surpasses most July 4th shows. Most shows are 15 minutes. That additional five to six minutes puts a great cap on the weekend with an impressive fireworks finale.”
“Another thing we’re really excited about this year is the fact that the Surfrider Foundation has volunteered to help clean up the waterway and beaches the morning after the fireworks show, to make sure the debris is gone and we are good stewards of the environment,” said Davenport.
Through the “Corporate Cup” program, The North Carolina Holiday Flotilla raises funds for at-risk children at DC Virgo STEM Academy, New Hanover County Schools. According to Davenport, this program “provides a vehicle for companies to support a major community event and help at-risk children at the same time. We’re excited to be able to create a mechanism to give back to the community.”
Flotilla website: www.NCHolidayFlotilla.org
Host hotel accommodations: Click here
2012 and 2013 press photos: Click here
Contact information:
Pres Davenport, Board Chairman
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
info@NCHolidayFlotilla.org
p. 910-256-2120
North Carolina Holiday Flotilla
info@NCHolidayFlotilla.org
p. 910-256-2120
Brittany Burdine, Media Logistics
Blockade Runner Beach Resort
Brittany.Burdine@blockade-runner.com
p. 910.256.2251
Robert B Butler | NCPressRelease
Serving nonprofits, communities, foundations and supporting companies
Serving nonprofits, communities, foundations and supporting companies
2013 Photos
Jaws devours competition in NC Holiday Flotilla
2013 Winners
30th Annual North Carolina Holiday Flotilla and Fireworks
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Photography by: Beth Watson Hedgepeth
(see photos of 2013 winners below)
Category: Best Overall
Captain: Brady Semmel
Vessel: Jaws
Theme: Great White Christmas
Category: Peoples Choice
Captain: Skip Wilson
Vessel: The Bottom Line
Theme: Charlie Brown Christmas
Category: Crowd Favorite
Captain: Tim & Emily Moss
Theme: Dixie Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Animal!
Category: Best Powerboat 31′ and over
Captain: Paula Sturdy & Van Marr
Vessel: Reel Hot
Theme: My Radio Flyer – Toys from the Attic
Category: Best Powerboat 23′ – 31′
Captain: Lindsay Hancock
Vessel: Pontoon
Theme: Hancoctopus
Category: Best Powerboat 22′ and under
Captain: Brent Jernigan
Vessel: Craig Cat
Theme: Santa Jaws
Category: Best Sailboat
Captain: Steve Sutton
Vessel: Manana
Theme: Rudolph the Red Nosed Dolphin
Category: Best Costumes & Crew Spirit
Captain: Mark Strauss
Vessel: Camley
Theme: Classic Hatteras
Host Hotel
Blockade Runner Beach Resort, host hotel for the North Carolina Holiday Flotilla for 31 years.
2012 Photos
2012 Winners
29th Annual NC Holiday Flotilla and Fireworks
Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Photography by Beth Watson Hedgepeth
People’s Choice Award
Captain David Salling
Ranger 1
“Rudolph the Redtail Stingray”
Captain David Salling
Ranger 1
“Rudolph the Redtail Stingray”
Best Sailboat
Captains Menno & Valerie Baars
Eyra
“O’ Christmas Tree”
Captains Menno & Valerie Baars
Eyra
“O’ Christmas Tree”
Best Powerboat 31’ and over
Captains Paula Sturdy & Van Marr
Reel Hot
“Hooked on Catch’n a Christmas Wish”
Captains Paula Sturdy & Van Marr
Reel Hot
“Hooked on Catch’n a Christmas Wish”
Best Powerboat 23’ to 31’
Captains Brian & Helen Buckley
Refugee
“Margaritaville Christmas”
Captains Brian & Helen Buckley
Refugee
“Margaritaville Christmas”
Best Powerboat 22’ and under
Captain Ricky Baggs
Soundwave
“Musical Christmas Tree Lightshow”
Captain Ricky Baggs
Soundwave
“Musical Christmas Tree Lightshow”
Best in Show
Captain Skip Wilson
Bottom Line
“North Pole Fair”
Captain Skip Wilson
Bottom Line
“North Pole Fair”
Best Costumes and Crew Spirit
Captain Dean Brennan
Coastie
“South of the Border Christmas”
Captain Dean Brennan
Coastie
“South of the Border Christmas”
