April 27 will mark the 21st year of the April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge. You might think that by now the organising committee of the Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society would have run out of novel ideas for the challenge but this year will definitely prove that wrong!
The format remains the same: builders arrive at 10 a.m., get to see their materials, have one hour to think through their plans, then have three hours to make that a reality. And, as usual, they will only be allowed to use their hand tools and battery-powered screw guns to do it. The trick comes in the materials supplied and how they must be used—this year’s pile has some pretty unexpected components!
But the tight-lipped organisers will be the only ones to know what they are until the morning of the 27th. It will definitely make for some interesting craft! The adults’ race will start about 2:30 p.m. and then everyone gets to see who does and doesn’t float!
The high schoolers who have built and lavishly decorated boats at school will give the builders a break between building and racing by having their meets at 2 p.m. and no one does it quite like they do! Let’s just say that swimming is definitely an option.
The little kids will yet again have lots of small boat hulls and wood blocks of all shapes to turn into the boats of their dreams. They can paint them and float them in our pool, then take them home to enjoy. They can have their faces painted and make other fun crafts – all kid and high school activities are free!
The entry fee for the adult races is $200, reduced to $180 if received by April 1. This covers all the building materials and a T-shirt for each team member. But there is serious prize money to be won: $700 for first, $400 for second, and $250 for third, not to mention unique trophies for best-looking boat and for “perseverance in the face of adversity.” To sign up go to apriltools.ca and get an entry form or enter online. You can pay by cheque or etransfer so it doesn’t get easier.
It’s a fun day for the whole family. There will be lots of food and treats to eat and who knows, the weather might even cooperate!
