Just when you thought it was safe to go out on the water again - they're back.
On April 24, Madeira Park's Millennium Park will once again come to life as those crazy boat-builder folks create amazing vessels out of next to nothing and then race them around the harbour for cash prizes.
As usual, boat-building will start at 10 a.m., but the teams usually arrive a little earlier, so they are set up in the building spots and ready to go with their saws, saw horses, cordless screw guns and other hand tools. And there's always "a catch."
Two years ago, teams were surprised to be given a paddlewheel to power their boats and had to give hard consideration to how to steer something that travels well in a straight line around a circular course. Last year they got a length of Sonotube, which had to be incorporated into their design. This year all the builders are being told is that "there will be plenty of materials to build a boat, but prepare to get wet."
The fastest three teams will receive sizable cash prizes, and there is also the Broken Paddle Trophy for the team that perseveres in the face of adversity, and the Spiffy Skiffy Trophy (a people's choice award) for the group building the boat chosen by the crowd as the finest looking.
But the day is not only about building interesting boats from questionable materials. High school students, who have built boats after school, will race for the coveted youth trophy, followed by a relaxed rules fun race for bags of goodies.
There will be free mini-boat-building and other activities for the little kids thanks to the Pender Harbour Community School and Success by 6, and a fabulous barbecue by the Pender Harbour Rotary Club for everyone. Boat building displays and free paddling in the Harbour will round out the day.
The entry fee is still only $160 per team of up to four, or $140 for early birds signing up before April 1.
Call Richard or Jackie at 604-883-0539 or email jackieordronneau@gmail.com to enter your team or if you would like to be part of the planning or staging of this great family-oriented springtime event.
-Submitted
