Millennium Park at Madeira Park’s government wharf will be the site of the 15th annual April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge. The contestants’ boat-building task, not revealed until one hour before the beginning of construction, will be unique but doable, requiring a little skill and a lot of imagination. Past events have involved paddlewheels, paddleboards and a whole lot of general paddling, but no one will know the specifics of this year’s match until 10 a.m. on April 30. One hour of planning will be followed by three hours of furious building, but not with any sissy power tools – hand tools and battery screw guns only!
The adult builders will then get a breather while the teenagers race for the trophy, followed by the considerably wetter Fun Race. Meanwhile there will be several free activities to entertain the little kids, topped by the ever-popular mini-boat building.
The adults will follow the high schoolers onto the water. Their preliminary races are followed by the prize-laden final – $700 for first, $400 for second, $250 for third. Some may sink, others may swim, and someone will go home with the big bucks. Good looks and hard work will be rewarded with the always unique Spiffy Skiffy and Broken Paddle trophies.
To sign up a team of up to four, contact Jackie at 604-883-0539 or see www.apriltools.ca to download an entry form. The fee is $160 per team and includes all building materials and a T-shirt for each member of the team. Check out the website to see pictures and videos of past years’ events. If building is not your thing, just come out and witness the chaos on Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Madeira Park. It’s free to watch and a whole lot of fun.
