Sam Weichel representing Martin’s Bicycle Shop took the Corporate and Service Clubs Cardboard Boat Race title for the fourth year in a row at the Marine Heritage Festival July 29.
Hub Staff
Boats sunk and soared through the water during the annual Cardboard Boat Race sponsored by Bruce Telecom during the 7th annual Marine Heritage Festival July 29. Sam Weichel representing Martin’s Bicycle Shop was crowned the winner in the Corporate and Service Club’s division for the fourth year in a row.
Over 40 boats took to the water under the watchful eye of Captain Wayne Sparrow who saved a few wrecks. In addition to the Corporate and Service Club division, participants participated under categories 12 and Under, Teens, 19 and Over and Family.
The 12 and Under competitors made their way around a half-sized route which included poles and buoys to help chart the course while the Over 19 and Corporate and Service Club boats navigated the course in its entirety. The three entries in the Teen competition all sank at the start of their race.
Top 3 Under 12 boats were: J.F. Slayer with a time of 30.10, Rockn Blue with a time of 34.53 and The opti-mist boat with a time of 35.57.
Family top 3: Avery’s Rocket with 53.04, Willy B Dragon with 2 minute 12 seconds and Crocodile Dundee with 2 minutes 55 seconds.
19 and Over winners were: Ducked to the Maxx with a time of 1 minute 2 seconds, J.F. Slayer who clocked in at 1 minute 12 seconds and Flaming Piece of Ship with 1 minute 14 seconds.
Top 3 Corporate and Service Clubs boats were: The Seaward (Martin’s Bicycle Shop) with a time of 50.50, Splash Paddy (Southampton Rotary Club) with a time of 56.28 and The Chinook Canuck (Bruce County Museum & Cultural Centre) with 1.14.
The inaugural Big Canoe Challenge sponsored by the MS Chi-Cheemaun put teams of four against each other in a canoe Tug-of-War battle which saw Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre beat Bruce Telecom and A Knight in Southampton Bed and Breakfast.
Editors Note: The article previously stated that the winner of the MS Chi-Cheemaun Big Canoe Challenge was Bruce Telecom. The information has been corrected above.
The Chantry Island Cham-bettes, dressed in their island best, won the People’s Choice Award at the Marine Heritage Cardboard Boat Race sponsored by Bruce Telecom July 29. Accepting the award from Captain Wayne Sparrow were, Cham-bettes Carol Kilday (left) and Darlene Welsh.
Captain Kate Reinhart (left) made quick work of the charted course with Olivia Little and Amelia Martinon on her heels in the Under 12 race.
Avery’s Rocket took first place in the Family division with its Captains Avery and Steve Keenleyside leaving last year’s winners the Wilken Family in their wake with Willy B Dragon taking second spot.
Grace Rooyakkers, aka Bat Girl, of Southampton came in first in her Under 12 race, coming in ahead of Rock’n Blue boat by mere seconds.
Southampton’s Grace Rooyakkers, aka Bat Girl, also won gold with the fastest boat in a boat melee when all surviving boats took to the water.
Crew members of Ducked to the Maxx, Mario Paolillo and Dave Carson, sported a nice flow narrowly beating the Canada 150 boat manned by Captain Irwin during the adult heat.
The teen category was a tad waterlogged.
Amy and Rachel Shute of Bicyclette Rouge Children’s Boutique in Port Elgin took to the seas and capsized all while smiling during the Corporate and Service Clubs Cardboard Boat Race.
98 The Beach Morning Show hosts Brian Longmire and Craig Power won their heat against rival Classic Rock 94-5.
Crikey! Curtis Balton was in high spirits before his run on the water with his mother Penny Wellard.
Three teams of four took part in the inaugural Big Canoe Tug-of-War challenge.
