Hub Staff

There was a full day of events on Saturday, July 25th at the Marine Heritage Festival at Pioneer Park in Southampton.

The idea of the festival came about in 2011 when a group of individuals decided that there should be a festival to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the restoration of the Chantry Lighthouse and the housekeeper's cottage. It has since grown with more events being added including the addition of the carboard boat races in 2012.

The Southampton Rotary's pancake breakfast started the day off while entrants registered their vessels for the races.

The Boat hulls had to be constructed entirely of cardboard with the only other allowable materials being duct tape, one-part paint and two 5-foot dowels. At least 50 percent of the hull exterior had to be corrugated cardboard.

Hundreds of people lined the beach in anticipation of the races. Wayne Kaufman, also known as 'Captain Wayne Sparrow', of the Cardboard Boat Committee, was on hand to help out a few sinkers that didn't quite make it out too far from shore or came back slightly wetter than when they set out. Members of the Saugeen Shores Lifesaving Club were also keeping a close eye on the event from both on the water and on the beach.

Although most boats completed the full race, there were a few that did not, with the Best Sink Award going to 'Two Old Bags in a Boat'. The winner of the corporate competition went to the 'Samsanov' of Martin's Bicycle Shop, with Sam Weichel lifting the coveted trophy for a second year in a row.

A lunchtime barbecue and beer garden offered refreshments as the afternoon continued with Jack Sparrow's Gold Hunt where children in different age categories, hunted for nuggets on the beach and won prizes for the weight of gold they found.

To see more photos of the race, click HERE. 

Check out our video HERE.