SOUTHWICK – Fun-filled competition on Congamond Lake is almost a month away. The Southwick cardboard boat races will be happening on Saturday August 6th.
The Southwick community is encouraged to compete in the race. There will be two members to each cardboard boat in which they are responsible for building their boat as well as decorating it.
One member will be the pilot who is responsible for driving the boat.
The decorations of the cardboard boats is a great experience for many competitors and spectators at the race. (Photo by Kasie Provencal.
There is a limit to 50 boats registering for the event so it is important for interested competitors to register as soon as possible. Pre-registration started on July 1 and runs through August 5 at a fee of $45. As long as the limit of 50 boats has not been reached, there will be an opportunity to register on August 6., the day of the race, for $50.
Kasie Provencal, who is responsible for the registration of the event, is looking for people to register right away.
“We’re really asking people to go to the website and pre-register,” said Provencal.
The event will be held at Louie’s Lakeside and hosted by the owner of the restaurant, Jennifer Nolasco with registrations being done through their website, www.louiebs.com. On the day of the event, all of the competitors who registered, will go to the registration tent outside the parking lot of Louie’s Lakeside. Registration begins at 12 p.m. After checking in, every competitor will receive their entry number as well as a gift card to eat at Louie’s Lakeside, only after the race.
The race itself will start at 1 p.m. with the starting line near the dock of Louie’s Lakeside. It will feature several heats as the pre-determined judges will decide how many heats there should be. Nolasco believes it is most likely that five or six boats will be in each heat.
The fastest time from a boat in any heat will be determined the winner of the race. The course on Congamond Lake will consist of several buoys where the boats will have to circle around the buoys.
“It’s really, really, really cool to just watch how like some boats go down and others go fast”, said Nolasco. “It’s pretty fun to watch.”
Besides being crowned the winner of the entire race, the boat with the fastest time will be awarded $500. There will also be another chance to win $500. As the judges will go around from Noon to 1 p.m. to look at the boats, they will also determine which boat is the best in show. The boat selected for best in show will receive $500.
If you don’t end up in first place or get awarded with best in show, don’t worry there is still opportunities for prizes. The 2nd place finisher in the race will receive a $100 gift card to Louie’s Lakeside while 3rd place will get a $50 gift card.
Breton Provencal is paddling away in his cardboard boat. (Photo by Kasie Provencal)
Shortly after the race, live music will head the entertainment for the after party. Feel Good Drift will perform from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. while Jimmy Hat will close out the festivities from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Louie’s Lakeside will also be providing food specials. One of the event’s sponsors, Twisted Tea, will be on hand for the race and will be giving out promotions during the after party.
As it is highly encourage to participate in the race, Nolasco and Provencal are also looking for supporters. Any family or friends of the competitors as well as anyone else interested in the event can spectate for free.
This year’s cardboard boat race features fun for all ages and an event that is already bringing excitement.
“It should be a really great family day,” said Provencal.
