The Silly Boat Regatta draws large crowds to Nanaimo's waterfront. (Nanaimo Child Development Centre)

By Ian Holmes

silly season

Silly Boat Regatta to attract thousands to Nanaimo’s waterfront

Jul 13, 2023 | 5:55 AM

NANAIMO — Whether homemade boats float or sink, everybody wins at the annual Silly Boat Regatta taking over Maffeo Sutton Park this weekend.

Founded in 1984 by radio station CHUB AM 1570, participants for nearly 40 years have used a variety of recycled materials to construct and race boats on Nanaimo’s waterfront for a good cause.

This year’s races start on Sunday, July 16 at 1 p.m., featuring 32 teams who spend the morning building their boats with varying degrees of success.

For most of the event’s history the Nanaimo Child Development Centre (CDC) has benefited from funds raised, which provided services to nearly 2,000 children and their families navigating physical and neurological challenges last year.

CDC resource development team member Michelle Kocourek said there will be plenty for people to see and do on Sunday.

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“Everything is geared around being a family friendly event, the kids just love it,” Kocourek told NanaimoNewsNOW.

A children’s mini regatta where youngsters build a race a noodle boat is among a pair of new offerings this year.

Entertainment on the Lions Pavillion stage, more than 20 interactive community vendors, food trucks and bouncy castles will be set up in the park, among many other offerings.

While the non-profit CDC receives provincial government base funding, the invaluable organization relies on additional financial support.

“Every department and service that we have is touched by fund-raised money in some way, and some only by fund-raised money. Our child and youth development summer camp is completely funded by fund-raised money,” Kocourek said.

The CDC hopes to raise at least $100,000 through this year’s event.

Kocourek said Silly Boat Regatta entrants with the most creative names and costumes garner a lot of attention and laughs from the large crowd.

“Those ones always get your imagination going on what’s possible for boats for this year,” she said.

About 150 volunteers and thousands of spectators will converge to Maffeo Sutton Park and around Swy-a-Lana lagoon for this year’s Silly Boat Regatta.

Much more information on this year’s event can be found at the Nanaimo Child Development website linked here, where donations can also be made to the CDC.

The Silly Boat Regatta is the second of three consecutive weekends of the Nanaimo Marine Festival.

Bathtub Weekend caps the formal marine based local summer events season.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes