All was fair in silly and sailing on Sunday, July 20 at Maffeo Sutton Park, for the annual Silly Boat Regatta in Nanaimo. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

maximum silliness

PHOTOS: Silly Boats float and flounder along Nanaimo waterfront

Jul 20, 2025 | 4:10 PM

NANAIMO — A fast-rising tide may have helped sailors on their way back into shore, but ensuring their boats stayed in one piece was a whole different challenge.

The annual Silly Boats Regatta, a fundraiser supporting the Nanaimo Child Development Centre, took over Maffeo Sutton Park and the waterfront area on Sunday, July 20, with Aarsen Gutters claiming the championship in a time of two minutes and 19 seconds.

But the racing was certainly a backdrop to the brightly coloured costumes, a massive crowd cheering racers on, as well as some extremely questionable design choices and construction methods.

Winner of the opening heat, McElhanney, blitzed the field in their traffic-cone inspired design, with team lead Sam Vito saying it was a complete 180 from last year’s effort.

McElhanney’s traffic cone cruised to victory in their heat, but came up a little short in the final. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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“We’re an engineering company so we wanted to think about safety first. We built it off really old sailboards, we cut them up and put a giant cone on top made out of styrofoam. Last year, actually almost sank so this year it was surprising for us to come out so far. This is a completely different build.”

They were one of six teams to advance to the championship race Sunday afternoon.

Joining them was Real Canadian Superstore in their ‘No Frills’-themed watercraft.

Store handyman and team lead Sean Noonan told NanaimoNewsNOW the boat build and design was a simple concept, and served two purposes.

“I thought ‘what’s being thrown away and can float’? And then I thought ‘how can I make it so we can stand on it and have beers and party if we don’t win.”

Thousands lined the shores of Maffeo Sutton Park to check out the action. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Noonan added after their victorious effort in the heat, the ship was in fine condition for both racing and partying.

It was made from old jugs from an industrial washing business, along with construction materials.

“The build was just something that came out of my head, I’d never built one before and honestly until I saw it go in the water I had no idea how this was going to pan out.”

Some teams weren’t as fortunate on the water.

An entry from the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union earned the dubious ‘First to Sink’ award, as their ship disintegrated in the first few seconds of their heat.

An entry from the BC Ferry and Marine Workers Union proved not to be as seaworthy as they’d hoped. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

New entrant Green Thumb Nursery also had a challenging race, clocking one of the slowest times of the day in their six-person boat where each paddler was in a large planter pot.

Green Thumb production manager Rob Mason said they were held in through some old PVC piping from an irrigation system, but the event was well worth the tiring paddle.

“It was fun, the first experience with the team, it’s the first time we’ve entered. We see this event year over year and finally having some time to put some forethought and get a team organized, I couldn’t have asked for a better support system from our staff to get this together.”

The team didn’t go home empty handed, as they won the ‘Silliest Sailors’ award for their boat decorations and paddler costumes.

Officially the silliest team for Silly Boats, Green Thumb Nursery finished dead last in their heat but won one of the loudest ovations of the day. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Mason added they jumped this year at the opportunity to support the Nanaimo Child Development Centre.

“It’s so much fun, anytime you see any team on the water they’re having a blast. To put a team building event together, to put an idea to work and take a Sunday out to have fun on the water and support a good cause, you can’t ask for a better event.”

This year’s event aimed to raise $125,000 towards the Centre’s programs and services, supporting over 1,900 children, youth and families on the mid-Island every year.

As of 4 p.m., organizers said they were at around $100,000 and still counting.

(Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

(Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

(Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

(Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

(Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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