Events > April Tools > 2007

April Tools 2007: Oars Ahoy

Pile up in chain alley

April Tools 2007: A Slight Twist 
- May 1, 2007, Pender Harbour

Those diabolical organizers of Pender Harbour's April Tools Wooden Boat challenge introduced a twist this year that had everyone scrambling. At 10:00 AM on boat-building day (April 28th), the assembled teams of boat-builders learned that this year they had to “row,” not paddle, their boats and that they had to make the oars out of the building materials provided. 

The result was hilarious. In the final heat, three boats got hopelessly tangled up in the infamous “chain alley” a narrow opening where the boats have to pass under a ramp leading down to the floats. There just wasn't enough room for 3 sets of long, sweeping oars to fit through - a great photo opportunity for the happy, camera-wielding spectators.   

It didn't change the results though. For the fifth year in a row, the team from the Garden Bay volunteer fire department (Bruno Cote, Dave Goble, Kerry Rand, and Dustin Ouellette, collectively known as the “Fireflies”) emerged victorious. A team from Delta named “Cabin Fever” (AKA “SSWim”), consisting of Peter Motzek, Doug Duncan, Scott Alexander, and Alex Kurenov came in second. Kohlby Janyk, Mike Bathgate, Darcy Perry, and John Schroeder from the Madeira Park volunteer firefighters (their team aptly named “Flyswatters” because of their declared intent to unseat the Garden Bay team) came in third. All teams vowed to come back next year and take another “swat” at the Fireflies.” 

Meanwhile, in the youth races, the “Unsinkable Eggs” (Jesse Roose, Hannah Stark, Eric Hamilton, and Devin Manning) claimed the trophy for first place in the “serious race”. However, the other two teams, the “Terror Tippers” (Corbett Edwardson, Cody Edwardson, and Luke Roose) and the “Timber Tiger” (Luke Hansen, Chase Campbell, and Jeremy Hargrove) got their revenge in the “fun race” by showing that the “Unsinkable Eggs” were, after all, not unsinkable! 

The crowd seemed to enjoy all the other activities, too. Kids had to be pried away from the mini-boat-building area at the end of the day. Several people took advantage of the opportunity to get out and paddle or row one of the traditional boats available for that purpose, to admire the steam-bending demo, and of course to gobble up the BBQ'ed fare on offer at the Pender Harbour Rotary tent. 

The Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society wishes to thank all the sponsors, donors, and volunteers who made the day such a great success. See you next year!  

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