Events > April Tools > 2012
April Tools 2012: What do you mean, No Screws?
Recap & Media Gallery
That was the main 'twist' that the builders in the 2012 April Tools Wooden Boat Challenge had to face! Their materials list included 1/2 sheet of plywood, a bundle of 8 ft. 1" X 2"s, a 6' X 20' sheet of plastic, the obligatory roll of duct tape, 250' of mason/chalk line, but NO screws! And as if that wasn't enough to deal with, they were asked to pick up a 24" diameter beach ball emblazoned with the Maple Leaf shortly after the race start, and carry it INFLATED all the way around the race course! Some sank, some dropped the ball, some never made it off the launch ramp, but everyone had a great time. The winners included the Garden Bay Fireflies in third; the Great Hope, a new team from the ACEIT program in Sechelt, in second; and long time contestants from Delta, Bud 1, in first. The Sinkers took the Spiffy Skiffy Award, and the Squamton Four received the Broken Paddle Award for their heroic swimming finish in heat 2.
The racing was not all about the adults though! The Youth Trophy Race was taken by Team Awesome for the fourth year in a row! The Hydrophobes placed first in the Fun Race (can you actually win the Fun Race?) since they crossed the finish line, though not necessarily by actually paddling. Sawyer Cote of the Spongy Llamas was rewarded for his amazing perseverance and unusual paddling style, and DT Double J took the prize for best swimmer. Team Awesome had the best attack, and 3 1/2 Men ended up the wettest team. The little kids had a bumper crop of activities to keep them busy this year and were still hammering nails and painting away long after the last mini-boat hulls were gone. They got their faces painted, made pirate flags. painted pots and made dream catchers. They even got free hot dogs from the Rotary! The day was completed with dragonboat rides from the Dragontinis, the chance to row a classic boat for free, and full stomachs thanks to the Rotary BBQ and the PHLHS baked goods tent. Bobbi Bennett did an amazing job with the 50/50 and the Harbour Air tickets auctioned for a good price. It was a really fun event this year! A little damp weather can't keep a good town down...not on April Tools day anyway! Thanks again to our wonderful sponsors: Sunshine Coast Credit Union, Rona, Rotary Club of Pender Harbour, Twentyman Tea and Coffee, Grasshopper Pub, Pender Harbour Diesel, Bobbi and Bernie Bennett, Prudential Sussex Realty, and Harbour Air Seaplanes. Thanks also to our other supporters: Marketplace IGA, Oak Tree Market, Marina Pharmacy, SunshineCoastHomes.com, and Sunshine Coast Resort. April Tools couldn't happen without their help! For complete race results, see below. And, of course , nothing tells the tale like the pictures so visit the photo gallery below--there are LOTS of pictures! And the winners are... Adult Races (download)
First Place: Team Awesome Second Place: Hydrophobes Third Place: 3 1/2 Men Fourth Place: DT Double J Fifth Place: Spongy Llamas |
April Tools 2012 Media Gallery
Boat-building, Activities, Displays
Youth Races
Adult Races
News Archives
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What's in store for April Tools 2012?
- Feb. 2, 2012, Pender Harbour Needless to say, the Pender Harbour Living Heritage Society isn't going to give that away just yet! No doubt there will be some interesting twist to test the boatbuilding talents of the this year's participants but, as usual, it will not be divulged until the day of the event---which is April 28 this year. One thing you can be sure of is that it will be fun and maybe even a little devilish! The day will begin at 10AM with the reveal of the 'twist' and the first view of the building materials. Building from the materials provided (only hand tools and cordless screw guns allowed!) will begin at 11AM and continue till 2PM. Then the high schoolers will have their trophy race and free-for-all while the tired builders take a much need break. Adult races will follow and who knows how it will all turn out! Will they sink or swim? Will they even get all the way around the course? Can anyone beat the Garden Bay Firefighters?? Upsets (of all kinds...) can happen! Meanwhile there will be burgers and baked goods to keep everyone energised and lots of fun activities for the little kids. After all, what would April Tools be without free mini-boatbuilding! Handmade boats will be available to row or paddle around the Harbour for free. In other words, you're in store for another great April Tools---if we're lucky we may even have a beautiful sunny day like last year! Be part of the action! Sign up your team of up to 4 builders by printing the entry form below and mailing it with your $160 entry fee to the address on the form. If you get it in by April 1st, it's even cheaper at $140! We're really looking forward to April Tools 11---come out to Millennium Park in Madeira Park on April 28, 2012 and join us! Don't forget to check out the Photo Gallery to relive the excitement of years past. |