Soap Lake Hydroplane Regatta boat races moving forward

SOAP LAKE - The Soap Lake Hydroplane Regatta may take place this August, according to Soap Lake Mayor Raymond Gravelle.

Gravelle recently mapped out where and how the event would be held along with race organizer Terry Anderson and officials with the Seattle Drag and Ski Sprint Boat Association, the club that would oversee the event.

"It looks like the focal point is the east shore, where they'd take over about half of the campground," he said; adding everything is tentative at this point. "We identified spots for spectators and I know that (the organizers) left very enthused and excited about the support they're going to get from Soap Lake."

Anderson previously said the two-day race would feature about 10 classes of hydroplanes and several classes of high-powered racing boats and outboards, which would race on the lake for about four hours each day.

The regatta could bring more than 600 people to town during the course of a weekend, Anderson estimated, including as many as 35 race teams of three to four people each, along with their families and spectators.

Race organizers are looking at a potential weekend sometime in August, but must find sponsors and raise about $4,000 to pay for insurance prior to mid-June, Gravelle said.

"I told them having it this year is really important because of the momentum that is already built up," he said.