Camas Cove 'Pirate Regatta' Sunday

MOSES LAKE — A scurvy band of pirates will take the waters of Moses Lake, but not to pillage and plunder. Camas Cove Cellars will sponsor its third annual Pirate Regatta at 3 p.m. Sunday at the winery’s tasting room, 911 Camas Place.

Entry is free, but a liability waiver and U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are required. For 2018 cash prizes will be awarded in six categories; each winner receives $50, donated by Clint Bridges of Grant County Powernet.

Camas Cove co-owner Nancy Parr credited her daughter Kathleen with the idea for the regatta. Kathleen Parr disputed that. “I just continued their crazy chaos,” she said.

About the only rule for entries – well, let’s see. It’s better if they float, but there’s an award for the most unseaworthy boat. Entries should be piratey – no, hold on. “It doesn’t have to piratey,” Kathleen said. One of the 2017 entries featured a Tiki Queen.

There is one rule. The boat must be human-powered.

Many entries feature a rowboat, canoe, kayak or paddleboard, and paddleboard and kayak rentals will be available Sunday. But some entrants built their own. The Columbia Basin Roller Derby team “did a boat out of pallets and milk jugs,” and darned if it didn’t float. Other craft have been fashioned from plastic buckets and wood planks.

“It’s pretty silly and people enjoy it,” Nancy said.

Nancy and Dennis Parr used to grow gigantic pumpkins which they entered in competition, Nancy said. However, there was the issue of what to do with them once competition ended. “They had this idea to hollow out the pumpkins and see if they would float,” Kathleen said, “and sure enough they did.” The next step was obvious. “They attached motors and started this race,” she said.

“We had a pumpkin regatta,” Nancy said. But the pumpkin patch had to be abandoned as the winery grew. Kathleen regretted the loss of a fun event, so she came up with the pirate regatta, Nancy said.

The band “Seven Cs” will perform after the race. “They’re a bunch of professors” from Big Bend Community College, Nancy Parr said.

Gourmet hot dogs will be available from Sue’s Dog House, which has gluten-free and vegetarian options, Nancy said. Games are planned, both for adults and children.