Pirate regatta returns to Camas Cove Sept. 1

MOSES LAKE — Raiding and pillaging will be the order of the day Sept. 1 at the Camas Cove Pirate Regatta, according to event organizer and Camas Cove Cellars co-owner Kathleen Parr. 

“And massive squirt gun battles,” Parr added. 

This is the eighth time Camas Cove Cellars winery has held the rollicking, swashbuckling event. Last year brought in about 300 spectators and 13 or 14 boats, Parr said. 

The competition is a simple one: boats made of almost anything and crewed by as many or as few people as the entrants wish. The biggest restriction is that they must be human-powered; no motors of any kind are allowed. The buccaneers take two laps around a course in the lake marked with Jolly Roger buoys and are encouraged to fire on the enemy with squirt guns or splash them with oars or buckets. Boarding parties are permissible, Parr said, but probably not a very good idea. 

“One year there was somebody who boarded somebody else’s ship,” she said. “These two were really going at it, trying to beat each other out for first place, and one guy jumped his ship onto the other ship. They both just ended up in the water, of course.” 

There’s no entry fee for boats, and prizes will be awarded in six categories: 

• Best design of pirate vessel from bow to stern 

• Most courageous crew 

• The Jolly Roger award for extreme plundering 

• Funniest scallywags in the cove 

• Fastest ship in the fleet 

• The Titanic award for most unseaworthy vessel in the fleet 

The Seven C’s pirate band will provide music, and Porky’s Hot Dogs will keep the crowd fed. And of course, Camas Cove wines will be available in the tasting room. 

The race starts at 3:30, and Parr recommended spectators get there a little early. Boats can be dropped off at the winery the day before. 

“We've got pirate captains from 12 years old to 85 years old,” she said. “It's just such a fun community, family (event). We like to celebrate Moses Lake.” 

    Young buccaneers kick up their heels to pirate music at a past Pirate Regatta. The Seven C’s pirate band will perform again at this year’s event Sept. 1.
  

    Buccaneers roar in triumph at the Pirate Regatta at Camas Cove Cellars.