WORDS BY PERRY MACK, PHOTOS BY JIM CAVIN

Unusual watercraft racing in Summerland began in 1910 when they conducted apple box races.

ow, 107 years into the future, the Summerland Yacht Club will be holding its annual fundraiser, the Great Ogopogo Bathtub Race, on August 19th 2017, at Powell Beach Park, Summerland.

For the just-for-fun Putt-putt, Paddle or Pull competition, you can use anything that will float. A full tub is not required so you can use the old family washtub, a baby tub or something similar. Yes, a horse trough will work. There is a 3.2 kilometre course for this event running along the north side of Trout Creek.

The 40 km (24 mile) competition course is for the more serious racers. And the com- petitive race specifications are naturally stricter. Your vessel must be a bath tub at least 48” (122 cm) long and 12” (30 cm) deep. The rim of the tub must be visible above any decking and the tubs can be real, or constructed from a mold using fibreglass etc., but it must resemble a bathtub. There are a number of other vessel, pilot and rules and regulations, so check out the web site for the exact requirements.

Like the man in the infomercial says, ‘…but wait there’s more’! This years event will have ‘more’ than just races. Some of the activities planned so far include; a Pancake Breakfast in the Park, Bouncy Castles, Face Painting, Fish Pond, Lunch BBQ, and Family Sand Sculpting.

This is a continuing fundraising effort for the new Penticton Regional Hospital Tower Project, specifically the South Okanagan Similkameen Medical Foundation. All en-