Pirate regatta returns to Camas Cove Sept. 1
JOEL MARTIN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 8 months AGO
The Blue Barnacle makes its way to shore at the end of a previous Pirate Regatta. This year’s regatta is Sept. 1.
FILE PHOTO
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.
Joel Martin has been with the Columbia Basin Herald for more than 25 years in a variety of roles and is the most-tenured employee in the building. Martin is a married father of eight and enjoys spending time with his children and his wife, Christina. He is passionate about the paper’s mission of informing the people of the Columbia Basin because he knows it is important to record the history of the communities the publication serves. | August 21, 2024 3:15 AM
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.ARTICLES BY JOEL MARTIN
Mail carriers to collect food Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Mail carriers in Moses Lake will collect food for the Moses Lake Food Bank Saturday, part of the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive. “(We’re asking) for a small donation of non-perishable food by your mailbox,” said carrier Michelle Schmidt, who’s coordinating the drive this year for Moses Lake. “And then on Saturday when we’re delivering, we’ll be picking up the food as we go along our route.” Schmidt suggested marking the food donation clearly, so carriers don’t pick up someone’s delivery order from a store. Anyone wanting more information can ask their mail carrier. The drive, put on by the National Association of Letter Carriers the second Saturday in May, has been going on since 1993, according to the NALC’s website.
NCWJLS kicks off livestock show season
MOSES LAKE — Young animal growers started the season March 19-21 at the North Central Washington Junior Livestock, held at the Grant County Fairgrounds in Moses Lake. “We are the first (show) of the year,” said Michelle Farrer, show manager for the NCWJLS. “So we’re the first opportunity for kids to get their animals in the show ring and work those jitters out and practice for larger shows around the area, including county shows.” The sale is a three-day affair, Farrer said. The exhibitors weigh in Thursday afternoon, show their animals all day Friday, and then they’re judged on Saturday morning. Also Saturday morning is a meat judging contest, Farrer said.
Vanderhoff named Apple Blossom Citizen of the Year
WENATCHEE — Delbert Vanderhoff of Wenatchee had no idea he’d been named the 2026 Apple Blossom Citizen of the Year. “I can’t believe they did that,” Vanderhoff said. “I’ve always told my kids, ‘This is a small town. I know everybody. You can probably do things, but you need to understand that I will find out.’ When Darci (Christopherson) came in and surprised me, I said, ‘I can’t believe you kept it a secret.’” Christopherson, the Apple Blossom Festival coordinator, said Vanderhoff was selected by a board made up of past winners, who look for things like community involvement, commitment to furthering the industry and mentoring the next generation of growers. “(Vanderhoff) has been in the business since he graduated high school,” Christopherson said. “He’s very passionate about it.