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By SCOTT JOHNSON -
sjohnson@lockhaven.com
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LOCK HAVEN — There will be festival food and games, carnival rides, an arts and crafts fair and plenty of live entertainment.
But it’s the boaters ... dozens of them ... who make this weekend one of the biggest events in Clinton County.
The Lock Haven Area Jaycees Boat Regatta gets underway this morning and continues through Sunday and Monday. The three-day event — held on both the Lock Haven and Woodward Township sides of the Susquehanna River — concludes with a fireworks display Monday night.
Officials with the American Power Boating Association are again predicting a large turnout of boaters, who say the local races are one of their favorites on the power boat circuit. It’s also one of the largest regattas in the nation.
About 150 boats from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Canada are expected this weekend, according to race organizer Lisa Jennings from the APBA’s Central Jersey Racing Association.
Among the featured events this year are the Northeast Modified Divisionals, the J Class Northeast Divisionals and the North American Championships for B and C class modified runabouts.
The annual “Dash for Cash” also will be held Sunday afternoon, Jennings said.
Boats that will compete include modified, stock and J (junior) classes, and the 125 and 250 Pro classes, also known as the alcohol boats.
“Many racers have been coming to this race for years bringing with them their families. It’s more than just a race, it’s like a family reunion,” said Jennings.
“It’s the last race of the summer and most of us take a very long weekend ... come up early Friday or late Thursday night. The pits are beautiful and the area is a prime location for shopping and hanging out,” Jennings said.
Unfortunately, weather played havoc with the race schedule last year, as a large storm dumped several inches of rain on this area all day Friday, making the river too high, too fast and filled with too much debris to race.
“The debris in the water was the issue last year,” Jennings explained.
“With our boats made out of quarter-inch plywood, a small object can cause major damage both to the boats and drivers. Safety played a big part in the decision last year not to race. Most of the racers stayed all three days hoping the river would clear up and that we’d get some racing in. But that didn’t happen.”
Another race on the East Coast that same weekend wasn’t cancelled ... and the consequences were tragic, she said.
Jennings said that race saw a boater die when he struck a large piece of wood in the water. The current of the river was so strong and it was so muddy, the racer was not found for two days, she said.
“We wanted so much to race last year, but ... at least all of my guys made it home safe,” she said.
Preparation for the race usually starts in May, Jennings said, as she starts making phone calls to line up officials — referees, inspector, risk manager, chief scorer and race director. All paperwork must be submitted to the APBA headquarters 45 days prior to the race date for approval.
In addition, the Lock Haven Area Jaycees must obtain a “special use” permit from the state Fish and Boat Commission to use the river that weekend.
“I have to get lodging for the officials and make sure all the club equipment and rescue boats are transported to the race site,” she continued.
“I also have to touch base with the Lock Haven Jaycees and make sure everything is OK for this year, since they handle the ambulance and fire departments, concession stands and setting up the judges’ stand. We couldn’t do it with out their help,” Jennings said.
She said she looks forward to three days of good racing this year, and Mother Nature is expected to cooperate with warm sunny days.
sjohnson@lockhaven.com
Read more here
LOCK HAVEN — There will be festival food and games, carnival rides, an arts and crafts fair and plenty of live entertainment.
But it’s the boaters ... dozens of them ... who make this weekend one of the biggest events in Clinton County.
The Lock Haven Area Jaycees Boat Regatta gets underway this morning and continues through Sunday and Monday. The three-day event — held on both the Lock Haven and Woodward Township sides of the Susquehanna River — concludes with a fireworks display Monday night.
Officials with the American Power Boating Association are again predicting a large turnout of boaters, who say the local races are one of their favorites on the power boat circuit. It’s also one of the largest regattas in the nation.
About 150 boats from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Michigan, Virginia, Georgia, Florida, Texas, North Carolina and Canada are expected this weekend, according to race organizer Lisa Jennings from the APBA’s Central Jersey Racing Association.
Among the featured events this year are the Northeast Modified Divisionals, the J Class Northeast Divisionals and the North American Championships for B and C class modified runabouts.
The annual “Dash for Cash” also will be held Sunday afternoon, Jennings said.
Boats that will compete include modified, stock and J (junior) classes, and the 125 and 250 Pro classes, also known as the alcohol boats.
“Many racers have been coming to this race for years bringing with them their families. It’s more than just a race, it’s like a family reunion,” said Jennings.
“It’s the last race of the summer and most of us take a very long weekend ... come up early Friday or late Thursday night. The pits are beautiful and the area is a prime location for shopping and hanging out,” Jennings said.
Unfortunately, weather played havoc with the race schedule last year, as a large storm dumped several inches of rain on this area all day Friday, making the river too high, too fast and filled with too much debris to race.
“The debris in the water was the issue last year,” Jennings explained.
“With our boats made out of quarter-inch plywood, a small object can cause major damage both to the boats and drivers. Safety played a big part in the decision last year not to race. Most of the racers stayed all three days hoping the river would clear up and that we’d get some racing in. But that didn’t happen.”
Another race on the East Coast that same weekend wasn’t cancelled ... and the consequences were tragic, she said.
Jennings said that race saw a boater die when he struck a large piece of wood in the water. The current of the river was so strong and it was so muddy, the racer was not found for two days, she said.
“We wanted so much to race last year, but ... at least all of my guys made it home safe,” she said.
Preparation for the race usually starts in May, Jennings said, as she starts making phone calls to line up officials — referees, inspector, risk manager, chief scorer and race director. All paperwork must be submitted to the APBA headquarters 45 days prior to the race date for approval.
In addition, the Lock Haven Area Jaycees must obtain a “special use” permit from the state Fish and Boat Commission to use the river that weekend.
“I have to get lodging for the officials and make sure all the club equipment and rescue boats are transported to the race site,” she continued.
“I also have to touch base with the Lock Haven Jaycees and make sure everything is OK for this year, since they handle the ambulance and fire departments, concession stands and setting up the judges’ stand. We couldn’t do it with out their help,” Jennings said.
She said she looks forward to three days of good racing this year, and Mother Nature is expected to cooperate with warm sunny days.