Details for the Rubbish Regatta

I spoke with the Rubbish Regatta's organizer, Larry, last week.

This is a first time event that was planned in response to last year's flood and all the trasht left on the shores of Saylorville Lake. The Des Moines Sail and Power Squadron focuses on education through its water safety classes. This event is an extension of its education arm.

The Rubbish Regatta course will be set in the water, approximately waist deep, with lanes roped off with fence posts. The participants will be in the water next to their boat able to assist without touching -- blowing or pushing waves of water to move the boat to the finish line.

Three age divisions are planned for the race: 0 - 7 years old, 8 - 12 years, and 12 - 17 years. Because Larry plans to have prizes for everyone (bags of goodies from Scheels) and because it is a first year event, he would really appreciate pre-registrations. He doesn't mind walk-on registrations, but the prize bags will be easier to manage on his end if he has registrations.

He has planned for special prizes for entries in categories. Categories will most likely be something like "looks most like a sailboat," "most imaginative" (junkiest looking), etc. Everyone who performs three hours of lake shore clean-up will be awarded one free night of camping in one of Saylorville Lake's campgrounds.

Details: Rubbish Regatta
no entry fee to participate, just your time and effort
Sat., July 11, 2009
8:30 Sandpiper Beach
1 - 2:30 Boat construction
2:30 Boat races
Register with Larry, 515-257-8143 (local call in Des Moines)

CITO, Regattas, and Free Camping

We geocachers practice Cache In, Trash Out (CITO) all the time (ideally). While shopping at Scheel's (a favorite store of mine), I found a flyer at the check-out counter that reminded me of CITO. I think it sounds fun. It would be an Earth Day activity, but during July. If you cannot or do not want to participate, remember that many caches are hidden in the area. You could cache, then watch the regatta without participating. I have been unable to find anything online about this event, so this blog post will have to be the online info source!

Bare bones:

Perform Saylorville Lake shore clean-up for 3 hrs. and qualify for the Rubbish Regatta and one free night of camping in one of the Saylorville's campgrounds.

From after this paragraph until the end of the post, I am copying all punctuation, capitalization, coloring, and wording, etc. as it appears on the flyer. I will add hyperlinks where possible.


Details:

Model Sailing
"Rubbish Regatta"
July 11, 2009

"Come Sailing with USPS"
The Des Moines Sail and Power Squadron, in cooperation with The US Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Lake is sponsoring a Lakeshore Cleanup Day.

- Orientation: 8:30 a.m. at Sandpiper Beach. Trash bags and gloves provided.

- Lakeshore cleanup: 9 a.m. to noon. Long pants and sturdy shoes suggested.
** Participation required to build a boat.

- Lunch: noon to 1 p.m. On your own.

- Rubbish Boat building: 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Adult and child teams, supplies provided.

- Rubbish Boat races: 2:30 p.m.

- Prizes will be awarded.

Be sure to bring a swimsuit and sun lotion as child will be with the boat in the water!

Volunteers who complete 3 hours of clean up will qualify for the Rubbish Regatta and one free night of camping in one of the Saylorville Lake campgrounds.

Sign up at the Saylorville Lake Visitor Center or any Saylorville Lake campground.
For more information, call 257-8143.

US Army Corps of Engineers Rock Island District