Pow Wow Days just wouldn’t be the same without the annual Desperado Sailboat race, and this proved to be another great chapter in the ongoing sailboat saga. Clear blue skies certainly helped keep the sailors dry, and a nice cool breeze helped propel the boats and windsurfers around the Lac La Biche lake circuit.
“We were so happy at the turnout this year,” said Leona Geller, one of the organizers from Portage College. “The weather could not have been better, and we really benefited from a great group of sailors.”
After all the boats and windsurfers glided around the track, it was declared that Wally Peters had the fastest ship. Zigzagging through a course that went as far as Churchill Island, Peter’s and his first-mate sailed home to victory in a boat christened the “Tequila Sunrise”. He is no stranger to the Desperado competition, having competed in the annual race since 2008.
“We were just hoping for a great race today, the weather certainly helped with that,” Peters said.
The race was sponsored by Portage College who were also promoting their new Water Resource Management course in Potable and Wastewater Systems.
“It’s great to combine the race and use this as a springboard for our new course at Portage College,” said Lindsey Johnson, an organizer from Portage College.
The race was well organized, and although this was the first year that Portage College organized the event, they did well to get enough participation from the hamlet’s many sailors.
A final count showed 10 boats and three windsurfers register for the event. Handre De Ridder, one of the windsurfers, flew around the course on his surfboard, rounding out the field of three windsurfers in the event. And although the competition was more about fun and trying to make it all the way around the course, there was more than a few competitive rivalries that shown through at the end.
“I had fun, and I want to add that we went around the course fairly making sure we circled every buoy, and I’m pretty proud about that.” said one boater that asked to remain anonymous.
With no injuries, good weather and strong participation, Portage College is glad to have organized another successful Desperado race, a contest that will forever be linked with the Lac La Biche Pow Wow Days.
“I’m thrilled that everything seemed to go without even the slightest hitch,” Geller said. “It was a fantastic day.”
