Boats set sail for Lake Arthur regatta
John Bridges, of Pine Township, has sailed all over the world. He also has a reputation as a reliable wooden-boat builder. One of the highlights of his career as a saw mill operator and woodworker living in Trinidad in 1968 was constructing a 90-foot Chinese junk at the request of Walt Disney for his now classic film, "Swiss Family Robinson."
This weekend, Bridges and fellow members of the Moraine Sailing Club will share their expertise with visitors to the eighth annual Regatta at Lake Arthur, a two-day celebration of activities in and around the largest man-made lake in the state.
For sailing club members, the event is an opportunity to show the public how they maneuver the sleek watercraft driven by a natural power source -- the wind.
"There's not the high cost of gas or pollution" involved in navigating a sailboat, Bridges says. Because the lake is restricted to a maximum of 20-horsepower engines and is off limits to Jet Skis and powerboats, sailors can enjoy the calm waters, he says, adding "We are very appreciative of the peace of Lake Arthur."
At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, a "race around the buoys" will feature Flying Scots, sunfish and a few Q boats, Bridges says. At 10:30 a.m. Sunday, a Bridge to Bridge sailing race will feature larger and faster catamarans in a race from the Route 422 Bridge to beyond Davis Hollow. Registration is at 10 a.m. for both events, and the public is welcome to participate.
"Anyone can join in," says Bridges, past commodore of the sailing club. "We'd like to have as many boats as possible. The emphasis is on fun, not serious racing."
In addition to the sailboat races, the regatta will feature canoe, kayak and a Whatever Floats Your Boat race. A boat parade will be held Saturday, and a Dead Fish Polo match will give canoe boaters an opportunity to catch as many "dead" rubber fish as they can with a net. On land, there will be children's workshops, fishing contests, musical performances and displays.
Members of the Moraine Preservation Fund will sponsor a benefit flea market and offer educational presentations about wildlife in the area, which include barn owls, great blue heron and bald eagles, according to intern Valerie Vernier.
Jack Cohen, executive director of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, says the regatta provides fun for all ages. A food and craft area will be doubled from 35 booths last year to 70 this year, he says. Fireworks will be on Saturday at dusk, and helicopter and hot-air balloon rides will be available.
Compared to the Three Rivers Regatta in Pittsburgh, the Regatta at Lake Arthur "is more of a relaxing fun event at a nice, steady, slow pace -- and that's what it should be in a park setting," Cohen says. Moraine State Park encompasses 3,600 acres and the 7-mile-long lake.
About 60,000 people attended the two-day event last year, Cohen says. Additional Information:
Regatta at Lake Arthur
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Fireworks at dusk Saturday
Admisson: Free
Where: Moraine State Park, North Shore, off Route 422, near Prospect, Butler County
Details: 866-856-8444 or www.regatta-at-lake-arthur.com
