Every summer, every lake... there's a Regatta. Often more than one. Lake of Bays hosts the Lake of Bays Regatta, at Glenmount, as well as the Seabreeze Regatta, and the Anglican Church Regatta. Peninsula Lake holds its own annual Regatta, and that's where I was today -- at least I was out on the water, and got to watch the sailing race.
Regattas are about swim races, canoe races, funky things like war canoes, and Crab Races (where you sit in the stern of the canoe, facing the stern, with the rest of the canoe sitting up in the air behind you and steering like nothing on earth), jousting, gunwhale bobbing... they are about kids and water and fun and friendship.They are about community, and lifelong friendships.
Some of the regattas also host diving competitions, sculling races. And sailing.
The Lake of Bays Sailing Club has boats on the water almost daily. My brother learned to sail there, years ago, in a great little sailboat called "Sweet Nothing" (Dad used to refer to her as 'sugar zero')
Pen Lake spreads their regatta out over a couple of days. There's the canoe, swim and sculling races. Then, next morning, there's the distance swim out to their island. And then there is the Sailing Race. Today's took place under dramatic skies, and with a steady breeze. It was a beautiful sight to see so many sails spread across the lake.
If you're in Lake of Bays for your summer vacation, you should scout out where the Regattas are -- they are always worth dropping by, even if just for the lunch and the spectating!
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