6th Annual West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta

I've spectated and participated in many boat races, but none as hilarious as The West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta put on by the City of Tualatin and The Pacific Giant Vegetable Growers.  

Alder Creek Kayak & Canoe always provides the paddles, pfd's and support boaters, so I've had the pleasure of attending several Regattas from the heart of the action.  

I always have the best seat in the house when running safety from the middle of the lake.  Check out these photos I took from the event...

  Everything you already know about carving pumpkins is more challenging when the pumpkins weight in around 1300 lbs!!  Spectators begin to gather hours before the races to watch the process.

Just getting the huge gourds into the water requires three people and a fork lift.

A crucial step is finding the pumpkin's natural position in the water.   By rolling it around you can feel a stable position. It's the best way to decide which side is the deck and which is the hull.  (all are displacement hull design...so far)     

Most folks use some simple hand saws to carve the cockpit out, but there is a faster way.  

These guys make short work of carving and quickly move onto scrapping the seeds and giant pumpkin goodness out.  I'm always surprised by how quickly it all happens.  The growers are sure to keep seeds from the best pumpkins.

Word on the pond is that you want something that is not too heavy and as elongated as possible.  If it's too large and round it's difficult to reach the water with the paddle and is much slower.  

Several buckets full of guts later the pumpkins are empty and ready for captains.  

Future pumpkin racer perhaps 

Costumes are encouraged and rewarded.  This won best racer costume.  

Spectators line the perimeter of the Tualatin Commons pond every year taking photos and cheering on the racers.   

The growers race first.  It's always a crowd pleaser because almost everyone is in full costume

Charlie brown gets passed by ketchup while cheesing for the camera

This was my personal favorite...  That's one bad princess

Ketchup didn't cross the finish line first...

...but anyone that manages to make it around the whole course without rolling their pumpkin over or passing out feels successful.  (He did manage to win best pumpkin decoration)

Gourd Vadar attacks!!  

Multiple heats allow for anyone that wants to to race to have a chance.  Start training now, because this crew was serious. 

This shots shows the full spectrum of emotion experienced by each racer.  

What I saw most was big smiles!  

If you missed this year's event put it on you calendar for next year.