Smaller plywood boat competition once popular in Urbanna
After a six-year hiatus, the Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association (CCWBRA) will bring its races back to the Northern Neck. On Saturday, May 9, the inaugural Tidewater Cup Regatta will be conducted on Carter Creek at the Tides Inn, 480 King Carter Drive, Irvington.
Racing is expected to start by 11 a.m. and heats will continue through mid-afternoon, reported Race Co-director Art Gilbert.
Based on a 1939 design, Cocktail Class Racers are eight-foot plywood boats powered by smaller-sized outboard motors. Race heats typically feature four to six racers navigating a series of turns before a sprint to the finish line. Competitors often build their own boats, either from plans or kits, said Gilbert. Boats have been built in 33 states and seven countries.
“I first saw Cocktail Boat races about 10 years ago in Urbanna,” he said. “I knew it was just a matter of time before I’d build a boat and start racing. When the Tides Inn suggested we bring this event to their facilities, it felt great to add a Virginia venue back to our racing schedule.”
Admission to the Tides Inn grounds will be free, and spectators will enjoy “front row” viewing of the race course from the Tides Inn beach and Shoreline Trail.
