Okanagan Lake isn’t an ocean, but it certainly put on its best imitation of one, with big waves and plentify wind for the fourth annual Ogopogo Bathtub Race at Powell River Beach in Trout Creek Saturday.
“It’s choppy. It’s a real rough ride,” said organizer Jim Cavin. “This is the roughest day we’ve had since we’ve started doing the event, and this is the fourth year we’ve been doing it. The weather is brutal. We’ve had to shorten the number of laps we’re doing this year.”
Hosted by the Summerland Yacht Club, the race is a charity event, with all proceeds going to support the South Okanagan-Similkameen Medical Foundation. This year, racers in all classes had five laps for their earlier races. The final for the Class A race was shortened even further, due to the weather, with only two laps around a half-length course.
After two years of coming in second, the third time was the charm as Jason Schafer took first place in the A Class category, sailing for Great Estates Okanagan Wines. With the prize in hand, it may also be his last year.
“It feels good, but it was quite the beat up out there,” said Schafer. “It was hard staying on the water, the boat wanted to keep up in the air a lot. It was pretty on this body, and if someone younger wants to take this on next year, then I’ll coach them, but coming back next year, we’ll see.”
Class B went to Penticton resident Earl Lawrence, who sailed for Thornhaven Estates Winery. Having raced every year of the event, he still had to fight through the conditions.
Related: Bathtubs to race on Okanagan Lake
“Last year I raced the A Class and came in tail end, and it was rough then. In the B Class the boat is a little bit longer, a little bit heavier. In saying that, I still came up with water at least three or four times, and around the big buoy to get onto the home stretch, I still ended up with a half foot of water. Reading the waves on the way out is the hardest part.”
The waves took their toll on the competition. Of the 18 racers on the course, six of them flipped and didn’t finish, and another one cut his race early due to the waves.
Related: Tub time looming for Great Ogopogo Bathtub Race
The weather didn’t affect only the racers out on the water. Turnout in spectators for this year’s event was far below what was expected.
“It’s disappointing,” said Cavin. “Normally we have three, four-hundred people. This year, I suspect it’s, because of the smoke, because of the wind. They just didn’t come out.”
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