Spongeboat Wetpants had to hitch a lift with the SES back to shore at the 2013 Queanbeyan Regatta. Photo: Kim Pham.
LEFT stranded and directionless on the Queanbeyan River, team Spongeboat Wetpants and their cake-shaped vessel had to be towed back to shore by the local SES team.
The boat floated aimlessly on the water spinning around in circles as team members tried fruitlessly to manoeuvre their craft passed the starting point.
Armed with just paddles to guide themselves, it became clear Spongeboat Wetpants was losing the battle when one of the team's oars broke out at sea and luckily the emergency service was on hand to help.
The rescue was one of the highlights of the 2013 Queanbeyan Regatta held at Ray Morton Park on Saturday, March 2. All the day's action was helpfully commentated by 666 ABC presenter Ross Solly and local identity slash butcher Peter Lindbeck.
Samantha Swales of Queanbeyan City Council estimated about 300 people came to watch the event.
A total of four kayaking teams participated in the event along with three junior and nine senior entries in the "build your own boat" category.
"There was a very high standard," Ms Swales said. "Each team showed their own imagination and creativity, they were all different. It was really inspiring to see so much effort and team work going into these creations."
Back on dry land, Spongeboat Wetpants member Mandy Hart said she hasn't been scarred by her regatta ordeal. In fact, she would be willing to enter again next year but perhaps in a boat that was a little more "steer-worthy" she said.
"I was happy to get out of it alive but it was lots fun and I'm glad we were able to provide entertainment for the crowd," she said.
"[The other team members] Clinton and Nicole thought it was hilarious but I was very scared. I thought the whole thing would tip-over and Clinton said for entertainment value we should tip it on purpose."
Luckily, the SES volunteers were able to winch the team back to the safety of the Queanbeyan River Shores.
Other mishaps on the day included the Millennium Falcon 3 capsizing. The group discovered, perhaps a little too late, that the paddle wheel used to power their boat was scooping water back into the vessel.
The boat became inundated with water going under as the crew was heading back to the finish line. Team members had to climb out of it and swim it back to shore.
One of the creators, Joshua Hackworth, said in hindsight a splash guard probably would have prevented the problem.
The third and final boat to run into trouble was the Red Cross's boat "Cat-o-meringue" which wasn't quite as light and airy as the delicious baked confection.
Two members had to hop out of their seats and try to push the boat forward as the remaining couple stayed seated and attempted to steer it along the course.
To view photos from the 2013 Queanbeyan Regatta follow this link: http://www.queanbeyanage.com.au/story/1352978/gallery-2013-queanbeyan-regatta/?cs=12
