Antique boats power into Hammondsport

HAMMONDSPORT—The 31st Annual Antique Boat Show and the 30th Annual Keuka Lake Regatta are once again back in Hammondsport this weekend at Depot Park. The event is hosted by Wine Country Classic Boats, Inc., a chapter of the Antique and Classic Boat Society.
The boat show will be Saturday, July 20. Beginning at 8 a.m. and running until 4:30 p.m., antique and classic boats, including wooden and fiberglass boats, will be on display. Throughout the day there will be voting for people’s choice and youth judging. “Boats of the Roaring ‘20s” will also be featured along with wood framework, or “woodie,” cars.
At 3 p.m., a non-judged show and the parade of boats led by the Hammondsport Fire Department boat will begin.
A number of vendors will be at the show including the Fred and Harriet Taylor Memorial Library, 4th Day Ice Cream and the Rotary Clubs from both Hammondsport and Bath.
Sunday, July 21, the race boats will be displayed at 9 a.m., and the regatta kicks off at 10:15 a.m. There will be two short course regattas, one for classic wooden boats and one for classic fiberglass boats, each lasting about four miles. The long course regatta will feature both types and will run a distance of 20 miles. At 12:30 p.m., after the regattas, there will be a chicken barbecue sponsored by the Boy Scouts and a 50/50 raffle drawing to benefit Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Shortly following the barbecue will be the regatta awards presentation.
Jack Young, second vice commodore of Wine Country Classic Boats, Inc., said last year there were “several thousand attendees and spectators” and he expects the turnout this year to be the same, if not better. He also said the one thing he wanted to improve from last year’s event was “to increase the number of boats in the Sunday regatta.” Seventy-five to 100 boats are expected to be on display at the show or competing in the regatta. There will be free admission and handicap accessibility.
Young has high hopes for the show and regatta this year. He said, “A successful show would be better attendance, perfect weather, more boats for the regatta, additional vendors, and more 50/50 ticket sales.”