Locals stockpile duct tape for annual Red Green Regatta

July 22, 2010

Photo by Lanien Livingston. The 2009 Judges' Choice Award-winning watercraft, captained by Arthur Sutton, floats down the Chena River during the 2009 Red Green Regatta.

Gretchen Gordon
907-474-1891
7/22/10

Fairbanks residents searching for duct tape this weekend may find it in short supply as KUAC holds its 14th annual Red Green Regatta on Sunday, July 25 starting at 11 a.m. The regatta begins at the Graehl Park boat launch and ends at Pioneer Park with awards presented by U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski. The public can view the regatta from the Wendell Street and Cushman Street bridges and along First Avenue.

Celebrity judges will score this year’s watercraft based on innovative use of the handyman’s secret weapon (duct tape), imagination and integration of the Red Green theme. Entrants vie for water-worthy prizes supplied by Paddler’s Cove Outfitters & Compeau’s. Winners and special awards, including “Best Viewed at a Distance,” “Harold’s Debacle” and “Most Un‘fathom’able,” will be announced at 1 p.m. at the Pioneer Park boat launch.

The regatta is a celebration of “The Red Green Show,” a comedy series that airs Saturday nights at 8 p.m. on AlaskaOne.

This year’s regatta will also offer the Interior’s first chance to pledge for tickets to Red Green’s One Man Show. Steve Smith, aka Red Green, will be coming to Fairbanks on Sunday, Nov. 7 and performing his one-man show in support of KUAC/AlaskaOne public television. The only way to receive tickets for this performance is to make a pledge in support of KUAC/AlaskaOne. The first chance to make a pledge for tickets will be at the end of the regatta between 1-2 p.m. A separate pledge table will be set up near Paddler’s Cove at the Pioneer Park boat launch following the awards ceremony.

This year’s judges include lead sponsor Bettisworth North’s CB Bettisworth and Tracy Vanairsdale, Denali State Bank’s Jo Heckman, Fairbanks Daily News Miner’s Dermot Cole, Graphic North’s Wayne Clark, Larry Katkin of Paddler’s Cove, KUAC Community Advisory Council member Ellen Ganley of Information Insights, longtime KUAC devotee and KUAC Leadership Council member Patty Kastelic, Dr. Phyllis Pendergrast, KUAC general manager Keith Martin and judges’ boat captain Chuck Lemke.

Registration for the event will be taken online and by phone until Friday, July 23 at noon and then again on the day of the event between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. at the Graehl Park boat launch in downtown Fairbanks. The regatta kicks off at 11 a.m. as University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rogers fires the starter pistol. The registration fee is $30 per vessel, which includes an official T-shirt designed by local graphic artist Sue Sprinkle. Additional T-shirts are available at the regatta for $20 each or two for $35.

Official rules, prize information and registration forms are available at . For more information call 907-474-2673.

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