A full schedule of events and times will be available here on Tuesday Evening. Check back and learn about all the fun that is planned, including an improved version of the races.
Showing posts with label Champney's west newfoundland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Champney's west newfoundland. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Champney's West Days August 3rd to 5th 2012
This year Champney's West celebrations will start on the evening of Friday August 3rd with a kitchen part at the hall. There are many events planned for the whole weekend to be capped off with the Great Cardboard Boat Races and Regatta on Sunday followed by fireworks in the Evening.
A full schedule of events and times will be available here on Tuesday Evening. Check back and learn about all the fun that is planned, including an improved version of the races.
A full schedule of events and times will be available here on Tuesday Evening. Check back and learn about all the fun that is planned, including an improved version of the races.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Champney's West Cardboard Boat Races
Boats made only of Cardboard, Duck Tape and Paint
The highlight of the Champney's West celebrations each August is the gathering at the waterfront, to watch punt races, listen to music, play games, to watch the saltwater gladiators and witness or participate in the hugely popular cardboard boat races. The Champney’s West waterfront events are attended by hundreds of people, in fact all available space along the wharf, local stages and the road is often packed with people.
The visitors gather to enjoy the Champney's West cardboard boats races
Each year 20 or more unique vessels (creations) made from only from cardboard pasted together with duct tape and painted in all types of designs and colors, are launched into the harbor. All the brave sailors make their runs attempt to paddle their creations about a quarter mile, out to a buoy marker and back to the beach, without getting wet. Some make it while other crews find themselves capsized, dunked or flooded, boarded by other crews and so on, much to the amusement of the crowd.
Some of the wonderful creations are often sailed sideways, in circles or almost upside down, which keeps the spectators cheering and shouting in anticipation of the next dunking. Even still, some boats are sometimes paddled backwards over most of the course, while others sink at the launch site.
The boats come in many sizes and shapes, some look like teacups, others like dinosaurs, and some are hard to explain while others actually look like boats! There has been a toilet shape, a chamber pot, a trawler, a diamond, and a block of cheese, just to name a few. The creations are often decked out with flags and balloons; some have sails made of undergarments and the like, others have themes, some fly the Jolly Rodger and all have colorful paint jobs. Crews have been dressed as pirates, hippies, sportsmen, maids, fishermen, etc. Some folks have been sporting hat and tails and the attire of some cannot be properly described.
An imaginatively attired crew.
It is believed that largest boat in the history of the event was named the Island Ferry, a 20 foot cardboard and duck tape ship, crewed by a dozen people. Not only did the Island Ferry make it around the course, but it did so in style with half the crew jumping up and down, spraying water in the boat and playing to the crowd, without sinking! A Monty crew of brave souls indeed, to jump on a hull made only of cardboard!!
The Island Ferry was created and built by Howard Duffett and family from Port Union
The races are not about winning. No one seems to care about that. It’s all about fun, entertainment and joining into the community spirit. People come from the USA, Europe and many parts of Canada to attend the summer celebrations in Champney's West. Many visitors make boats and join in the race and the smash up derby as a grand finally. These folks have the pleasure of telling friends back home that "Yes it floated" and we made it ourselves!
Compact but extremely creative!
A quote from a story done by Barbra Dean Simmons reporter for the newspaper The Clarenville Packet...
“But it was obvious from the start that this race is not about winning. It's about having fun and building community spirit in the process. And in that goal, the race and its organizers have succeeded. You could see the spirit it in the smiles on faces, and hear it in the cheers and applause from the crowd. This small, rural out port might have its share of fears and challenges in an uncertain world, but they were certainly set on the shelf this past weekend. This weekend was about having fun, celebrating not only the existence of a community but the imagination and do-anything-for-a-laugh mindset of its citizens.”
Click here to see more pictures of the Champney's West cardboard boat races.
The highlight of the Champney's West celebrations each August is the gathering at the waterfront, to watch punt races, listen to music, play games, to watch the saltwater gladiators and witness or participate in the hugely popular cardboard boat races. The Champney’s West waterfront events are attended by hundreds of people, in fact all available space along the wharf, local stages and the road is often packed with people.
The visitors gather to enjoy the Champney's West cardboard boats races
Each year 20 or more unique vessels (creations) made from only from cardboard pasted together with duct tape and painted in all types of designs and colors, are launched into the harbor. All the brave sailors make their runs attempt to paddle their creations about a quarter mile, out to a buoy marker and back to the beach, without getting wet. Some make it while other crews find themselves capsized, dunked or flooded, boarded by other crews and so on, much to the amusement of the crowd.
Some of the wonderful creations are often sailed sideways, in circles or almost upside down, which keeps the spectators cheering and shouting in anticipation of the next dunking. Even still, some boats are sometimes paddled backwards over most of the course, while others sink at the launch site.
The boats come in many sizes and shapes, some look like teacups, others like dinosaurs, and some are hard to explain while others actually look like boats! There has been a toilet shape, a chamber pot, a trawler, a diamond, and a block of cheese, just to name a few. The creations are often decked out with flags and balloons; some have sails made of undergarments and the like, others have themes, some fly the Jolly Rodger and all have colorful paint jobs. Crews have been dressed as pirates, hippies, sportsmen, maids, fishermen, etc. Some folks have been sporting hat and tails and the attire of some cannot be properly described.
An imaginatively attired crew.
It is believed that largest boat in the history of the event was named the Island Ferry, a 20 foot cardboard and duck tape ship, crewed by a dozen people. Not only did the Island Ferry make it around the course, but it did so in style with half the crew jumping up and down, spraying water in the boat and playing to the crowd, without sinking! A Monty crew of brave souls indeed, to jump on a hull made only of cardboard!!
The Island Ferry was created and built by Howard Duffett and family from Port Union
The races are not about winning. No one seems to care about that. It’s all about fun, entertainment and joining into the community spirit. People come from the USA, Europe and many parts of Canada to attend the summer celebrations in Champney's West. Many visitors make boats and join in the race and the smash up derby as a grand finally. These folks have the pleasure of telling friends back home that "Yes it floated" and we made it ourselves!
Compact but extremely creative!
A quote from a story done by Barbra Dean Simmons reporter for the newspaper The Clarenville Packet...
“But it was obvious from the start that this race is not about winning. It's about having fun and building community spirit in the process. And in that goal, the race and its organizers have succeeded. You could see the spirit it in the smiles on faces, and hear it in the cheers and applause from the crowd. This small, rural out port might have its share of fears and challenges in an uncertain world, but they were certainly set on the shelf this past weekend. This weekend was about having fun, celebrating not only the existence of a community but the imagination and do-anything-for-a-laugh mindset of its citizens.”
Click here to see more pictures of the Champney's West cardboard boat races.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
About Champney's West
Champney's West - locally known as the Island - Is located in Trinity Bight along the north shore of Trinity Bay. The town has 56 full-time residents whom work hard to add to the quality of life and to keep the community alive and active. During the summer the population increases when many vacationers and part time residents spend time in the community at summer homes.
The Island has a very interesting and lengthy history dating back at least 337 years. At various times in it's history well over 200 residents called Champney's West home. It was once a thriving fishing community due to it's excellent harbor and proximity to fishing grounds. Today the harbor remains in top condition with many renovations having been recently made to fishing stages (rooms). There are however far less full time fishermen than seen in days gone by.
Sometime during the spring of 1675 the Brigantine Mary, a 100 ton sailing ship was commissioned to navigate to the new world specifically the isle of Newfoundland. The "Mary" was under the command of John Le Cross, a well known fishing admiral of the time.
After making the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, Captain Le Cross reached the Island of Newfoundland and entered Trinity Bay on the north side. He then traveled on until he reached the land mark known as the Horse Chops. From the Horse chops he sailed further into the bay and came upon the entrance of a inlet known as Salmon Cove. Upon entering salmon cove he apparently made the decision to investigate the potential of the area with the view of determining the suitability of the location for establishing a "plantation".
The written account of the voyage is contained in the log of Captain Le Cross and a quote from it reads as follows:
[upon entering the mouth of the harbour we took soundings on the western side of the harbour where one stand alone rock lying adjacent to a point running to the south exists, it seems to be the only visible rock protruding from the water the depth of five fathoms was observed, lying to the east of this point is a low sloping point of land, this itself assures a safe and sheltered cove. Moving northwards a small island was observed lying no more than a hundred feet eastward of the mainland, here advantaged us to make fast the Brig between the mainland and island. was here that we observed an in draft lying to the west with only a minute amount of water remains at bottom tides, the low sloping land at waters edge gives us a fair advantage where we can place rooms and plant crops. One can only perceive as to the sheltered safety of one place. Thence northwards of this little island is the bottom of this long sheltered harbour, this here that a river of such is observed, one can only imagine the ease of cutting lungers and timber farther in draft. On either side of the river there is ample amount of water to tie a hundred ships. To the east of the island there is a small inlet charactered by steep sloping hill which offer the most ample protection from prevailing winds. Water depths can be from 5 to 20 fathoms in depth and one could navigate at anytime within this cove]
Captain Le Cross established a plantation in the area of Salmon Cove, likely in what is today known as Champney's West. This was at the time were the Migratory Fishing industry was ending in Favor of a "planter" live here type system. Please visit our history section for a more in depth presentation of the known history of Champney's West. Read More Champney's History Here.
Working Toward The Future
Since our successful Come Home Year and dedication of the Ella Freeman Heritage House in 2010, the Champney’s West community has been planning to add a wonderful new attraction on the Bonavista Peninsula: The Champney’s West Aquarium. Please take a moment to learn more by clicking here!
The Island has a very interesting and lengthy history dating back at least 337 years. At various times in it's history well over 200 residents called Champney's West home. It was once a thriving fishing community due to it's excellent harbor and proximity to fishing grounds. Today the harbor remains in top condition with many renovations having been recently made to fishing stages (rooms). There are however far less full time fishermen than seen in days gone by.
Sometime during the spring of 1675 the Brigantine Mary, a 100 ton sailing ship was commissioned to navigate to the new world specifically the isle of Newfoundland. The "Mary" was under the command of John Le Cross, a well known fishing admiral of the time.
After making the journey across the Atlantic Ocean, Captain Le Cross reached the Island of Newfoundland and entered Trinity Bay on the north side. He then traveled on until he reached the land mark known as the Horse Chops. From the Horse chops he sailed further into the bay and came upon the entrance of a inlet known as Salmon Cove. Upon entering salmon cove he apparently made the decision to investigate the potential of the area with the view of determining the suitability of the location for establishing a "plantation".
The written account of the voyage is contained in the log of Captain Le Cross and a quote from it reads as follows:
[upon entering the mouth of the harbour we took soundings on the western side of the harbour where one stand alone rock lying adjacent to a point running to the south exists, it seems to be the only visible rock protruding from the water the depth of five fathoms was observed, lying to the east of this point is a low sloping point of land, this itself assures a safe and sheltered cove. Moving northwards a small island was observed lying no more than a hundred feet eastward of the mainland, here advantaged us to make fast the Brig between the mainland and island. was here that we observed an in draft lying to the west with only a minute amount of water remains at bottom tides, the low sloping land at waters edge gives us a fair advantage where we can place rooms and plant crops. One can only perceive as to the sheltered safety of one place. Thence northwards of this little island is the bottom of this long sheltered harbour, this here that a river of such is observed, one can only imagine the ease of cutting lungers and timber farther in draft. On either side of the river there is ample amount of water to tie a hundred ships. To the east of the island there is a small inlet charactered by steep sloping hill which offer the most ample protection from prevailing winds. Water depths can be from 5 to 20 fathoms in depth and one could navigate at anytime within this cove]
Captain Le Cross established a plantation in the area of Salmon Cove, likely in what is today known as Champney's West. This was at the time were the Migratory Fishing industry was ending in Favor of a "planter" live here type system. Please visit our history section for a more in depth presentation of the known history of Champney's West. Read More Champney's History Here.
Working Toward The Future
Since our successful Come Home Year and dedication of the Ella Freeman Heritage House in 2010, the Champney’s West community has been planning to add a wonderful new attraction on the Bonavista Peninsula: The Champney’s West Aquarium. Please take a moment to learn more by clicking here!
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