This picture was taken after a storm during the spring of 2009. The spray was freezing to the rocks and made an interesting display.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Ice On Rocks Rough Sea Near Fox Island 2009
This picture was taken after a storm during the spring of 2009. The spray was freezing to the rocks and made an interesting display.
Ice Berg Seen Near Champney's West 2009
This picture was taken when the sun was setting as seen from a boat while looking at an ice berg in Champney's Harbor Trinity Bay.
Champney's West Concerts
One of the characters from one of the many hilarious concerts performed by the Champney's West Recreation Group and Company.
Maybe you would like to leave a comment here and add a description of your own or nominate him for an award somewhere! He wasn't voted "Off The Island".
The annual concert is well received loved and anticipated be hundreds.
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.
Ella Freeman Memorial Heritage House
The Heritage museum in Champney’s West became a reality due to a couple of significant occurrences. The first, being the generous gift of the original house, made by Dr. Marjorie Ragosta in honor of her mother Ella Freeman. The second being the hard work and dedication of local volunteers, supported by government programs, to restore the house, acquire local artifacts and begin recording the written history of the people.
We are happy to say that we have now created a web page introducing the Ella Freeman Memorial Heritage House, to tell you how it came about and to give you a glimpse of what you will find in there when you visit.
Read More Here
Historic Champney's West with ice in the harbor
In 2010 CWRG achieved the goal of establishing a Heritage House Museum. This building and the archives it holds came about as result of the significant support and the dedication of many individuals and organizations. The Ella Freeman Heritage House Museum was created and came to life with a ribbon cutting ceremony in August 2010. Many individuals have contributed volunteer time and effort to enhance the building and many of our elders have donated items and memories to the project.
Did you know that the building and land now housing the heritage house was donated by Dr. Marjorie Rogosta and family along with a tremendous amount of her research?
Click Here to Read More and Enjoy
We are happy to say that we have now created a web page introducing the Ella Freeman Memorial Heritage House, to tell you how it came about and to give you a glimpse of what you will find in there when you visit.
Read More Here
Historic Champney's West with ice in the harbor
In 2010 CWRG achieved the goal of establishing a Heritage House Museum. This building and the archives it holds came about as result of the significant support and the dedication of many individuals and organizations. The Ella Freeman Heritage House Museum was created and came to life with a ribbon cutting ceremony in August 2010. Many individuals have contributed volunteer time and effort to enhance the building and many of our elders have donated items and memories to the project.
Did you know that the building and land now housing the heritage house was donated by Dr. Marjorie Rogosta and family along with a tremendous amount of her research?
Click Here to Read More and Enjoy
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