The weather couldn’t have been better for Sunday’s water carnival organised by the Island’s Round Table.
There was a greasy (or rather detergenty) pole and Kayak tugs-of-war, and perhaps the surprise attraction of the afternoon, the ‘Soak A Tart Shy’. Islanders took the opportunity to repeatedly soak bank manager Dave Stone, who sat bravely on the ducking stool in a scarlet and black dress, high heels, a wig and a wet suit, waiting to be ducked whenever a wet sponge hit the bell.
But the main attraction of the day was the raft race. 14 rafts entered, 6 junior and 8 senior. Pirates of the Caribbean seemed to be the main theme. The competition was ruthless. Pete Hobson’s raft, aptly named the Marie Celeste, was sabotaged when the ropes tying the beer barrels on were slashed. But last-minute repairs with only hours to go at least kept it afloat. Pete gave ScillyNews a quote, but it proved unrepeatable.
The rafts were well armed; the Ripper Cat raft was described as a 41 water balloon galleon. As well as water, there were flour bombs, eggs and canned plum tomatoes (the cans were left at home). But for once sinking ?ships’ rather than saving them, the RNLI rib with a water cannon was the day’s clear winner in the arms race.
The children’s race was won by the Sandybanks crew in a very big bath, perhaps a poor man’s swimming pool, with ‘outriders’.
The Round Table won the senior raft race. But with typical Scillonian effenciency, the race was held at 5pm when most of the crews had to be back at work.
The day was a big success, with ?over ?1,000 less costs’ raised for charity.
And the plan is that next years will be even bigger and wetter.
