By Ben Olson
Reader Staff
It was a banner day at the Sandcreek Regatta on Sept. 12. The sun was shining, most of the handmade boats floated and a new winner was crowned.
The festivities began with the annual tourist sacrifice. A visitor from Australia named Blair offered himself up to the lake gods so that North Idaho may experience a good winter. Event organizer Jon Knepper and I grabbed him by the arms and legs, swung him around and tossed him ingloriously into Sand Creek as a boisterous crowd of locals cheered him on.
This year’s event saw a total of six boats enter, though one sank immediately after entering the water, so only five competed for glory.
As reigning champions, the Reader’s USS Hate Mail VI crew gave it their all, but were no match for Woods Wheatcroft’s handmade paddleboard dubbed Stay Little, which won the race handily.
Wheatcroft led by such a large margin, he even took breaks while the rest of the field attempted to catch up. The Hate Mail VI passed the finish line in second place, followed by new entrant Justin Landis’ styrofoam boat — The Layer Cake — in third place.
In a surprise to everyone, Knepper’s craft — which resembled some kind of sci-fi praying mantis — actually crossed the finish line, making it the first time his boat has finished the race in seven years.
Coming in last was KRFY’s Dead Air, made from hot tub covers and coolers and paddled by the radio’s staff and volunteers, who spent more time lobbing water and splashing the other boats than paddling. Sunshine Goldmine’s Matt Kinney had a solo craft — S.S. MacBethanny — ready to race, but it didn’t make the starting line after taking on water.
Awards were handed out and the party moved to the 219 Lounge, as Wheatcroft graciously allowed the rest of the competitors to drink from the coveted trophy.
It was the most local of days in Sandpoint and we appreciate everyone for coming out to cheer on the field. We had several new entrants this year and hope to keep adding to it every year.
Mark your calendars for the week after Labor Day, 2027. In the meantime, keep on paddlin’ on.
