This event is Rain or Shine. We can push the time back to later in the day if needed for weather.
Storms will delay the Regatta.
Ever wanted to make your own boat out of recycled materials or paddle the reservoir dressed in the theme of your boat? Get creative because here is your chance to do both!!! This can be a great annual family event or neighborhood event. Get your team together and register and start making your boat for the race! THE CHALLENGE is to build a water-worthy boat out of recycled materials.
Location: Shelter Cove Parking Lot, Shelter Cove Boat Ramp and Swift Creek Reservoir. Those residents that have registered for the Regatta will meet at Shelter Cove Parking Lot. Half of the lot will be roped off for this event, so please plan on dropping off your materials and parking elsewhere or walking back to Shelter Cove.
Spectators, please line the pathway from Shelter Cove to the Boat House/Marina Area and cheer on your favorite Woodlake Recycled Regatta! Come watch them race and see if they float!
New Rules for 2026:
Instead of making your boat ahead of time, you will have 1.5 hours to build your boat, onsite only.
So, start planning and charging up those power tools, and we will meet you at 9:00 am.
9:00 am to 9:45 am
Drop off tools and supplies at Shelter Cove
(Lifestyle Services will be there to stay and watch over everything until you get back from parking your vehicle).
10:00 am
You can start building your boat. Nothing should be put together before you come to the race.
11:30 am
Building ends for participants.
(Please remove any tools from the parking lot or bring them over to grassy areas beside Boat Ramp for us to keep an eye on.)
11:35 am
First heat of boats starts in Woodlake’s Recycled Regatta. The event ends when the last boat is out of the water.
Regatta Rules:
1. Drop off all Regatta building supplies and tools at Shelter Cove between 9am and 9:45am. (No power at Shelter Cove.)
2. You will start building your Regatta at 10am and have until 11:30am to complete it on site.
3. There will be several heats of “boats”, pending on the number of entries. (Racers will get their heat number on race day while they are building their boats.) Each heat and every Regatta will be timed. The fastest boat of each of the following categories will be a winner and receive a trophy for each member of their team:
Solo Regatta – one person, 18 years and over, alone in a Recycled Regatta.
Duo Regatta – two people together in a Recycled Regatta.
Family Regatta – three or more people together in a Recycled Regatta.
To be a winner in your heat your Recycled Regatta must:
• Be afloat when you cross the finish line and have all members aboard that started the race.
• No motor or battery powered engines are allowed.
• You must always wear life jackets while on the water.
• Must live in Woodlake on June 13, 2026.
• All Recycled Regattas must be removed from the marina after the races, and any boat pieces that fell off in the water must be retrieved. Also, please take any trash or tools with you from the Shelter Cove Boat Building area after the race.
• PARENTAL CONSENT IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY FOR ALL CONTESTANTS UNDER THE AGE OF 18, by signing the waiver online for them. Every participant over 18 needs to sign the waiver themselves. (Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by at least one parent/guardian 18 years of age or older in a boat. No exceptions.
• Recycled Regatta and Oars must be made completely of recycled/repurposed/reused material that propels you or sails you forward.
Here are a few tips to get the most mileage out of your homemade vessel:
• Think outside the box: Use materials for purposes you never thought they had
• Use a propulsion device: Boats using paddles or propellers tend to be faster than those with only sails
• Make it lightweight: Lighter boats reach top speed faster, as well as turn easier
• Make it float: The most obvious tip, but if it doesn’t float, it is going to be hard to win
• Have fun: It doesn’t matter how your boat performs if you have fun
JUDGING (winning categories):
The A1’s – First place Recycled Regatta, will receive trophies, for receiving the fastest time in each of the 3 categories:
Solo Regatta – one person, 18 years and over, alone in a Recycled Regatta.
Duo Regatta – two people together in a Recycled Regatta.
Family Regatta – three or more people together in a Recycled Regatta.
Best Overall Recycled Regatta – (Solo, Duo or Family Regatta that is the BEST OVERALL in appearance, structure, floatability and theme name/dress.) This Recycled Regatta winner will win a 2-hour pontoon ride with Captain for the 2026 boating season for up to 10 people.
