2008 event brings in over $30,000

Lewisporte - Pirates were a roaring at the second annual Health Foundations Regatta in Lewisporte July 11-12.

For residents of Central Newfoundland, the regatta means more attentive hospital care and promoting the importance of bowel screening tests.

Raelene White, regional director of development for the Central Regional Health Authority, said the event was the brainchild of Central Northeast Health Foundation board member, Mac Moss. He is an avid boater and wanted to do a regatta in support of Central Newfoundland health care. That idea was launched last year and led to its repeat in 2008.

"We had an awesome time last year and we knew we were going to do it again," said Ms. White. "We've got a great day out on the water in support of a wonderful cause that benefits everyone throughout Central Newfoundland.

The event raised $33,000 (with donations still pouring in) that will be split between the North East Health Foundation and the South and Central Health Foundation.

The money will also be used to support a $10,000 bowel screening initiative of the Central Northeast Health Foundation, which is already credited with identifying six people with colorectal cancer. A second project is a $105,000 South and Central Health Foundation initiative to take two beds at the Central Newfoundland Regional Health Centre and use them as high-dependency beds. Ms. White said they would bridge a gap in care between ICU and general wards and are especially well suited to more senior patients.

The first day of the event on July 11 was a gathering of the most worthy pirates. Showing off their eye patches, fancy dresses and their best pirate faces and to register their ships. The night ended with a dance with only the most talented pirates taking the stage to sing at karaoke.

Saturday started bright and early, for the ships showing up there was an obstacle course you had to complete before you could head out into Notre Dame Bay to continue the poker run.

The poker run took the ships to many inlets and coves throughout Notre Dame Bay. Every cove had a ship, every ship had a card. The cards were part of the poker run, whomever had the best hand won at the end of the day.

Dr. Jody Woolfrey and his family were the last ship to find. They were tucked in a little inlet in Notre Dame Bay. The other ships had to approach them with caution seeing they had a pirate flag flying, a boat filled with untamed pirates and a talking parrot.

When you thought you were free from walking the "plank" of Bailiwick they would attack. Water balloons were flying from all directions.

For Lewisporte's Peter Watkins and Springdale's Carolyn Weir, it wasn't a bad way to spend the day. Mr. Watkins said the crew of Moonshadow, his 1971 vintage Chrysler 22, had probably been the oldest of the participants, and he was pretty certain they had done the well on the fun. After all, the duo teach navigation and instruct in the Lewisporte Yacht Club's learn to sail program.

"We did really well and we raised a lot of funds," said Mr. Watkins. "It's fantastic, it really is. It's the best thing that this bay has ever put together."

Some ships ended their journey at the last card, others went to the beautiful and scenic Exploits Island.

After the feast it was time to announce the regatta winners. In total 24 boats registered and they split over $10,000 in prizes that were donated to help support the cause.

The winner in the powerboat division of the poker run was Ray Dinn. Dunley and Ann Peyton won for the sailboat division. Mr. Dinn was the overall winner taking home two airline tickets.

The boat with the most character to "shiver your timbers" was Dunley and Ann Peyton with their boat Longwinded.

The person who was able to raise the most money for the event was Dr. Jody Woolfrey brining in over $3,000.

The weekend was great for all involved and no one ended up in Davy Jones' Locker.