Rub-a-dub-dub, lots o' fun in tubs was had at Rotary Dockfest 2017

Photos: Dawn Huddlestone and Cheyenne Wood

There were no butchers, bakers or candle-stick makers in sight on the Muskoka River (although there were some pirates) when the 2017 Rotary Dockfest launched on Saturday, July 8. The Town Docks were jam-packed with spectators for the bathtub derby, a crowd favourite.

The day began with a pancake breakfast sponsored by Sugarbush Hill Maple Farm, and fun kids’ activities courtesy of Camp Tawingo and the Huntsville Festival of the Arts.

A parade down Main Street showcased the bathtubs before the derby began.

: The Huntsville Legion and the Cameron of Lochiel Pipes and Drums led the parade

: MP Tony Clement and Councillor Jonathan Wiebe wave to the crowd

: CORE Health thinks an apple a day might win the race

: There will be no sinking the Huntsville Doppler tub

: The BRIGGS pirates won’t let anyone board their tub

: MBRP is ready to race

: An Ooompa Loompa captained the Huntsville Festival of the Arts tub

: PropertyPrep is ready to hammer the competition

: Moose FM rouses the crowd

: Pipefusion couldn’t use a NyDock for the race so they settled for a tub

: JJ Dance brings a beat to the parade

And then it was time to race. The tubs reached top speed with their 2.5 hp engines through an obstacle course that began with a slalom, followed by placing a hoola-hoop on a floating picnic table and then a spin around Pipe Man.

: Ready, set, go! (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

: Deerhurst, Hidden Valley Resort and Algonquin Outfitters aim to be first around the course

: Captains got hosed as spectators remained dry on shore (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

: PropertyPrep is focused on the way to the hoola-hoop toss

: Aben Team nails the hoola-hoop toss

: The obstacle course got a bit crowded sometimes

: When the Jungle Gyms captain lost her hoola-hoop, Drive Muskoka did the sportsman-like thing and retrieved it for her

: The Pipefusion tub makes a loop around Pipe Man

But the tubs weren’t finished there. The captains then had to take a tour around the NyDock floating stage, where captains had to ring a bell while avoiding a soaking by a volunteer, before they could race to the finish line.

: Moose Delaney’s gets soaked at the NyDock floating stage (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

: Few captains made it past the bell without getting doused (Photo: Cheyenne Wood)

: Hidden Valley Resort avoids the water and rings the bell

: The Doppler tub chases down CogecoTV

There were gasps from the crowd and refrains of ‘oh, no’ when the tubs had engine trouble, collided, or came close to – and sometimes did – topple over. Helpful volunteers rescued both the captains and their tubs.

: The Hidden Valley Resort captain works hard to restart her engine

: The tubs often collided around the obstacles

: And sometimes they tipped over

: Helpful volunteers were on hand to rescue captains that went for a swim

: And Pipefusion volunteers retrieved the capsized tubs

In the end, it was CORE Health who took the title and bragging rights.

CORE Health cruises to the win

MCs Dustin Whitcomb from Moose FM and Helena Renwick from the Downtown Huntsville BIA provided colour commentary, while Huntsville’s Got Talent finalists Josie Robinson and Holly Ballantine provided musical interludes.