WARWICK — A new Old Home Days tradition of Selectboard members demonstrating their leadership by jumping into Moores Pond was inaugurated after the “Corregatta” cardboard boat race on Sunday.
The Corregatta, now in its sixth year, is one of the signature events of Warwick Old Home Days. Paddling in homemade boats made primarily of cardboard, participants race out from the public beach at Moores Pond, around a marker and back to shore — or at least as far as they can before sinking.
Old Home Days Committee Chairwoman Colleen Paul said that the original idea of a boat race had come from her, but the idea was then taken up by the Moores Pond Beach Committee and developed into what it is now.
“Eager Beaver,” a sturdy cardboard kayak with a beaver figurehead, claimed first place handily, and took on very little water if any. “Old an’ Rusty,” finishing in fourth place out of four contenders, began to take on water as soon as the race began, despite using a similar kayak-like design.
After the race, Selectman Jim Erviti took the microphone from announcer Jim McRae to propose a new tradition of the Selectboard members jumping into Moores Pond after the Corregatta, “to show their true leadership.”
“All those in favor?” Erviti asked the crowd, and was answered in the affirmative with little if any objection.
He jumped in first, and was followed by Selectmen Todd Dexter and Doc Pruyne.
The Corregatta and its new finale capped off Old Home Days, a weekend-long program of community games, meals, shows and music.
Reach Max Marcus at mmarcus@recorder.com or 413-772-0261 ext. 261.