Although not conducted under the brilliant sunshine that usually characterizes the annual event, the 2019 Youbou Regatta was deemed a stand-up success following the Aug. 10 event.
In the parade, the following awards were handed out:
Best homemade float: Youbou Community Association (first), CVRD lifeguards (second); Best Commercial Float: Lake Cowichan Chamber of Commerce (first), Country Grocer (second), Island Savings (third); Best Pet: Bella (first), Rosie Lucy (second); Best Group: The Crows (first), Youbou Surfers (second), Cowichan Lake Cousins (third); Best Couple: Claire Anderson and Violet Luchtmeyer (first), Ben Anderson and Jackson Luchtmeyer (second), and Elly and Tyler Hamilton (third); Best Individual: Randall Wilson (first), Eva Fearon (second), and Julia Martinsen (third).
The famous quarter mile swim saw Mary Paridean van Veen finish first, followed by Jill Ramstead, and Robin Gray. Top finisher from the Arbutus Park swim program was Jack Luchtmeyer. The youngest to finish was eight-year-old Zach Zamstead, with 55-year-old Dana Tadla the oldest.
Among the swimming races, the results were as follows:
Front crawl: girls 7 & 8: Louisa Caldecott (first); boys 7 & 8: James Hardy (first), Liam Ramstead (second); girls 9 & 10: Lily Allen (first); boys 9 & 10: Justin Hawthorne (first), Cayden Vogrig (second); girls 11 & 12: Michelle Connolly (first); boys 11 & 12: Jackson Luchtmeyer (first), Constantin Steinmetz (second); girls 13 & 14: Roselyn Baird (first), Lara Court (second); girls 15 & up: Faith Smith (first); boys 15 & up: Philippe Caron (first).
Back crawl: girls 7 & 8: Louisa Caldecott (first), Grace Work (second); boys 7 & 8: James Hardey (first); girls 9 & 10: Lily Allen (first); boys 9 & 10: Justin Hawthorne (first); girls 11 & 12: Michelle Connolly (first), Crystal Work (second), and Faith Smith (third); boys 11 & 12: Jackson Luchtmeyer (first); girls 13 & 14: Roselyn Baird (first), Lara Court (second).
Elementary backstroke: girls 7 & 8: Louisa Caldecott (first); boys 7 & 8: James Hardey (first), Liam Ramstead (second); girls 9 & 10: Lily Allen (first); boys 9 & 10: Justin Hawthorne (first); girls 11 & 12: Faith Smith (first); boys 11 & 12: Jackson Luchtmeyer (first); girls 13 & 14: Roselyn Baird (first), Lara Court (second).
Breast stroke: girls 7 & 8: Louisa Caldecott (first); boys 7 & 8: James Hardey (first), Rheo (second); girls 9 & 10: Willow Weber (first), Lily Allen (second), Danyka Debloy (third); boys 9 & 10: Justin Hawthorne (first); girls 11 & 12: Paige Ohl (first), Michelle Connolly (second), and Faith Smith (third); boys 11 & 12: Jackson Luchtmeyer (first); girls 13 & 14: Roselyn Baird (first), Lara Court (second).
In the bellyflop contest: up to 13 years: Joseph MacKenzie-Elrick (first), Tommy Rollins (second), Kendrick Vogrig (third); 14 years & up: Greg Treg (first), Ross Hawthorne (second).
In the cannonball event: up to 13 years: Jackson Luchtmeyer (first), Christian (second); Emma Porter (third); 14 years & up: Marie Roy (first), Ross Hawthorne (second), Ray Elrick (third).
The canoe races saw The Anderbratts (Len and Sean Anderson) finish first, followed by Splish Splash (Justin and Ross Hawthorne), and The Defenders (Chris and Jackson Luchtmeyer).
Josh Ketch won the kayak races, with Richard Dube (second) and Scott Gray (third) following.
Fresh Meat (Alex Morrow, Jack Tadla, and Emily Morrow) won the volleyball tourney, followed by Gentle Lamb (Josh Keter, Jackson Martin, and Anna Keter) in second place, and Death Squad (Raymond Elrick, Troy Robinson, and Greg Treg) in third.
In the crazy whistle, splash, and flip triathlon, it was the Karate Kids (Roselyn Baird, Lily Allen, and Lara Court) who claimed first place, followed by the Champions (Justin Hawthorne, Amber Hawthorne, and Ross Hawthorne), and Cowichan Lake Cousins (Abby Ohl, Paige Ohl, and Claire Maddison) in third.
Kaari Porter won the chalk art contest, with the team of Adrienne Chow, Amelia Cove, and Elia Ng finishing second, and Alex Rudzuk taking third.
In the lifeguard relay, the Youbou lifeguards finished first, with Amber, Hawthorne, Justin Hawthorne, Ross Hawthorne, and Mary taking second place.
Finally, Marie Josie Roy won the paddle board race, followed by Emma Porter in second, and Kaari Porter made it in time to capture third.
