Duct tape keeps KUAC Red Green Regatta afloat

Submitted by Gretchen Gordon
Phone: 907-474-1891
07/23/09

Fairbanks residents searching for duct tape this weekend may find it in short supply as KUAC holds its 13th annual Red Green Regatta on Sunday, July 26.

The regatta begins at the Graehl Park boat launch and ends at Pioneer Park in time for participants and spectators to join the Governor’s Picnic and witness the inauguration of Sean Parnell as Alaska’s 12th governor. The public can view the regatta from the Wendell and Cushman Street bridges and along First Avenue.

Celebrity judges will score this year’s watercraft based on innovative use of the handyman’s secret weapon (duct tape), imagination and integration of the Red Green theme. Entrants vie for water-worthy prizes supplied by Paddler’s Cove Outfitters and Compeau’s. Winners and special awards, including "Best Viewed at a Distance," will be announced at 1 p.m. at the Pioneer Park boat launch. This year’s judges include lead sponsor Denali State Bank’s Jo Heckman, the Fairbanks Daily News Miner’s Dermot Cole, Graphic North’s Wayne Clark, University of Alaska’s Karen Perdue, Museum of the North’s Andrew Quainton, longtime KUAC devotee Patty Kastelic, Dr. Phyllis Pendergrast and judges’ boat captain Chuck Lemke.

The regatta is a celebration of "The Red Green Show," a unique comedy series that airs Saturday nights at 8 p.m. on AlaskaOne.

"Duct tape and blue tarps are the mainstay of Alaska ingenuity, so the Red Green Regatta is a perfect opportunity for Fairbanksans to show their creativity and imagination," says KUAC TV programming director Claudia Clark. "Alaska viewers love their Red Green and they definitely know the kind of humor spectators and fellow viewers will like. We already know the themes of a couple of this year’s entries: "˜Sailin’ Palin,’ "˜The Red Green Department of Transportation,’ and "˜Salmon Patties.’ I can’t wait to see those crazy crafts."

Check-in and registration begins at 10 a.m. at Graehl Park and the event kicks off at 11 a.m. as University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor, Brian Rogers fires the starter pistol. The registration fee is $30 per vessel, which includes an official T-shirt designed by local graphic design artist Sue Sprinkle. Additional T-shirts are available at the regatta for $20 each or two for $35.

Official rules, prize information and registration forms are available at www.kuac.org. For more information call 907-474-7491.