Inaugural Presque Isle Bay Messabout

The Bayfront Maritime Center is hosting Erie’s First Small Boat Festival, a weekend celebration of antique, traditional, and contemporary hand crafted boats. BMC’s Small Boat Festival includes two separate events: BMC’s 3rd annual Cardboard Boat Regatta on Saturday August 18th and the inaugural Presque Isle Bay Messabout, August 17th – 19th, 2012.

The 3rd annual Cardboard Boat Regatta is a chance for families, students, friends and co-workers to build and race boats made from cardboard, paint, tape and glue. Teams compete in categories including: Fastest Time in each age group - adult (18+), teen (12-18) and youth (Under 12). Prizes are also awarded for Most Creative, Most Dramatic Sinking, and Crowd Favorite. Entry fee is $30 before July 15th and $40 after July 15th. Registration starts at 9:30 am, exhibition and judging of contestants begins at 10:00, and racing will commence at noon. See construction, registration, race rules, and event details as well as photos from 2011 by visiting www.bayfrontcenter.org/cardboard. Everyone is encouraged to build a cardboard boat, sponsor a team and cheer on local racers at this family friendly event!

The inaugural Presque Isle Bay Messabout is a weekend long event featuring unique, hand crafted vessels. Traditional Small Boat Association (TSCA) http://www.tsca.net/index.html boaters from around the United States and Canada will travel to Erie to spend the weekend sailing, paddling and motoring and displaying their vessels while competing in categories including: Traditional Design/Traditional Construction; Traditional Design/Contemporary Construction; Contemporary; Restoration; Paddling Craft traditional design; Most Contemporary Design; and Best in Show. There will be demonstrations, presentations, and a catered buffet dinner Saturday Night beginning at 6pm. TSCA participants may camp overnight Sunday on Presque Isle State Park, http://www.visiteriepa.com/presque_isle_state_park.shtml. Messabout participant registration - $60 before July 15th, $65 after July 15th.
On-site Camping is available; Waterfront RV camping with hook-ups minutes away at Lampe Marina Campground, http://www.porterie.org/camping/

Celebrate Erie http://www.celebrateerie.com/ is the same weekend with music, food, and family attractions 4 blocks (or a free trolley ride) away.

For more details and updates about the Cardboard Regatta or the Presque Isle Bay Messabout and sponsorship information, visit www.bayfrontcenter.org, email info@bayfrontcenter.org, or call 814-456-4077.

The mission of the Bayfront Maritime Center is: to develop and implement unique, hands-on, maritime themed, educational, vocational and recreational opportunities for the community in a universally accessible waterfront facility. Since 1998, BMC has worked with over 14,000 youth and adults to sail, paddle, row, and build 90 boats. It is home to the Bayfront Alternative Education Program for the School District of the City of Erie in collaboration with Sarah A. Reed Children’s Center. BMC hosts the award winning Bayfront Migrant IU5/ESD Summer Program, and, Pennsylvania’s only adaptive sailing program, the Erie Adaptive Sailing Experience (EASE) http://www.bayfrontcenter.org/maritime-ducation/adaptive-sailing/.