Rotary Splash fun you can't miss

KNYSNA NEWS - Knysna Splash, the annual festival presented by Knysna Rotary club, will be back on 28 December with three fun-filled events for the whole family.

Splash is the Garden Route’s entertaining water-based festival and three exciting events provide enjoyment for both participants and spectators with challenges for the whole family.

• Watch your yellow duck race in the Splash Quack Attack.

• Brave the waters in the Splash Lagoon Mile Swim.

• Pit your canoe and ball skills against other teams in the Splash Canoe Polo.

Now in its sixth year, Knysna Splash is an important fundraiser for Rotary, which donates all proceeds from the entry fees to local charities.

Lagoon Mile Swim
Registration opens Thursday 28 December at 10:00 at the Knysna yacht club for the Lagoon Mile Swim (1 650m) and the Junior Swim (450m).

The Lagoon Mile starts at 12:00 at the yacht club's Hobie slipway.

The course goes around the yacht club, turns right into the small harbour, goes under the bridge, around the Quays island and back to the finish.

The Junior Swim starts after Lagoon Mile at the same venue and goes around the yacht club into the harbour, but finishes at the John Benn slipway.

The Junior Swim is for 10 year olds and younger and only the first three girls and the first three boys will receive medals.

Parents and other age groups may also take part but will not be eligible for medals.

Each participant’s time will be recorded. Swimmers who complete the one-mile course will receive a medal.

There will be special medals in each race category for first, second and third places.

The winners in each male and female category will receive special prizes.

Race categories, male and female: Ages 11 to 13; 14 to 17; 18 to 27; 28 to 39; 40 and older.

Entry fee for 10 and under is R150. For all categories in the Lagoon Mile, the entry fee is R200.

Caps are compulsory for the swim – Knysna Rotary has limited stock of caps available and these will be online and at registration for R60 each.

Info/enquiries: Grant 084 6573086 / knysnaswim1@yahoo.com

The idea is for the tide and wind to encourage the ducks to "swim" along the water canal under the yacht bridge. Up to a thousand ducks "compete" in the race. Participants buy a duck number and the winning duck gets you R2 500 in prize money.

Quack Attack
This is a fun yellow duck race for up to thousand rubber ducks which will take place at 14:30 at the Knysna Quays.

Buy a duck number for R25, then watch your duck compete in the heats.

The idea is for the tide and wind to encourage the ducks to "swim" along the water canal under the yacht bridge.

Total prize money is R4 000 and the person holding the winning number of the first duck over the line will win R2 500, second gets R1 000 and third R500.

Ducks' numbers will be on sale at the Knysna Waterfront on 23 and 28 December.

The time of each participant in the Lagoon Mile Swim is recorded, and swimmers who complete the course will receive a medal. There will be special medals in each race category for first, second and third places. The winners in each male and female category will receive special prizes.

Canoe Polo
A new event to Splash, it will take place at the Knysna yacht club.

Visitors are invited to pit their canoe and ball skills against the local teams.

Boats will be available for visitors and they are requested to register their intention to play at the yacht club between 10:00 and 12:00 on the day, or from 14:15 a the yacht club slipway.