Today’s Port Broughton Sailing and Boat Club rubber duck race may be the last
One of Adelaide’s most beloved fundraising events could be over for good after today but coronavirus is not to blame for Port Broughton Sailing and Boat Club’s decision.
SA News
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The annual Port Broughton rubber duck race could be headed down the drain.
Hosted by the Port Broughton Sailing and Boat Club as its annual major fundraiser for the past 18 years, today’s Race Day on the Bay event could be the last.
The private paddock the club has been based on for more than two decades will go to auction on Friday, leaving the future of the popular event in limbo.
Sailing and Boat Club secretary and treasurer Tricsha Nurk said it looked likely the club would have to leave its Fisherman Bay Road base once the land was sold.
Mrs Nurk understood under the sale agreement, the club would have until March to vacate the site, and so far had been unable to secure a new home.
“A lot of people would be so upset if it didn’t go ahead,” Mrs Nurk said.
She said this year about 800 people were expected to enter the race, paying $3 for a rubber duck that they got to keep.
It could take a few minutes or up to an hour for the first duck to cross the finish line.
“The first time we did it, we had about 100 ducks,” Mrs Nurk said. “From that, it has built up over the years and we now have up to 2000 people just watching.”
The distance the ducks race depends on tide and wind conditions but it could be up to 500m.
“It’s creating good old-fashioned family memories,” Mrs Nurk said. “Everyone just loves it.” She said this year’s event had been adapted to ensure it met COVID-19 restrictions, which included the decision to not serve food.
“We really did everything we could so it could go ahead,” she said. “We felt it was really important for the kids this year, to have some things the same.”
The Race Day on the Bay will feature games and a Little Duck Hunt around the town. It will be held today at the Port Broughton foreshore.
