That Sinking Feeling

This year Greater Vancouver’s Plywood cup was held in July – almost two months later than what has been typical for the previous 7 years. So why the change?

Well, the club decided it was time to further expand the event – a larger venue with more space for boat-building, an opportunity to up the profile for the event, with more teams and sponsorship participation. Of course, when you tinker with something that’s tried and true there are risks … sailing into uncharted waters one might say.

Logic suggested that we should pin our event onto the Sea Vancouver Festival (thus the change in event timing); the mariner theme for this high-profile city event was a perfect fit!

Now for the good news: In terms of participation and sponsorship, the event was a success – it met participation and fund raising expectations, and provided a good venue for the event to expand in subsequent years. We also took the opportunity to dispense $44, 0000 to charities, including BC Special Olympics, Big brothers and Big Sisters, and managed a short video spot on the TV news that evening!  Even the visiting Tall Ships participated (a couple of their crews entered teams to build CPC Plywood cup boats!)

Life was good.

Until that is, the Sea Vancouver Festival ran into financial difficulties and garnered some rather ugly publicity. There’s a slim chance the Sea Vancouver Festival may return next year, and, if it does, the notoriety it earned in the public’s eye means that CPC Greater Vancouver will give that event a wide birth, and go back to promoting the Plywood Cup as a stand-alone event.

As they say, "Nothing ventured…"