Susanna Freymark
Three blokes were putting the finishing touches on Nauti Buoy out the back of the pub today, Friday, October 18.
They had an hour to finish before the raft was loaded on a trailer and taken up the Clarence River near Tabulam ready for its launch tomorrow, Saturday, October 19.
They call themselves the shipbuilding crew – many other locals have helped get the raft to its almost-finished point.
The crew has spent days building the raft and are already bragging about their win for Mallanganee Hotel.
Three other pubs – the Dog n Bull in Bonalbo, Tabulam Hotel and The Lunatic Hotel in Drake – will be racing against them at the West of the Range Regatta tomorrow, Saturday, October 19 at 2pm.
There are water activities all morning until the pub race in the afternoon. Read more about what’s on and where to go here.
The Mallanaganee shipbuilding crew reckon the win will be easy easy as one of them paints Arrrrr! on the side of the raft (think pirates).
Six airtight drums are strapped to a lightweight deck, the oars are ready and so are they.
IndyNR.com rang The Lunatic to see how their raft was coming along.
“Isn’t it a secret?” the publican said when I asked for a photo of the Drake raft.
When we tell her the Mallanganee crew have already been to Drake to have a gander at the raft, she laughs.
That’s what the day is all about – fun on and out of the water.
The race requirements insist that a minimum of six people must be on the hand built raft. Nauti Buoy will be decorated with tinsel and they might have a few water pistols just in case they’re needed.
Raft spotters will get the best view from the Tabulam Bridge.
Big question – do the winners get free beer?
If you take some good photos, we’d love to see them. Email indynr.com@gmail.com
