Want to win a sailing race? It might be easier — or more difficult — than you’d think.
The 44th annual Mariposa Belle Race returns to Lake Couchiching on Sunday.
The late Jay Cody, former curator of the Leacock Museum, started the race, which was inspired by The Marine Excursion of the Knights of Pythias, a story in Leacock’s Sunshine Sketches of a Little Town.
“It’s acknowledging the ill-fated Mariposa Belle,” explained Cheryl Behan, a member of the race’s organizing committee at the Champlain Sailing Club. “It’s believed the Mariposa Belle went up the lake and was grounded on Sanson’s Shoal.”
It is also believed Leacock’s story was based on the Enterprise, a steamship that sank in Lake Simcoe.
The race was Cody’s idea, and so was the handicapping system used to determine the winner.
“It still remains a closely guarded secret in Orillia. You never know who is going to win,” Behan said, noting anyone can win the so-called “race.”
Anyone with a sailboat can take part. The cost to enter is $5 per person. It includes a barbecue meal after the race.
Behan encourages people to take part in the “family-oriented” event.
“It’s fun, it’s not competitive and it’s only $5 a person,” she said.
Those who want to take part should show up at the sailing club, at 145 Cedar Island Rd., at 1 p.m. Sunday to register. The race will start at 2 p.m.
Two trophies will be handed out — one for the winner, as well as the Michael Greenspoon Memorial Trophy for the first person to cross the start line.
For more information, call Behan at 705-325-3384, Robert Krosse at 705-330-7351 or Rick Swinton at 705-325-0528.
