Published: May 12, 2008 03:38 pm            

Anchors away!

Avon readies for third annual Regatta

AVON — Town Council members here received a unique donation last week.

Representatives from Sebree Architects Inc. presented the town with a hand-crafted radio-controlled sailboat in anticipation of Avon’s third annual Regatta scheduled for May 17 in the lake behind Avon’s Town Hall.

The six-pound vessel that bears the town seal currently rests in the council chambers.

“Several employees from the town came out and watched the Regatta last year and we thought it would be a nice gesture to build them their own sailboat,” Sebree Architects’ Scott Black said.

Black is a member of The Indy Admirals Club, which includes model ship and boat enthusiasts throughout central Indiana.

Members of the club build and operate an array of sailboats, military ships, merchant ships and, according to the club’s website, “just about anything that floats or submerges.” The Indy Admirals also serves as the organizing body for events such as the one scheduled for Avon.

“Last year our event attracted competition from three different states and we hope to have even more this year,” Black told the council. “It’s a fun spectator thing and a lot of that is because Avon has that beautiful lake.”

Admission to the Regatta is free and Black said that many of the boats on display are handmade. The average time to construct one of the sailboats is roughly 20 hours, an activity which he says serves as an ideal stress release.

“I’ve flown radio controlled airplanes probably since I was a teenager and about four years ago I operated a sailboat and really enjoyed it,” Black said. “[The Regatta] is fun for families because people can come out and pack a nice picnic lunch and it’s just really relaxing and exciting too.”

For more information in Saturday’s Regatta, visit the website at www.indyadmirals.org.



brian.kern@flyergroup.com

        

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