These tiny boats are going to race on the Lehigh River

By Steve Novak

Ever heard of a skua? It's*an eight-foot-long, 80-pound racing boat made out of plywood with an outboard motor attached, zipping along the water up to 25 mph.

If you want to see some in action, plan on*heading down to the Lehigh River next weekend.

The Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association*is holding a Skuas on the Lehigh race, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 10.

The race will be held from Adams Island on the Lehigh in Allentown*between the Tilghman and Hamilton street bridges. The island itself is private property, but spectators can watch from Bucky Boyle Park on the river's west bank.

"These are not drag races, nor is it like bumper cars," the association said in a news release. Each run*involves four two six boats and starts in motion, like a sailboat race, the release says. Individual races take about three minutes as the crafts run "a convoluted course."

The boats themselves are hand made*-- some from scratch, others from kits -- and are colorfully decorated, the release said.

The Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association was started in 2010 to establish racing and design rules. It boasts more than 160 members in 33 states and seven countries.

Attachment 84402
Skuas are eight-foot plywood skimmers built by hand and driven by six- or eight-horsepower outboard motors. They can reach up to 25 mph. (Photo courtesy Cocktail Class Wooden Boat Racing Association)

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/news...g_to_race.html

That looks like fun!!