AUSUITTUQ/GRISE FIORD & IQALUIT
It's an annual tradition in many Nunavut communities, but not in Iqaluit. So this year, Ralph Kownark is hosting a miniature boat race.

Damien Kiguktak won the Canada Day miniature boat race in Grise Fiord. - photo courtesy of Joanne Dignard

"They do it all the time in our hometown of Baker Lake," Kownark said.

"And in Rankin Inlet, it's a pretty popular event back home, and I want to introduce it to Iqaluit and see if it will catch on. If there's enough interest, I could try to have it as an annual event."

Iqalungmiut are invited to build a wind-powered boat no bigger than two feet by two feet with a sail no bigger than two feet by two feet, using any materials they can find around the house.

Examples include paper, wood, plastic, Styrofoam and tape, according to a post announcing the contest.

"Anything, but it has to be a homemade sailboat," he said.

Grise Fiord is one of the communities where miniature boat races are an annual tradition.

"There's usually a mess in the community and there's always those foam (pieces), and they find some and keep it and make their own boat," said recreation co-ordinator Tivai Kiguktak.

"They do it at their home and bring it down with them."

The hamlet holds its boat race at the pond in town during Canada Day celebrations, and it's an event people have come to expect.

"It's fun," said resident Joanne Dignard.

"People create their own little boats. We're lucky if there's a wind, otherwise it takes forever to get to the other side."

Dignard learned the hard way that bigger is not better.

"The most simple one wins," she said. "I did a really fancy one, and I had put rocks on the sides because it was a windy day. I thought it won't blow away as much. (The winner's) was so simple. It was just a little plain boat with a sail."

Since posting his intentions to host the race in Iqaluit, Kownark has heard from many people interested in taking part and in winning the $100 prize.

"As long as they use lightweight items that float well, it's just to have fun, so I hope people come out and enjoy themselves," he said.

He said the real attraction is coming up with a winning design.

"Being creative, building it from scratch, testing the sail," he said.

"And it's pretty interesting how some little sailboats can go pretty fast. You get pretty competitive when the boats go all at the same time, there's usually like 50 of them."

The Iqaluit race takes place Sunday, Aug. 16 at 3 p.m. at Dead Dog Lake, and Kownark has only one wish.

"Hopefully there's wind that day."

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