People relaxing by a lakeside, some sitting on lawn chairs and under umbrellas, with children playing and boats on the water under a partly cloudy sky.

Aug 3 2025

THE SUNDAY HOUSE REGATTA

THE SUNDAY HOUSE REGATTA

Mid-summer, we shake things up on the 5th Sunday with something pulled straight from my childhood: the Sunday House Regatta. There are swimming races in the morning, paddle races in the afternoon, and all the food, friends, and sun-soaked chaos you can handle in between. Winners earn real Sunday House pennants, and at the end of the day, everyone gets cleaned up and comes back for a dance—the kind where the kids fully take over and the adults just try to keep up.

On Regatta Sunday, every member can bring a friend—on us. It’s our version of open water and open arms. Never been to a regatta? Don’t panic. Yes, there are fun prizes and yes, there’s a trophy—but this isn’t the Olympics. It’s not even summer camp serious. This is a “did we pack enough juice boxes?” kind of regatta.

Your kid’s “dive” looks more like a belly flop with jazz hands? Iconic. Never been in a canoe before? Even better. You’ll row with the confidence of someone who thinks the paddles are mostly for decoration. It’s wholesome. It’s chaotic. It’s camp-core family fun, pulled directly from the best parts of being a 90s cottage kid—just with better snacks and less bug spray.

To help you (and your tiny teammates) get irrationally excited, here’s a sneak peek of what reGATTA day looks like:

8:00 AM

The Towel Goes Out

Arrive by boat, car, or barefoot walk — but this time, with extra members in your crew. On regatta day every member can bring a friend, on us.

9:00 AM

We RAce, Swimming is up first

  • Mixed 5 years & under (with or without life belts, with or without a parent)

  • Mixed – 7 years & under

  • Mixed – 10 years & under

  • Mixed – 12 years & under

  • Mixed – 16 years & under

  • Women’s Open

  • Men’s Open

  • Women’s Open, Endurance

  • Women’s Open, Endurance

  • Three Generation Race – 3 participants all in the same family, 3 generations.

11:30 AM

Lunch & Obstacle Course

Regatta Day Lunch

We’re not saying this is the best meal of the summer... but it might be the best meal of the summer. Expect barbecued everything. You’ll eat too much. You’ll linger too long. You’ll somehow end up cheering for a canoe race with ice cream on your chin. That’s Regatta Day lunch.

The Obstacle Course

Equal parts competition and chaos, the Sunday House Obstacle Course is part Spartan Race, part sitcom. There will be paddling. There will be running (at least a light jog). There will be at least one unexpected water feature. It’s designed for maximum teamwork, minimum dignity, and high replay value. Teams may include parents, kids, or anyone brave enough to crawl under a tarp in front of a crowd. There are prizes. There are cheers. And there is definitely a lifeguard on duty.

1:00 PM

Now we grab the paddles

  • Around the island Canoe Race, from our dock, around horseshoe island and back.

  • Kayak Race – Mixed 12 years & under

  • Kayak Race – Mixed Open

  • Canoe Race – Mixed Doubles – Open

  • Canoe Race – Mixed Doubles – 12 years & under

  • Canoe Race – Mixed Fours – 12 years & under

  • Canoe Race – Mixed Fours – OPEN

  • Six in a Canoe Race, no paddles

  • Gunwale Bobbing Race (with paddle) – Open singles

Have your own canoe or kayak? Bring it, we’ll need all the vessles we can get our hands on.

3 :00 PM

The House Cup (But Not Like That One)

The races may be friendly, but the glory is real. These are the coveted, highly official, extremely prestigious Sunday House Regatta Awards — and yes, they matter.

Every race crowns 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners, each receiving a Sunday House pennant worthy of wall space, sibling rivalry, or dramatic towel-cape entrances. Whether you win by speed, strategy, or sheer chaos, you’ll earn a spot in Regatta history.

And then there’s the big one: The Regatta Cup.

Awarded to the racer with the most points across all events — usually a determined kid, occasionally an overly enthusiastic parent — this is a true trophy. It shines. It’s engraved. It has weight.

We’re not saying it’ll change your life.

We’re just saying it’s been known to spark speeches.

6:00 PM

The Regatta Dance

After the races are run, the pennants are claimed, and the juice boxes have run dry, there’s just one thing left to do: dance.

You probably ducked out to get changed into something nice(-ish). Read: we kicked you out so we could sweep up the popsicle sticks and string some lights. And then—just like that—it’s Regatta dance time.

The Regatta Dance isn’t fancy. It’s just pure joy. A little little barefoot boogie, and a lot of kids absolutely owning the dance floor. There may be glow sticks. Someone will start a conga line. No one will regret it.