The 35th annual Bottle Boat Regatta was held Saturday, April 16, on the south side of the Palma Sola Causeway. Sponsored by the Hernando De Soto Historical Society Inc., the regatta consists of teams of varying ages in six different categories. Boats are made buoyant by constructing with any type of plastic bottle with a maximum size of one gallon. The Regatta is just one event that coincides with the month-long De Soto Heritage Festival.
Boats are all shapes, sizes and themes, and the event is fun for everyone. Crews were awarded trophies and medals for a variety of categories.
This year’s winners were:
• Adult: Team Desoti, first place; and Coke Floats, second place.
• High School: Braden River High School, first place; Lakewood Ranch High School, second place.
• Middle School: Lee Middle School, Lee Lightning, first place; and Team Trouble, second place.
• Elementary School: Palma Sola Panthers, first place; Stewart Shooting Stars, second place; and Jessie P. Miller, The Perfect Storm, third place.