Hydro races liven up weekend at Ellis Lake

Like squat water rockers, clusters of hydroplanes whizzed, buzzed and roared around Ellis Lake on Saturday for the annual Great American Celebration & Regatta.

Each heat of runabout and stock hydro races sent waves lapping at the lake's edge and had children grinning in delight. The American Power Boat Association races continue from noon to 4 p.m. today on Ellis Lake.

Cousins Scott Paustian, 6, and James Bliss, 5, sat just a few feet from the water Saturday to watch the boats whir round and round.

"I was hoping I'd get splashed," James said.

Even though no mist made it his way to cool him off, th Yuba City boy was content to marvel at how the boats spun and skipped across the surface.

"The nose of the boat comes up and it looks like they are going to fall over," he said. "Oh! They're getting ready to win now. The checkered flag is out."

Yuba City racer Drew Jeppesen, one of a handful of local competitors, was happy to be making waves near home for once. Racing is a bit of a family sport, he said, with five years under his own belt and his wife is a third-generation racer.

"That's a fourth-generation racer right there," he said, pointing to his son, Scott, 2, who was gleefully polishing the hydroplane with a spray bottle and paper towels.

The annual races are a great way to bring a little attention to Marysville, Jeppesen said.

"And it puts the water to use, other than being a duck cesspool and a fish pond," he said. "Some place we race are out in the middle of nowhere. This is in the center of town so everyone can come."

Yuba City resident Joanne Fortna walked her dog down to the lake and watched just to have something to do, she said.

"They need to do more things like this around here," she said.

CONTACT Ashley Gebb at 749-4724 or agebb@appealdemocrat.com .