Soggy Bottom Boat Regatta to raise funds for Diabetes Tasmania

More than double the entrants are expected to take part in this year's Soggy Bottom Boat Race.

The race, based at Waverley Lake, sees entrants use only cardboard and gaffer tape to make a boat with the aim to make it around the course and cross the finish line.

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"Some of them actually get towed back in. Some put their foot through and get a bit wet, but the idea is to finish," he said.

"There might be three in the boat, and three pushing. So they have the 'motor' at the back and there are people kicking. We just want team involvement."

After a very miserable, and wet, attempt two years ago, City of Launceston mayor Albert van Zetten is back with a vengeance. He has been challenged to take on the Rotary club's president in a leader's race.

The council has put its engineering work placement students to the test to build a boat for Cr van Zetten and deputy mayor Danny Gibson to take part.

The engineers had one rule: make it better than the council's last boat.

"The last one that we went in and tried sank very quickly so we're very keen to make sure it works well," Cr van Zetten said.

"It has been tested. We've had some engineering students who have been on work experience who have been with us at council, and they've really passionately got involved and tried to help us out."

He said the team will do their best to try and win.

All funds raised at the event will be donated to Diabetes Tasmania and used to fund its youth camps.

Ruby Howe, who has type 1 diabetes, said it looked like a fun event. As a previous camp participant, Ruby said the camps allowed her to have fun and feel normal.

"The outcomes you get is to make new friends and bonds that you keep for life," she said.

The event will be held on March 1. Registrations can be taken from 8.30am until 10am.

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