This year’s seventh annual We Gotta Regatta fundraiser brought in an outstanding number of kayaks, canoes, boats and handmade watercrafts to the float from Browntown Road trailhead to Crook Farm.

So many, in fact, that a new record was set, according to Steve Kresge, spokesperson for the Tuna Valley Trail Association.

There were 250 craft launched Saturday afternoon at the Browntown trailhead. The number of participating crafts practically doubled since previous years, according to Kresge: in the past the event would have an average between 130 and 150 crafts.

After the water crafts completed their floats down the Tunungwant Creek they came to rest at Crook Farm on Seaward Avenue, where there was live entertainment performed by Ronan and Copeland, raffles, a pig roast and a drawing for a Town Vapor 10 model Kayak, donated by the Sportsman’s Outlet. Ryan Race took home the prize of the kayak when the winning ticket was drawn.

“The proceeds from this event go towards the maintenance and development of our trails, and this year’s event turnout was outstanding,” said Kresge. “This has been the best year yet; it is amazing how the community came together in support.”

Funds raised during past regatta events have also been used to upgrade the McDowell Trail at the University of Pittsburgh Bradford, build walkways over streams and runs, purchase materials and maintain equipment for the Tuna Valley Trail Association.

Each year the event is assisted by a number of businesses and individuals from the area, according to Kresge. In addition to Sportsman’s Outlet’s yearly kayak donation, support was provided by the Zippo/Case Museum, the University of Pittsburgh Bradford, Northwest Bank, Kessel Construction, Minard Run Oil Co., the Blaisdell Foundation, Just Riding Along Bike Shop, Marshall Insurance Services, Madeline Miles and Crook Farm.

“I also needed to dispel a ‘regatta rumor’ I had been hearing for years about ‘airborne donuts’,” stated Kresge. “But sure enough, when I came down to see, there were the employees of John William’s Pastry Shop throwing airborne, sealed, donuts into the Tunungwant as participants passed by; it was a sight to see.”