Mill Bay Marine is challenging the Lake Chelan community to prove who has the steadiest hands on the wheel. On Saturday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the marina will host “Back It Up For Bucks,” a free timed boat trailer backing competition open to up to 20 participants. The event will take place on dry land in the parking lot at 221 Summer Breeze Road, with orange cones configured to simulate the pull-in lanes at Old Mill Park Boat Launch in Manson.

The contest features two divisions: Solo and Couples. Solo competitors back the truck and trailer through the course on their own. In the Couples division, one partner drives while looking strictly forward — mirrors covered — relying entirely on verbal guidance from the passenger, who faces backward. It’s a test of driving skill, communication, and nerves.

How the Contest Works

Each competitor gets one timed attempt to back a truck and boat trailer through the cone course. Scoring is one point per second of elapsed time, with a five-point penalty added for each cone hit. The competitor with the lowest combined score wins.

Simple Scoring. Pure Bragging Rights.

• Every second of your run = 1 point
• Each cone hit = +5 points
• Zero cones hit = no penalty added
• Lowest total score wins — one attempt per entry

Fast is good. Clean is better. Fast and clean is best.

Divisions

Solo Division

You, the truck, and the trailer. No excuses, no one to blame but yourself. Solo competitors back through the cone course alone — full mirrors, full visibility, full accountability. This is where the people who swear they’re great at this get to find out if that’s actually true.

The Chelan Valley’s best backer walks away with $100 cash. Second and third take $50 and $25.

Prizes: 1st – $100  |  2nd – $50  |  3rd – $25 cash

Couples Division

Can your marriage survive backing up a boat?

This is the question that has ended more lake days than bad weather. Now we’re making it a competition.

Here’s how it works: the driver faces strictly forward — mirrors covered by event staff — and cannot look back under any circumstances. The passenger faces backward and guides using verbal instructions only. You are completely dependent on each other.

Every couple thinks they can communicate well under pressure. The cone course will settle that debate. Some will nail it. Some will discover things about their relationship they didn’t know before. Either way, the crowd will be entertained.

The couple with the lowest score wins a wine dinner — which, depending on how the run goes, you may need.

Prize: 1st Place Couple – Wine Dinner