Richmond residents are being called on to try and set a Guinness World record on Friday-one word at a time.
The attempt is set for the first day of the Richmond Martime Festival where at Britannia Heritage Shipyards (5180 Westwater Drive) people are being asked to sign up and help sing the nursery rhyme Row, row, row your boat.
Sounds easy, right?
But in order to make the attempt, a minimum of 155 people are required to sing one word of the song each, in series, in time, and in tune.
The current record is held by members of the Jim Pattison Group, which had 154 people turn out in March 2011 at its JPG Partners in Pride Conference in San Antonio, Texas.
Organizers here are hoping to not only break that, but clearly own the title with as many as 200 or so singers doing their one-word part in the lengthy relay.
A group of 18 city staff members recently made a video demonstrating how the Guinness attempt has to be performed (scan page using Layar).
"There's 18 words in the song, so we expect to be going through it about nine times in total to set the record," said City of Richmond spokesperson Ted Townsend.
"Each person sings just one word, but it has to be done in tempo to musical accompaniment, without any miscues in order to set the record. On the surface it may sound easy because it's a song most people know by heart. But when you attempt it, you find very quickly that it often doesn't take long before somebody miscues, or falls off tempo."
The public, 12 and older, is encouraged to pre-register for the attempt at the Richmond Martime Festival website (richmondmaritimefestival.ca). Registration can also be made on the day.
Those taking part will be awarded a commemorative certificate, a button, and have their name entered for a $200-gift card at Richmond Centre Mall.
"Plus, they have the potential of being a co-world record holder," Townsend said, adding participants are asked to be at Britannia Heritage Shipyards at 3 p.m. to rehearse before the actual attempt begins at 5 p.m.
Part of the judging panel for the Guinness attempt is Canadian Olympic silver medalist (women's eights) rower and Richmond local Darcy Marquardt.
In addition to a second judge, video certification will be used to verify the event and submitted to the Guinness World Record officials.
"We can make numerous attempts, so we will do at least more than one run through, depending on how successful we are the first time," Townsend said.
"It's going to be a lot of fun. But I encourage people to check out the video because you can see what's involved.
"It's pretty serious. You have to be on the ball."
The world record try was designed to be a fitting way to celebrate the festival's 10th anniversary and kick off its expansion to three, full days, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday to Sunday.
The decision to expand was based on growing attendance figures.
"It's become a popular fixture for a lot of people, so we decided for the 10th year we would extend it," Townsend said, adding in 2012 an estimated 35,000 people took in the event.
Most of them were locals, but some visitors were from around the Lower Mainland, as well as out of town tourists.
"We really stepped it up about three years ago with some extra funding, programming, entertainment, decor and increased the festive atmosphere," Townsend said.
Funding for the festival comes from a mixture of corporate sponsorships and city support. This year's presenting sponsor is Port Metro Vancouver.
Part of the event's expansion of activities on the eight-acre site at Britannia Heritage Shipyards includes costumed, roving entertainers who interact with the crowds.
"People have really responded to all of that. We get a lot of questions about it from people throughout the year. And people, especially families, can't wait to come back," Townsend said.
Plus, there's the spectacle of a featured tall ship, one of a dozen vessels at the event. This year, the Lady Washington will be available for tours.
"She's been in movies like Pirates of the Carribean, and Once Upon a Time," Townsend said.
For more about this year's Richmond Maritime Festival, visit (richmondmaritimefestival.ca) and read the Richmond News' Friday Feature story in the Aug. 9 edition for more information.
