PORT ANGELES — More than 36,000 yellow rubber ducks will race down the Nippon Paper Industries USA canal at the base of Ediz Hook in Port Angeles today.
The grand prize in the 19th annual Great Olympic Peninsula Duck Derby is a 2008 Toyota Tundra pickup truck, donated by Wilder Toyota-Scion of Port Angeles.
It goes to the person with the ticket on the first duck that reaches the finish line.
The “owners” of the next 43 ducks that float down the canal on the incoming line will win prizes that include $2,000 and $1,500 in cash from 7 Cedars Casino, travel packages and gift certificates worth up to $500.
Today’s race begins at 5:30 p.m., preceded by the VID race (for larger Very Important Ducks purchased by businesses and individuals) at 5 p.m.
The top three finishers in the VID race will win $1,000, $500 and $250 cash.
You can buy last-minute Duck Derby tickets at the race site.
The derby ducks cost $5 each, or $25 for either six ducks in the race, or five race ducks and a rubber duck to take home. VID ducks are $500, $250 and $125.
Proceeds benefit the Olympic Medical Center Foundation, to buy medical equipment at OMC, and Sequim Rotary Club.
You must be over age 18 to purchase a ticket.
The ducks are numbered, and buyers are given a ticket with matching number.
All of the numbered ducks will be dumped into the canal, and each duck is tagged on crossing the finish line.
In addition to the race-day prizes, every derby ticket comes with more than $20 worth of coupons for values donated by local businesses.
