LAKE TEXOMA, TX - Texoma Lakefest Regatta 2008 kicked off Thursday, all to raise money for charity. Despite rainy conditions, Mystic Matthews and company were able to set sail and gives us a preview.

Sailors say a bad day on the lake is better than a good day at work. And on Lake Texoma, despite the rain, it was the corporate sailboat race that kicked off Texoma Lakefest Regatta 2008.

“The Leukemia Society has been doing regattas for the past 15 years. They do 45 across the country and it’s just a good organization. It really touches a lot of people and we are proud to be associated with them,” says event director Tim Wylie.

KXII got to take part in the corporate race and came in dead last! Tom Burke was our captain of the Southern Cross. “It’s actually about the most fun you can have going about five miles an hour. You can walk faster than we race. But it’s exciting, we’re in close quarters and everyone is yelling and screaming, but it’s all good fun,” says Burke.

The real races start Friday at 10 a.m. and run through Sunday. Tim Wylie, who is also the Commodore at the Texoma Sailing Club, says the public is more than welcome to come out and watch. “We've got 50 boats that will be out on the water sailing. We’ll have a bunch of parties and more important we will be raising money for charity, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.”

And in order to raise money, the Texoma Sailing Club, who is hosting the weekend festivities along with Grandpappy Point, is throwing a big party Saturday night.

"We have two award-winning Elvis tribute artists coming out to play. It’s $15 a person and doors open at 7:30.”

And all the money made from Saturday night goes to charity.

Burke says, “We've supported charities for years with this race and I think it’s a wonderful organization and a charity I personally support so I'm glad that we're doing it. And it’s not so much the winning, the competing and being out there it the fun.”