NYC Tugboat Race 2008 C

What I enjoy about the race:  meeting friends enough old and new to convince me that NYC is really an enormous set of superimposed villages.  One water village converged on Pier 84 yesterday.   And elders like Pegasus got the respect deserved, as did those of all generations who got the 101-year-old out there to the village square of the sixth boro; and

seeing some vessels dock in the fancy part of Manhattan in finery and Sunday’s best with whatever assistance they need and come ashore; and

finding drama in competition no matter horsepower (like Line v. Growler),

size, or vintage; and

and witnessing the nine tugs boats in this foto raise so much dust in the corral that the “fiberglass outa-placer” saw the wisdom in getting out of the way, and

more tomorrow.

Interesting “fact” mentioned in the ceremony yesterday by the Coast Guard commander:  25% of the tugboats on the East Coast are  based in New York City.  Did I get that right?

Top two fotos above taken by Elizabeth Wood.

NYC Tugboat Race 2008 B

So through the magic of blogging, let’s turn time back and shift camera position, kind of like the movie Groundhog Day.  Or “TR 2008  . . . Take 2.”  The crew of W. O. Decker–the only tug in the harbor taking paying passengers–coordinate to rope a bollard.  By the way, W. O. took first place in best mascot . . . and guesses what it was?  Answer follows.

Truth must out . . . these fabuous fotos were captured by Brian, also intrepid captain of Puffin.  Below, Charles Oxman pushes around Rosemary . . . until Rosemary turns on all her 6000 hp.  The Oxman takes my first prize for the most unusual house design AND best namesake.  Bravo Vinik!

Brian gets a prize for catching the drama of nose-to-nose gladiating (I’m sure that’s not a word til now) with Edith Thornton, who saved all its grit for this, twisting it up with St. Andrew.

Best-looking tug in the harbor . . . Matthew Tibbetts.  Anyone know its namesake?

And one more shot for today of “sturm und drang” as portrayed by speed winners, Ross Sea and Maryland.

Oh . . . about the best mascot:  beating out a disqualified tattoo queen, a ferret, a large dog and a puppy, and some very happy clams . . . winner was an East River spider crab.  Does it have a name?  A special snack for winning?  Check back later.

Daily News reports the news here, even dragging in some Yankees-RedSox causality.

OK . .  last addition for today, thanks to Bernie of the Working Harbor Committee, someone who loves spinach . . . although I still suspect it’s seaweed.  Either way, he’s gonna grow up strong.