Thanks to David Silver

Resolute and her crew set a new speed record for the course.  Thanks to David Silver and a recording he made  in the wheelhouse during the race, you too can experience those five exhilarating minutes.  Double click on the foto below to hear it all.

David, thanks much.

NYC Tugboat Race 2013 c

And the winner of the speed race . . .

in a record setting 0 days, 0 hours, and precisely five minutes and 0 seconds . . ..

. . . sorry . . .  this is part of the day too; click on the foto for bowsprite’s rare foto coverage.

The winner   of the speed event will be revealed, uncovered, somewhat shorn  . . . at the end of this post.  But first, besides the tattoo contest, other contests include line toss.

Jamie of Susan Miller shows how it’s done.

Then . .  there’s sanctioned, precision pushing.

Can you spot the difference between the white-and-green tug to the right above and the one below?

Vane had twins in the race, and one near-clone.

I’m not sure what this event would be called . . . mustering maybe.

There’s sizing up and

retreat.

On the pier, winners wear not laurels but spinach . . . .  Someone inspired by the anthropological study of the Nacirema people might write this up as a study of a late summer ritual called Ecar Toabgut.

There are raffles that landed some this bowsprite print of a boat that represents–I believe–the first Vane participation in this race on

September 2, 2007.

And after the race–if it hadn’t happened before–boats might pose with the great Lady.

Here are some of the crew of the fastest boat . . .

Resolute.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.

Congratulations to the crew of Working Harbor Committee for their work;  many thanks to all the companies and crews for participating.

And let’s make this Tubing Tuesday, with a video of the race in NYC, the one in Gloucester and this tour in port of Antwerpen . . al  this same weekend.

NYC Tugboat Race 2013 a

Uh . . . what’s this?

It’s Buddy, living breathing braying hoof-beglittered mascot of Debora Miller.  If you’ve never been to the New York’s race, there’s a best mascot category.  In the past there’ve been  . . . dogs, hermit crabs, even a chicken . . . but Buddy redefines the contest.

With the threat of rain, someone made a wise decision and advanced the start of the race.  Here Resolute, Catherine Miller, Tasman Sea, and Red Hook move toward the starting line . . . feted by now-retired 1931 fireboat John J. Harvey.

Foto thanks to William Hyman . . . the line up.

And at 10:29:30 . . . they’re off . . . with 1930 wooden tug W. O. Decker taking an early and easy lead!!

45 seconds later . . . W. O. Decker has dropped back.

Here’s they are 15 seconds later.

John J. Harvey is not a tug, but to see the speed out of this octogenarian . . . was humbling.   An engineer toiling away in the engine room later told me all four engines were driving propulsion.

The red tug–Resolute–went on to win, although I don’t yet have the official times.  I could have written them down, but I was far too busy applauding and taking fotos.

And here’s the crowd at the finish line.

Part B tomorrow.  Thanks to William Hyman for foto 4.  All others by Will Van Dorp.

Many thanks to Glen Miller of Miller’s Launch for my ride this year.

Unrelated and almost forgot:  Here’s a query from Jeff S, a frequent commenter on this blog:  he saw a “very weather beaten wooden sailing vessel (hull) at the Jersey end of the Goethels Bridge, about 65-70 foot long , two deck cabins and a bowsprit.”  It was parked in the oversize lot waiting to cross the Bridge when traffic gets light.  Anyone have an idea what this may be?

 

Half a Day Away

It is the Labor Day weekend, and that means that some folks have to be laboring.  Here’s a roster of harbor habitués who will likely NOT be at the race because they will be doing what they’re intended to do:  tug, tow, assist, etc.

Priorities win though.  Hats off to all crews who need to do regular work tomorrow.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.