NYCkayaker Harrison St. Regatta This Saturday at DTBH

[Tim Gamble]

The gala event of the year at the Boathouse is this Saturday 8/12 the
Annual Harrison Street Regatta. This is our annual fun-race and BBQ that
is
held every year at the Boathouse. It is the highlight of the paddling
season.

Because of various construction and permit issues we have changed
the course. This year the race goes from our Pier 96 location at 56th St.
to the Boathouse dock at 72nd St in Riverside Park.

The winner is the 2nd boat to cross the finish line. The race is open to
all human-powered craft. Our fleet of public kayaks is available for use,
or bring your own boat. Come at 1:00PM to register, the Race Starts at
2:00PM. A BBQ is held after the race. Everything including the food and
soft drinks is 100% free.

The winner receives a trophy that must be made by hand by the previous
year's winner. For the last 5 or 6 years the trophy has been captured by a
Downtown Boathouse Volunteer, and displayed prominently in the Boathouse
trophy case. We plan a spirited defense again this year. Last year I won,
and I have been planning the trophy since the end of last season. Final
construction will be completed this week, and hopefully the paint will be
dry by Saturday.

We encourage everyone to participate in the race. For most people it is
just a fun paddle. We try to get all our boats out on the water at once.
Last year we probably had 50 or more kayaks out in the river at once.

We have plenty of kayaks available for use, mostly sit on tops, and we
will make them all available to the public on a first come, first served
basis.  If you want to car-top your boat in, please read the car drop-off
directions on our website carefully:
http://www.downtownboathouse.org/directions.html

If you come by water please try to be at Pier 96 by 13:30.

If you can't paddle, please stop by anyway for some food and to visit.

---------------
Tim Gamble
917-721-8851