NYCkayaker Races to know about

[bonnie13 at earthlink.net]

Hi - 

I just thought I'd mention a couple of races that paddlers might want to be aware of & make allowances for in their paddling plans for the 1st 2 weekends in September. 

On Sunday September 3rd, the Working Harbor Committee will be holding their annual Tugboat Parade, Race, and Contests. I'm bummed, every year I want to go to this & every year I have a prior engagement. It sounds like a blast, although I'm not sure I'd want to see it from my kayak. Noon to 3 in the vicinity of Pier 63. More details available here: http://www.workingharbor.com/Events.htm

btw the Working Harbor Committee (not to be confused with the old Working Waterfront organization that some of us were briefly involved in a few years back) is something that Pier 63's own John Doswell is involved in, they do some cool stuff - earlier this year they screened some excellent old movies at the barge, I was lucky to get in & only got to go because the weather was horrible that day, plus they do the Hidden Harbor tours - really didn't mean to plug 'em but as long as I'm mentioning their tugboat races I can't resist it.

Now on the following Sunday, September 10th - 

UGH. This is not a plug, this is a WARNING. Yep, it's the annual Stupidboat Race...oops, I mean Stuporboat...or to use THEIR preferred term, (gag, choke) the New York City Superboat Race. This is the one where they shut down the river from the Battery up to 34th street or so for the race, think they do that around 11 am, and even the day before will be annoying 'cause they'll all be out there slamming around destroying even the relative peace and quiet during the days leading up to that race. 

Ugh ugh ugh. 

Boy, I sure hope that poor lost manatee has indeed decided to leave the area.