NYCkayaker The Harrison....

[Tim Gamble]

Hey Everyone,

The best event on the river of the summer is the Downtown Boathouse Annual
Harrison St. Regatta.

The Regatta this year is on Sunday August 3rd at the Downtown Boathouse
Pier 96 location. The race is open to all human powered boats, no motors
or sails. Dogs and other domestic animals are allowed on boats, but they
can not contribute to propulsion. An Aussie with a Jack Russell Terrier on
his rear deck won a few years ago.

We always put the entire Downtown Boathouse Fleet on the water. I think we
had almost 75 boats last year. If you don't have a boat you are welcome to
use one of ours while supplies last.

Important Details:
-Its totally free.
-There is a totally free snack/lunch afterward at Pier 96.
-The winner is the SECOND person to cross the finish line.
-The winner has to make, and present the trophy for next year.

Registration starts at 1:00PM the Starter's gun is at 2:00PM. The
Boathouse has cooked-up a new secret course, and they won't tell me what
it is, but it will be less than a mile, and suitable for just about any
type of craft.

This is very definitely a "fun race" and most of the participants are not
really trying to set speed records, and treat it as a paddle trip. We have
whitewater boats, rowing shells, peddle boats, row boats, etc etc... One
year it was won by a guy with a dog on the back of his boat!

I have won the race, 2nd place, three years in row, so we are really
looking for some fresh blood, because I have run out of ideas for the
trophy.

In the spirit of friendly competition Floating the Apple, and the Village
Community Boathouse are both sending rowing gigs with some of their
fastest rowers, gigers, coxs-people, or whatever they call themselves. I
have seen them practicing, waxing their boats, sharpening their oars, and
working on strategy.

Scott from the outriggers got spanked throughly last year. Lets see if he
can make it back to the Boathouse. He has been complaining all year about
the race starting before he got to the starting line, but I think he was
just tired from paddling all the way up from 23rd St. Those wimps in the
big outrigger canoe couldn't even get uptown in time.

How about you speed demons at Pier 66, don't you want a piece of this? We
would like to see if you can stand-up to a short race. Any fool can
lollygag  around the island of Manhattan in October in 4 hours, lets see
you take on the Hudson in August!!!

Inwood??? They threatened to come last year, but we never saw them, scared
I guess...

What about Yonkers?? everyone knows they are terrified of the big city.
They only come down with an ACA approved escort during the Great Hudson
River Paddle.

Pictures of the 2006 event are here:
http://www.pbase.com/jonathanbarkey/boathouse

See www.downtownboathouse.org for directions and more taunts.

Tim...