Crowley’s tugboat Hunter – officially the fastest tugboat on the West Coast – won the Seattle Maritime Festival tugboat races again this past Saturday, giving it its fifteenth first-place victory. This year’s race, however, was unique because Crowley auctioned off a ride for four aboard Hunter during the race in support of Ryther Child Center (Ryther), a recognized leader in behavioral health services for Washington state children and their families. The ride sold in an eBay auction for $505; Crowley will match the funds raised for a total gift of $1,010.

As part of Crowley’s company-wide efforts to give back to the communities in which it works, the Seattle office has chosen to support Ryther through fundraisers and volunteerism this year.

“Our employees selected Ryther as the focus of this year’s philanthropic efforts because it is a meaningful organization that impacts so many local children and families,” said Crowley’s Chris Peterson, vice president, marine services. “While the race was a lot of fun and we are excited to have done well in the race, the real winners are the great people who work at Ryther. We are pleased to support their efforts and thank the bidders for their participation.”

During the races, which were held in Seattle, Washington’s Elliott Bay, across the Downtown Seattle Harbor, Hunter competed in the Class A Unlimited Race. It raced against three other tugs – two of which were Crowley’s. Each tugboat finished the 1.9 nautical miles in less than eight minutes.

Via Crowley

Bids are now being accepted on eBay for a chance to win a ride for four aboard Crowley’s winningest tugboat, Hunter, as it races against the field in Seattle Maritime Festival’s annual tugboat race on Saturday, May 14.

All proceeds from the auction, which will be open from Wednesday, April 27, through Friday, May 6, will benefit the Seattle-based not-for-profit Ryther Child Center, a recognized leader in behavioral health services for Washington state children and their families facing complex challenges. The bidding will begin at $100 (currently at $150 as of 11am PST Thursday).

This once-in-a-lifetime experience will give the winner and three guests (children over the age of 12) the opportunity to ride the tug Hunter – which is considered the fastest tugboat on the West Coast ­- as it competes in the Class A Unlimited Race against several of the fastest tugboats in Elliott Bay across the Downtown Seattle Harbor. This year’s festival and race will be especially memorable, as it will also serve as part of the Port of Seattle’s 100^th anniversary celebration.

“The Hunter has won every single year that it has competed since 1995,” said Crowley’s Chris Peterson, vice president, marine services. “And this year should be no exception. This is a great opportunity for a group to take part in the excitement while also giving back to a worthwhile cause.”

As part of Crowley’s company-wide efforts to give back to the communities in which it works, the Seattle office has chosen to support Ryther through fundraisers and volunteerism.

“Our employees selected Ryther as the focus of this year’s philanthropic efforts because it is a meaningful organization that impacts so many local children and families,” said Peterson. “We are pleased to provide this ride along opportunity to four lucky bidders while supporting Ryther.”

To participate in the auction, visit eBay and register as a user. Unsuccessful bidders are still encouraged to contribute to Ryther by making a donation online at http://www.ryther.org/index.htm.

Click image for high resolution

This weeks ship photo comes to us from the 18th annual running of the Great North River Tugboat Race & Competition held at Pier 84 in New York City this weekend.  Shown here is the tug parade just prior to race on September 5, 2010.

Fifteen to 20 tugboats participated in the event on the Hudson River Sunday morning, as they competed to be named the fastest boat in their class.  And it’s is not just limited to the fastest tug.  Tugs also challenge each other in nose-to-nose pushing duels and the line toss competition, where captain and crew get a chance to show off their skills and coordination.

The race is organized by the Working Harbor Committee in collaboration with Circle Line Sightseeing Cruises at 42nd Street. The WHC is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating people about the rich history, current vitality and future potential of the New York/New Jersey Harbor. The organization also provides Hidden Harbor Tours® and runs an extensive youth educational program.

As for the results of the race….?  You’re just going to have to check back as we await official word.

For gCaptain’s coverage from previous years, click HERE.

[Image credit: Bernard Ente]

Unofficial results announced Sunday state that Ross Sea won the race but we are still waiting on official results to be released which might not be until later this week.  Bernard Ente of the Working Harbor Committee tells us:

Results will take a few days to tabulate. Every boat runs against the clock as well as a handicap for size/weight/power. Some captains are playfully objecting to the unofficial results announced yesterday. Bragging rights in the harbor are important! So we have to wait for the official papers.

Bernard is also the photographer for the Working Harbor Committee and provided us with these great photos and video below. Enjoy!

Tugs Catherine C Miller and Susan Miller proudly wave the red, white and blue on the Hudson.

Tug Dorothy Elizabeth powers through the water.  Even the New York Fire Department showed up to put on a show for onlookers.

Tugs race down the harbor for bragging rights for the year ahead.

Dorothy Elizabeth and Pegasus square up for the bow to bow push, a crowd favorite.

Cornell leading the pack.

The unofficial winner Ross Sea idling a few minutes before the race George Washington Bridge in the backdrop.

Pulling into the docks.

Shelby participating in the line toss competition in front of a crowd of cheering onlookers.

Tugs Catherine C Miller, among others, tied up at the docks.

VIDEO UPDATE

Here are some unofficial video’s shot of the competitions.  Again, thanks to Bernard for submitting.

Tug Race #1

Click here to view the embedded video.

Tug Race #2

Click here to view the embedded video.

Yemitzis – Dorothy J Push Contest

Click here to view the embedded video.

Spinach Eating Contest

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thanks again to Bernard for these great photos from this years event.  If any readers out there attended, let us know in the comments section.

Links:

Working Harbor Committee

Bernard Ente | Bio

2007 NYC Tugboat Race | Photos

More great photos and event details can be found at Tugster HERE

Photo by snapshot/Terrie

We have just received some more information from the Working Harbor Committee on this weekends 16th Annual New York Tugboat Race and sounds like it is really shaping up to be a great event with lot’s of fun things to watch.  We did post an entry on the competition last week, but just to reiterate on what it is in case you missed it I have provided this brief description:

The New York Tugboat Race is an annual contest held every August in the Hudson River for working tugboats.  The contest includes competitions such as a 1 nautical mile race, a line throwing contest and the exciting bow to bow pushing contest.  The race is organized by the Working Harbor Committee, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to spreading the word about the rich history, current vitality and future potential of the New York/New Jersey Harbor.

The following was submitted to us by the Working Harbor Committee’s Bernard Ente, Steering Committee Member.  He tells us:

We have 22 tugs in the event as of last night (Thursday).

The newest of the tugs is Andrew McAllister, a 95-foot, 6,000-horsepower tractor tug making her New York Harbor debut. She is said to be the boat to beat.

Pegasus will be returning to harbor service after a five-year restoration. Now a fully operating museum vessel, Pegasus will be helmed by her long-time captain, Pamela Hepburn, one of the first women tugboat captains in U.S.

Other competitors will include the South Street Seaport Museum’s 47-foot W.O. Decker, 107 year-old Urger, the flagship of the New York State Canal System, and several modern working tugs operated by Reinauer Transportation, K-Sea Transportation, Vinik Marine, Henry Marine Service, Bren Transportation, Miller’s Tugs and Barges and the U.S. Coast Guard.

We should be receiving the entire parade roster shortly and will post it in an update as soon as we have it.  For now, we look forward to Sunday’s event and receiving photos and stories from our readers that can be submitted to tips@gcaptain.com.

Links:

2007 New York Harbor Tugboat Competition | gCaptain

New York Times write-up In Search of the Toughest Tug

Event Details Provided by workingharbor.org:

When: Sunday 31 August 2008 – 9:30 AM to 2 PM

Where: Pier 84, West 44th Street and Hudson River – in Hudson River Park

Schedule:
9:30 AM – Tugs gather near Pier 84 – Spectator Boat departs Pier 83
10:00 AM – Parade of tugs from Pier 84 to the start line near the 79th Street Boat Basin.
10:30 AM – Race starts
11 AM – Nose to nose pushing contests and line toss competition.
Noon – Tugs tie up to Pier 84 for lunch and awards ceremony.
Noon to 1 PM – Special spectator contests
1 PM – Awards ceremony. Tugs depart at about 2 PM.

View the event free at Pier 84
To view the start, go to Pier I, near 72nd Street in Riverside Park South
To view the middle of the race, best spot is Clinton Cove, 55th Street and Hudson River

Information for spectator boat tickets can be found HERE

“They get to show off their stuff,” that was the response NYC Harbor Committee Chairman, Captain Doswell, gave the New York Times in response to the question “Why the tug captains enjoy the race so much?” He followed the statement up with this statement: “Just as state fairs have tractor pulls, we have the bow-to-bow pushing challenge, 2 boats meet, and at a signal one tries to push the other”

We missed the event but do have some amazing pictures to show you. Many thanks to the NYC tugboat companies that participated.

The FDNY was on hand to kick off the event with an impressive water show, spraying their fire monitors into the East River.

Photo by snapshot/Terrie

The Race

Get your engines ready. The tugs line up at the starting line just South of the George Washington Bridge in preparation for their one mile sprint down the Hudson River.

Photos by ho_hokus

The riverboat leaders start to emerge as the boats make their way down the Hudson.

Photo by NJ Photographer

The race back up the Hudson River past the Manhattan Skyline. Tugboats from farthest to nearest: Nathan Stewart, Lucy Reinauer, Patapsco, Dorothy Elizabeth, and Fournier Girls. (Tugster)

Photo by Will Van Dorp of Tugster

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Finish Line.

Photo by ho_hokus

The Big Push

racing and then shoving matches, Lucy Reinauer (smoking) v. Inland Sea while Durham and the Empire State Building watch . . . . Tugster

Photo by Will Van Dorp of Tugster

Dorothy Elizabeth v. two Miller Launch tugs (Susan Miller and Catherine Miller) at once with Time-Warner towers and Hearst Tower in background… Tugster

Photo by Will Van Dorp of Tugster

The Interesting

© 2007, Peter Sealy – Colorful Tugboats

The Tugboat “Hackensack” showing off her colors.

© 2007, Peter Sealy – Small Tugboat

The small but mighty push boat “Urger” underway and patriotic.

Photos by Dirk Darkroom.

Merchant Marine Academy‘s vintage Tugboat “Growler” looking angered by the superior Domers across the river.

Photos by cicadajet

The Tugboat Race Story

One day a year, the tugboat industry dresses up its hardworking vessels and parades them before judges, showing off fresh paint jobs, displaying horsepower in nose-to-nose pushing competitions and a one-mile sprint up the Hudson. Tug operators play rodeo cowboys, demonstrating their skill by roping a cleat from a moving vessel coming toward a dock.

And those are the earnest categories. Equally coveted are the trophies for best tugboat pet and best dressed crew, best crewmember tattoo (that can be legally displayed) and best mascot.

The event’s lightheartedness in no way means it is not taken seriously. Reinauer compares it to a tractor pull, and anyone who’s ever been through the middle of the country knows how the heartland loves its diesel. He wouldn’t be surprised if a crewmember had gotten a tattoo specifically for the competition. “I don’t know that for a fact, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Some of the tattoos are really ornate and pretty unique.” Keep Reading…

The Tug Boat Race Slideshow

Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR. SLIDESHOW NOT WORKING? TRY THIS

The Links

NYC Tugboat Races Part 1 (Tugster: a waterblog about New York harbor, the sixth borough)
NYC Tugboat Races Part 2 (Tugster: a waterblog about New York harbor, the sixth borough)
SHE THINKS MY TUGBOAT’S… (The Waterlog, New York Press)

A Final Goodbye

© 2007, Peter Sealy – Hudson River Tugboats

Photo by Dirk Darkroom