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Frosty Bar’s 4-person crew paddled their cigar-shaped canoe, sealed in Duct Tape, to victory in Monday evening’s Cardboard Boat Races as Pirate Fest 2009 activities came to a close.
The local landmark, celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, won two races to take home the award for “Fa stest Boat” and the coveted “Cardboard Boat Trophy” made, of course, out of cardboard.
Frosty’s out-paddled a determined Miller Boat Line crew in their entry, “Extra 40-Foot Boat”. The Roundhouse entry “Red Rocket” came in a distant third.
“This was just amazing,” said one onlooker. More than 200 people gathered along Fox’s Dock and the Village Dock to watch the races off the double public access ramps on Bay View Avenue.
Getting a big round of applause was the crew from the U.S. Brig Niagara. Scheduled to depart Sunday night, the Niagara’s Captain Wesley Herressen decided to stay in port an extra day so his crew could build an entry and race.
Niagara’s crew led the first race with the Roundhouse making a roaring comeback, but the trained sailors missed the ramp and hit the seawall,  watching as the “Red Rocket” won the heat.
“We should have had the first one,” Herressen said, “but I don’t think we could have beaten Miller Boat Line’s entry. That was engineering genius.”
The Miller ferry entry was a scaled down model of their ferry boats and was by far the largest and most complexly engineered vessel.
Miller Boat Line’s crew, dressed appropriately as pirates, cruised to victory in the second race over Splash’s entry, Rita’s Cantina’s “Taco Tuesdays” and the “Lolliplop” from the Candy Bar.
Frosty’s won the third race, defeating arch-rival the Crescent Tavern, and Pasquale’s second entry, a giant skillet with four chicks inside. Frosty’s canoe got turned around in the race back to the ramp and the crew actually paddled to victory backwards the final 20 yards.
Splash, which capsized at the ramp, was awarded the “Awesome Sink” award and Pasquale’s Kitchen Crew took home “Slowest Boat” award, traveling about four feet from the ramp before disintigrating.
Other awards went to:
Frosty’s for “Fastest Boat”
Miller Boat Line for “Best Boat Design” and “People Choice”
Brig Niagara for “Traveled the Longest Distance”
Candy Bar for “Best Boat Name”
Roundhouse for “Best Comeback”
Rita’s Cantina for “Best Decorated Boat”
Crescent Tavern for “Most Geometric Design”
Fifteen islanders were abducted by pirates and forced to “Walk the Ramp” after the boat races.
Mary Ann McCann was abducted at the Boathouse and taken to the ramp, but didn’t give a thought to paying the pirate’s fee for freedom.
“She kicked off her shoes, took off her jacket and went right off the end of the dock,” said Teri Winchester, co-chairman of Pirate Fest 2009. “Now, that’s an island girl for you.”
Winchester, 64, who is about a decade younger than McCann, also was on the list of abductees.
“When it was my turn I thought if Mary Ann can do it, I can do,” said Winchester, who added she gingerly walked down the boat ramp and into the water.
Crescent Tavern Manager Bret Klun tried to hide most of the afternoon, but was finally caught by the marauders and dunked.
“Everyone opted to take the plunge,” said Winchester. “But two got away.”
June Stoiber, whose children Kimberly and Ryan posted the $25 booty to get her wet, left the island and Ty Winchester, Teri’s son and co-chairman, eluded the pirates.
“He was trying to strike a deal,” she said. “But those two are going in when they least expect it.”
Pirate Fest began Friday evening with the Pirate Invasion at 5 p.m. The invasion was delayed as Niagara left port and then came about to engage the invaders.
Saturday there was a Pirate encampment and Pirate Marketplace in DeRivera Park, a Costume Contest for kids and adults and a parade. Sunday there was a Kids Fest in the park and Captain Willie gave a Water Safety Program.
Mike Steidl, President of the Put-in-Bay Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau, said the first Pirate Fest weekend was a huge success.
“It was a weekend where everyone had fun,” he said. |
Put-in-Bay News 
