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Rafters get a little wacky

By Colin DeVries

CATSKILL — Hundreds crowded Dutchmen’s Landing to watch the unusual, and at times whimsical, water crafts make their way to the finish line during the Rip Van Winkle’s Wacky Raft Race Sunday.

From creations as simple as wooden palettes affixed to 55-gallon plastic drums, to ones as complex as a gear-operated paddle or wheel-powered by two tandem bicycles, rafts ranged in various shapes and sizes.

“We made ours in 48 hours,” said David Tompkins, who drove from Charlotte, N.C. to participate in the contest. “I’m originally from Athens but I thought this would be a good time.”

It certainly was a good time had by all on that pleasant summer day, with river conditions ideal for the rafting event.

The race took off from the Athens Boat Launch and rafters navigated their way to Dutchmen’s Landing in Catskill, sure to stay to the west side of the Hudson River navigation channel.

Awards were presented for first, second and third place as well as for wackiest, most spirit, most unique, and “Titanic,” honoring the craft of least buoyancy.

And the winners were ...

First Place: Late Bloomer, Captain Ed Bloomer, Coxsackie-Athens Rotary Club, Coxsackie; Second Place: Red Necks of Earlton, Captain Michael Medert, Earlton; Third Place: Catskill River Cats, Kate Farrell, Catskill; Raft with the Most Spirit: USS Patri-ark, Captain Dan Medici, Wal-Mart, Catskill; Most Unique: USS Rock n’ Row, Captain Britany Hyer, Creekside Restaurant and The Floor Store, Catskill; The Wackiest Raft: Cool Runnings, Captain Ed Novak, Cairo; Titanic: The Wrath of Justice, Captain Michael McGrath, Catskill

The Coxsackie-Athens Rotary Club took home the gold for the third year in a row, as well as the $500 award for first place. Red Necks took home $300 for second, and the River Cats were awarded $200 for second place.

All proceeds from entry fees ($25 per crew member), sponsor donations, raffle tickets and other contributions — totaling more than $7,000 — were presented to the United Way of Columbia and Greene Counties.

Special thanks were extended to the numerous local police agencies who contributed boat power for towing those boats that were claimed by the river, Mike Ferretti for announcing the rafts as they came into port at Dutchmen’s, and the plethora of sponsors and supporters that make the event possible each year. An event that wacky rafters, like Tompkins, hope to be apart of each year.

“I’m already signed up for next year,” he said, “and we’re gonna start working on next year’s raft tomorrow.”

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