The 7th Annual Bolivar Rig Run, hosted by H2 Brewhouse and Bolivar Yacht Club, set sail on Saturday. As the August sun beat down and very little wind, 35 catamarans of all sizes lined up on the beach for the noon start time. The Rig Run has grown from a handful of racers to a hugely popular sailing adventure over the years. Race fans had their canopies and beach chairs set up all along the shoreline. Participants chose between two different courses: one turn around the offshore rig and back to the beach, or the longer course around the rig, then around the wreck near the jetty, and back to the beach.
The start of the race is picturesque. Brightly colored sails standing tall against the deep blue skies. Many boats struggled to get underway as the winds were almost dead calm at the start of the race. But a short while later, the breeze strengthened as though a giant fan had been turned on. The boats were off to the cheers of the crowd. Three dozen boats created a kaleidoscope of colors as the captains and crews were tacking their way to the rig. On shore, free hot dogs and water were served, awaiting the returns.
A little over an hour after the start, the first catamaran hit the beach, followed by the second just minutes later, completing the short course. Then, one by one, the racers crossed the finish line to the blare of the airhorn. By around 3pm, all boats were in and the race times were tallied. Big thanks to the organizers, H2 Brewhouse, and all the supportive sponsors. Congratulations to the winners of the 7th Annual Bolivar Rig Run. And kudos to the fans – hanging in there under the intense heat, supporting the hard working captains and crews!
Hard Luck Awards
Accepting the Hard Luck award in the RIG RUN category is Art Vega and Stanley Chain on Bananas finishing the RIG RUN with a corrected time of 2:58:33.
Accepting the Hard Luck award in the RIG/Wreck category is Team Lonestar on Bad Boys is Buck Mariast, Dylan Mariast, and Skylar Smith with a corrected time of 4:19:57
Honorable Mention goes to team Reel Nauti on the Kenna Christine who limped back from the RIG with 500 pounds of water in the starboard hull. Better luck next year James Bukowsky and Connor Ellis.
First to the Beach Awards
Accepting the 1st to the Beach Award is Club Pesca with Chad Creagh and Scott Langdale in just 1:14:35.
The 2nd boat to reach the beach is team BOB with Jon and Nate Domsella in 1:18:29.
The 3rd boat to the Beach is the Tinkle Titans, Dan and Xander Peters in 1:18:34
RIG/WRECK Awards
Accepting the 1st Place award is Jim Casto on team TWO HOT coming in with a corrected time of 2:56:04.
2nd Place goes to team WHITE CAPPIN on White Trash by Rennie Ihle in a corrected time of 2:58:22.
3rd Place goes to team wee felis on solow skippered by Ernie Luce in a corrected time of 3:10:51
RIG RUN Awards
Accepting the 1st Place award is team Shipley Swabbies on Terry’s Terror skippered by Terry Shipley and Craig Bellaire in a corrected time of 1:36:08.
2nd Place goes to team Club Pesca on GHOST RIDER skippered by Chad Creagh and crew Scott Langdale in a correcte4d time of 1:38:08
3rd Place goes to team Tinkle Titans skippered by Dan Peters and Xander Peters in a time of 1:41:15
RANDOM SHOTS
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The Bolivar Yacht Club was established to encourage more sailing on the beaches of Bolivar. We have grown from 4 local boats in 2015 to 31 on the beach this past Saturday. We have enjoyed tremendous support from the Bolivar community to help us get more people involved in sailing.
Thank you all again for your kind comments and encouragement.
You guys know how to have great time even without some of this there to cheer ya on!
This is always so nice. Way to go!!!