Dock against the clock
An event from the US East Coast might just catch on over here: boat docking challenges – or, as the American teams like the Chesapeake Cowboys like to call it, ‘water rodeo’.
These workboat events are both a way for the crews to show off their handling proficiency and for crowds to show their appreciation for a largely hidden but essential set of skills.
In the US, it’s already got a long history: back in the early 70s the National Hard Crab Derby, a local Chesapeake ‘crab picking’ contest, started to draw crowds, make a day of it and set up a boat docking challenge. It’s played at speed and with verve, some people ending up in the water in a brave attempt to shave a split second off the time it takes to get a loop over a pole. It’s also given rise to a legendary champion: Dwight Marshall won the Chesapeake competition a dozen times before his final victory in 1987. It’s not just the kudos of winning though: the big events have sizeable prizes and there’s a small charity revenue stream too.
For those hardy souls that might want to try organising one this side of the pond, the ‘play’ tends to be simple: boats compete within their divisions to get alongside the pontoon and tie up. There are two ways to play it, the clock stops either when the captain has both feet on the jetty or when the final loop’s in place; this version giving rise to some acrobatic diving manoeuvres.
One UK-based marina operator said: “We could see boat docking challenges here, after all, crews can be competitive… although everyone would have to check their insurance first.” But it probably won’t be called ‘water rodeo’.
By Stevie Knight
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