Boss commands Jug Boat Race
Crowd favorite Marty Boss took an early lead on Hooters Patrol 5 and never looked back (though he wanted to) and captured the Bowditch Jug Boat Race in the Back Bay area off of Bowditch Point Saturday.
Boss said the race was competitive and the scenery was great in taking top honors in the inaugural race that benefited Wake Up America, a non-profit organization operated locally by volunteers who collect surplus food from stores, distributors, production facilities and growers and then distribute that food to those who need it the most.
“I stayed close to the buoys and it was key to have a well-built boat,” said Boss, who commended his pit crew of John Cottilli, Bill Vail and Richard and Mike Turner.
“Coming back into the wind was tougher.”
Stacie Weaver and Tiffany Kirschke, who made up the Hooters team, jokingly said Boss cheated.
“He was pretty intense,” said Weaver.
“We felt like Tom Hanks in Castaway,” said Kirschke.
The main requirement of the race was that the jug boat’s flotation had to be made of plastic jugs and no motors were allowed. The boat’s design and propulsion was up to the boat builders.
The race was put on by Calusa Ghost Tours, the concessioner at Bowditch Point Regional Park. The race organizer was Wendy Rex.
“We showed up to have fun and we had fun. It gives a great base for next yea,” she said. “We received a lot of awareness for Wake Up America, so overall the whole event was great success.”