Kicking off Boat Docking Season
Image Courtesy of Taylor’s Island Boat Docking Challenge
(CAMBRIDGE, Md) – The end of the summer means the return of a beloved mid shore tradition that asks local boaters one simple question:
How fast can you dock a boat?
The first competition up is the Boat Docking Challenge taking place on Taylor’s Island on August 30th.
And they’re expecting a massive turnout for something that is definitively Maryland.
“How could you describe the Eastern Shore better? But work boats docking? It’s a competition. It’s for it. The captains get money, and. But they’re really competing for the pride in their communities,” says Taylor Island Firefighter, and VP for the Boat Docking Challenge, Mike Geleta.
The competition is pretty simple:
Whoever can dock their boat the fastest wins.
The times for the competition certainly make it exciting on the docks.
JB Tieder is the Emcee for Taylor’s Island’s event, and he tells WMDT, “You know, they’ll dock some of these boats in anywhere from 20 to 30 40s. And it just amazes the average person because they have no idea that these boats can maneuver and be handled in such a, meticulous way.”
Even for those on land, the competition provides excitement from Taylor’s to Hooper’s Island.
“If you could do that in 35 seconds on a 45 or 50ft boat, that’s just unbelievable. Sometimes they bang up a little bit, but that’s part of the excitement. Sometimes they go overboard, but that’s all part of the plan,” says Mike.
Dorchester County’s boat docking contest will take place on the following dates:
-August 30th, Taylor’s Island Boat Docking Challenge
-September 6th, Jon Boat Docking Contest at Warwick Riverfest
-September 13th, Waterman’s Rodeo- Hooper’s Island Boat Docking Contest
-September 20th, Extreme Boat Docking Contest
