(Aug. 24, 2017) The fifth annual Pocomoke Boat Docking Challenge promises to deliver an afternoon of high-speed, water-based competition this Saturday.
Mike Shannon, boat docking committee chairman, said the 15 participating captains would hold practice runs beginning at noon with competition kicking off at 1 p.m.
Gates open at 11 a.m. with the action occurring on the Pocomoke River behind Riverside Grill in downtown. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and over. Children 4-12 cost $5 and children 3 or under are free.
Shannon said the field is divided into three categories: small boats, (29-34 feet, 11 inches) medium (35-39 feet, 11 inches) and large boats (40 feet or more).
“These guys get up to a high rate of speed,” he said. “I’ll put it this way, they go in there faster than you can run.”
Shannon said the water event traces its roots to a conversation with Mayor Bruce Morrison half a dozen years ago.
“The mayor and me are really good friends and are also in the (Pocomoke City Volunteer) Fire Department together,” he said. “The mayor came to me … [and said], ‘I’d really like to come up with an event for the river.’ I said, ‘alright let me work on it and see what I can do.’”
After consulting with some extended family members involved with boating, Shannon hatched a plan after becoming acquainted with an area group competing in boat docking competitions.
“They’re called Chesapeake Cowboys and they go to different places and put on these shows,” he said. “It is kind of a circuit.”
After studying the river flow near Pocomoke, Shannon said the experts agreed the location would provide a daunting course.
“This would be the most challenging spot that we have because when you turn sideways in the river the currents [are] going one way or the other and it’s going to make it hard for those guys to back up,” he said. “It’s the strongest [current] anywhere … especially when it’s going in or out.”
Initially the competition involved 20 boats, Shannon said.
“The first year I told the captains just bear with me this is all new to us, let’s just do it and see what happens and where we are,” he said. “It’s really odd how it went together, but it worked.”
Since that time, organizers have limited the field to 15 entries because of fiscal considerations.
“We do 15 [boats] overall because we’re giving out $400 travel money, multiply that out and you can figure it out,” he said. “So by the time it’s all said and done we’re giving out like $20,000 by the end of the show.”
With thousands in prize money at stake, Shannon said the event provides ample opportunities for competitors to strike gold.
“We dish out a lot of stuff,” he said. “We give them a room for the night on Saturday.”
After organizing the Boat Docking Challenge, and numerous other events in Pocomoke, Shannon is grateful for the community support.
“I appreciate everything that every sponsor does from all the events that I do, to other events in town that people operate,” he said. “For a little town to do as much as we do … to have people that back them the way they do … it’s a wonderful thing.”
This year’s event coincides with Pocomoke’s 4th Friday Street Festival, which Shannon hopes will help lure participants in a day earlier.
“We do have some captains that do stay and make it a whole weekend thing,” he said. “It’s a one-day event, but we are working with [Pocomoke Downtown Coordinator] Kara Lacey for 4th Friday.”
With the clock winding down, Shannon said he is chomping at the bit awaiting this year’s event.
“People have gotten behind the boat docking experience in town,” he said. “If you watch our videos on Facebook … these guys come in at a high rate of speed and believe me they can tear up some stuff.”
Mike Shannon, boat docking committee chairman, said the 15 participating captains would hold practice runs beginning at noon with competition kicking off at 1 p.m.
Gates open at 11 a.m. with the action occurring on the Pocomoke River behind Riverside Grill in downtown. Admission is $10 for ages 13 and over. Children 4-12 cost $5 and children 3 or under are free.
Shannon said the field is divided into three categories: small boats, (29-34 feet, 11 inches) medium (35-39 feet, 11 inches) and large boats (40 feet or more).
“These guys get up to a high rate of speed,” he said. “I’ll put it this way, they go in there faster than you can run.”
Shannon said the water event traces its roots to a conversation with Mayor Bruce Morrison half a dozen years ago.
“The mayor and me are really good friends and are also in the (Pocomoke City Volunteer) Fire Department together,” he said. “The mayor came to me … [and said], ‘I’d really like to come up with an event for the river.’ I said, ‘alright let me work on it and see what I can do.’”
After consulting with some extended family members involved with boating, Shannon hatched a plan after becoming acquainted with an area group competing in boat docking competitions.
“They’re called Chesapeake Cowboys and they go to different places and put on these shows,” he said. “It is kind of a circuit.”
After studying the river flow near Pocomoke, Shannon said the experts agreed the location would provide a daunting course.
“This would be the most challenging spot that we have because when you turn sideways in the river the currents [are] going one way or the other and it’s going to make it hard for those guys to back up,” he said. “It’s the strongest [current] anywhere … especially when it’s going in or out.”
Initially the competition involved 20 boats, Shannon said.
“The first year I told the captains just bear with me this is all new to us, let’s just do it and see what happens and where we are,” he said. “It’s really odd how it went together, but it worked.”
Since that time, organizers have limited the field to 15 entries because of fiscal considerations.
“We do 15 [boats] overall because we’re giving out $400 travel money, multiply that out and you can figure it out,” he said. “So by the time it’s all said and done we’re giving out like $20,000 by the end of the show.”
With thousands in prize money at stake, Shannon said the event provides ample opportunities for competitors to strike gold.
“We dish out a lot of stuff,” he said. “We give them a room for the night on Saturday.”
After organizing the Boat Docking Challenge, and numerous other events in Pocomoke, Shannon is grateful for the community support.
“I appreciate everything that every sponsor does from all the events that I do, to other events in town that people operate,” he said. “For a little town to do as much as we do … to have people that back them the way they do … it’s a wonderful thing.”
This year’s event coincides with Pocomoke’s 4th Friday Street Festival, which Shannon hopes will help lure participants in a day earlier.
“We do have some captains that do stay and make it a whole weekend thing,” he said. “It’s a one-day event, but we are working with [Pocomoke Downtown Coordinator] Kara Lacey for 4th Friday.”
With the clock winding down, Shannon said he is chomping at the bit awaiting this year’s event.
“People have gotten behind the boat docking experience in town,” he said. “If you watch our videos on Facebook … these guys come in at a high rate of speed and believe me they can tear up some stuff.”