Photos: Crowds Flock To Non-Mariners Race
Scores of people packed Mangrove Bay yesterday [Aug 5] for the annual Non-Mariners Race. The ‘non-event’ was hosted by the Society of Non-Mariners and the Sandys Boat Club, with an official start time of 11.58am and 27 seconds.
The always popular ‘non-event’ sees strange and unusual watercraft take to the water, most sinking within minutes. Locals made their way west by both land and sea, with numerous ‘real’ boats joining in the day’s fun.
One of the ‘non-boats’ played on the ongoing KFC/BIU dispute and was shaped like a KFC bucket with what appeared to be a photo of BIU President Chris Furbert on the side and said: “United We Float, In Pieces, Divided We Sink.”
Their prophecy held true as within minutes of entering the water the contraption started disintegrating and soon collapsed, with the bucket’s passengers sinking to the water in their chicken suits.
Another non-craft played on the recent reports of an altercation at the House of Assembly between Deputy Premier Derrick Burgess and Minister Michael Scott, with two men taking to the water in a floating boxing ring.
The ‘non-event’ started decades ago when a group of drinking friends debated the flotation properties of baby carriages, and ended up trying to sail a baby carriage from Albuoy’s Point to Whites Island. This unsuccessful boating attempt was the start of what we now know as the Non-Mariners Race.
The ‘non-event’ grew in popularity and was initially held 40 years ago in Hamilton Harbour, but was booted from the city after an entry sank in the main channel a few hours before a cruise ship was due to arrive. It moved to its Somerset location and has been a popular event for many years, attracting locals and tourists alike.
People used all forms of flotation devices like noodles and rubber rings to be on the water and get around the sea of boats. Sandys Boat Club had a DJ playing music for the crowd’s entertainment, while Bruce Barritt served as MC.
This year the organizers teamed up with Keep Bermuda Beautiful [KBB] to make it a non-litter event, and there was a ‘trash taxi’ on the water to pick up litter. You can watch a three-hour replay of the webcast here.
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KFC bucket was hilaaaaarious
Im not going to lie, this is such a redneck event its scary.
I for one dont see the attraction.
But hey i guees its entertainment for Bermuda.
Hope everyone had fun and was safe.
How can u consider this to be a redneck event??? I cant stand people who place themselves on a pedestal and others on something much less
This is an awesome event which we as Bermudians should learn to do more often.
This is an event where Bermudians of every colour and persuasion get together for plain old fashioned fun on the water.