Tug Racing

[Paul Scheuer]

This from TSBB.
I just love it when old men get out their toys. http://www.tugrace.com/

[Ian McColgin]

What a kick. This takes a very high order of skill but folk who are routinely sucked up against large ships at 15kt can handle it.

We used to have the occasional bow to bow push contest - tugs are way to powerful to risk stern over stern towline connections - but that's probably too dangerous for a civic event.

I've heard that there was a kind of tug rodeo in NYC once - great competative hawser over the bollard tossing and flicking off and such - but the after-hours beer-fueled further competitions frightened the landsfolk and over-flowed the emergency rooms.

[Ronin NW]

Each May or thereabouts at the Seattle Maritime Festival (which is sponsored by the Port of Seattle and highlights maritimes industries rather than yachts and hobbyists), there is a tugboat race along the waterfront. Can't find any photos from this year, but it's a good time. You can also watch marine industry folk build "quick and dirty" boats in a day to race 'em, and see who you might trust do do your work for you. Sinking is not a good sign.

[nedL]

They used to have tug boat races in New York harbor back in the 1960's & early 70's. Mobil oil used to get into it & even had a special speed prop for their "Tug 11" that was put on just for the races. It really is a sight to see, they really push a lot of water! smile.gif

[Paul Scheuer]

Pictures from Detroit 2004 -

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid173/pd79ae754e1b2eefa7e00de38d5129d70/f3ac6142.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid173/p097844c80dfc8d8a4c16db2e5d99df6e/f3ac614a.jpg

[Billy Bones]

I recall, in my brief but exhilarating tug days, watching two EMD powered ocean tugs going nose-to nose at a 90deg angle(pulling), the idea being to stay perpendicular to the direction of force. What a show, and what a test of dacron/whatever line! My, what a lot of smoke came pouring out of 4 stacks.

[ 06-16-2005, 06:29 PM: Message edited by: Billy Bones ]

[StevenBauer]

We still have tugboat races here in Portland. Last time I was watching from shore and my daughter and her friend were sitting on the rocks at the water's edge. They were maybe 5 feet above water level and I had a pretty good idea what would happen after the boats went by. It was a nice warm day, though, so I didn't say anything. The wakes were about 30 or 40 feet away when they realized what was about to happen and they almost kept from getting wet. :D

Here they are a few minutes earlier:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/pa1e2a207222739ad72f3d6abf1110ca0/fb5c7916.jpg

Here's a close one:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/pc7b92c5d9cd3268453e971de6376ec04/fb5c7899.jpg

And a not so close one:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/p1ab4b0b57f13b4a17df2be7b77c93b8b/fb5c7939.jpg

And this pesky Alden kept getting in the way:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid75/pbe69ed24f8d13f08168a6da0f4fae733/fb5c7886.jpg

[Hal Forsen]

:D :D :D :D :D !!!
HF

[Kermit]

Ah, tugs. The high point in marine design. You just have to love 'em. :D :D :D