The Boatbuilding Challenge is coming to the Rondout on Saturday, June 24. This new event will be the featured attraction at the Hudson River Maritime Museum’s annual Hudson River Day, which is again urging the community to “Get out on the River!”
This June date marks the qualifying event for the fastest boatbuilder in the world. Award-winning teams of builders will be traveling to Kingston to compete, including winners from previous matches such as Bobby Staab, winner of the Beaufort, South Carolina challenge.
Eight two-person teams will each build a 12-foot Carolina Bateau rowing skiff in less than four hours and produce one boat, which will then be raced in a rowing competition on the Rondout Creek. Boatbuilding speed, craftsmanship and seaworthiness are requirements for winning.
The day’s challenge will take place under a huge tent amongst the docked vessels, with music, food and family-friendly activities and water-related demonstrations for the annual Hudson River Day. The Hudson River Maritime Museum Riverport Wooden Boat School is located at 50 Rondout Landing in Kingston. For more information, call (845) 338-0071, extension 20, or visit www.hrmm.org.