The New York Tugboat Race is a contest for working tugboats held on the Hudson River every Fall on the Sunday before Labor day. It was founded in part by Captain Jerry Roberts, who also serves as its chief announcer. Boats race one nautical mile from 79th Street to Pier 84 at 44th Street in Manhattan. The race is the occasion for a dockside festival. Events currently include nose-to-nose pushing competitions, a line toss competition, and best mascot/costume contests between the crews. After the award, the spectators of the race can compete in events that include a knot tying competition, an on land line toss competition and a spinach eating competition. The spinach eating computation is in honor of the Popeye the sailor cartoon character. Spectators can also pay to get a seat on a tug boat during the events.
Similar contests are held on the Detroit River and the St. Mary's River.
Read more about New York Tugboat Race: History, Race Results
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—Diane Valleta, White American suburbanite. As quoted in the New York Times, p. A13 (July 29, 1992)
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Oh, years ago—ten thousand years.”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)