ROCHESTER — The pop of the starting pistol rang out across Grandma Hartley’s Reservoir at 8:30 a.m. sharp, launching the first boat of the Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race into action and signifying the beginning of a cherished 91-year-old tradition.

This year’s race featured 51 teams of two and five solo kayakers that plunged into the Mattapoisett River where they traversed flooded rapids, scampered over dry land and steered their vessels to victory.

14-time race participant Alex Milde and 6-time race participant Rebecca Milde of Mattapoisett won first place in the Co-Ed Division with a time of 1:50:16.

While they were the first to finish the race overall, the team had to navigate high-rising currents spilling into their boat.

Alex said he accidentally “dumped a bunch of water into the boat” after passing New Bedford Road, but overall the experience “went pretty smoothly” and the team “had a good run.”

“It’s a fun race. It’s fun that there’s such a community around it,” he said.

Two-time race competitor Jess Rittenhouse and 5-time competitor Dan Rittenhouse of Mattapoisett also experienced difficulties with the flooded river.

“The stream was really fast because we had the nor-easter push through, so the water levels were really high and the current was ripping,” said Jess.

Additionally, she reflected on growing up as a young girl watching the race to  participating now as an adult.

“I grew up watching it, and now I get to do it. I get to see little girls staring at me as I’m doing it and waving. I hope one day they get to do it,” said Jess.

She described this year’s competitors as “just amazing.”

“Everybody on the river, even if you’re passing somebody or beating somebody, everybody is so familiar, like it’s just a big family out there,” said Jess.

Attendees watched the approximately 12 mile race from river banks and bridges along the Mattapoisett River, flinging cold water bottles into surging boats and whooping excitedly as their friends and family passed by.

Wareham residents Allison Partridge and her 10-year-old daughter Sophia Partridge watched the race for the first time this year to support their friends in the Watling family.

“We planned to just go to one spot and wave, and then we kind of caught the fever and decided to get involved in more, so we came all the way here,” said Allison as they sat near the finish line.

She adds, “This is a fun thing we didn’t know about before and we want to come back again.”

Lifelong Mattapoisett resident Audrey Myre recalled that her father John Makuch won the race with his best friend decades ago.

This year, the family tradition continued for her as she watched her nephew Cameron Makuch and Calvin Payne participate in the race.

“It’s just home. It’s the community. It’s nostalgic,” she said of the race. “It’s just fun to see everybody and the families come together and cheer everybody on.”

Katelyn Watling and William Watling III of Rochester achieved first place in the Parent and Child Division, finishing with a time of 1:58:46.

Rochester residents Henri Roy and Mason Zell won first place in the Junior Boys Division, completing the race with a time of 2:24:55.

Jessica Zell and Adelaide Zell of Rochester placed first in the Women’s Division with a time of 2:44:21.

Marion resident C.J. Hedges IV finished first in the solo  Kayak Division, finishing with a time of 2:04:56.