Clear sailing for paddlers and kayakers in annual Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race
William Watling IV and Alyssa Watling were the second pair to take off. Photos by Mari Huglin
Heather Veilleux and CJ Hedges were the first boat to take off in the annual boat race. 
Katelyn Watling and William Watling III wore neon pink camo for their team colors. 
Tucker Roy rows his boat names Riverwolf. 
Alex and Rebecca Milde, last years first place winners, take off down the pond. 
Jeff Eldridge lines up his boat. 
One racer gets pumped up. 
Gregor Kornichuk and Michael Gifford were more well dressed than others with polos and khakis. 
Gregory Kornichuk smiles before he takes off. 
Charlie Oliveira paddles her boat. 
Thallon Andrade gets ready. 
Racers had to cross the pond before doing a portage at the end. 
Dawn Berube and Michael Banis' Pac-Man boat takes off.
William Watling IV and Alyssa Watling were the second pair to take off. Photos by Mari Huglin
Heather Veilleux and CJ Hedges were the first boat to take off in the annual boat race.
Katelyn Watling and William Watling III wore neon pink camo for their team colors.
Tucker Roy rows his boat names Riverwolf.
Alex and Rebecca Milde, last years first place winners, take off down the pond.
Jeff Eldridge lines up his boat.
One racer gets pumped up.
Gregor Kornichuk and Michael Gifford were more well dressed than others with polos and khakis.
Gregory Kornichuk smiles before he takes off.
Charlie Oliveira paddles her boat.
Thallon Andrade gets ready.
Racers had to cross the pond before doing a portage at the end.
Dawn Berube and Michael Banis' Pac-Man boat takes off.
ROCHESTER — Excitement buzzed in the air as old friends greeted each other and newcomers charted their plans for the annual Rochester Memorial Day boat race.
Kayakers and paddlers took on the approximately 13 mile route winding through Rochester and Mattapoisett on Monday, May 25.
Arthur Benner, has been the organizer of the event since 1982, but has been attending since he was 12-years-old.
The tradition has been going since 1934 when Jim Hartley constructed a pine boat and wanted to race it.
This was the second year Benner added a kayak division so more paddlers could participate.
Benner said his favorite part of the event is the competition and camaraderie shown between racers. He said he hopes to continue the tradition for many years to come.
“We're going for 100 years and we got 8 more races to make 100,” Benner said.
CJ Hedges and Heather Veilleux were the first boat to take off. Hedges said he has been the first boat 14 times due to the draft placements and being first place multiple years in a row.
Hedges said he has been racing in the event since he was 9-year-old when he went up against his dad and uncle. He said the event is fun, yet challenging.
“We call it secondary fun. It's not fun why you're doing it, but it's fun after when you get to see everybody in town that you don't see because everybody's working all year,” Hedges said.
He said that this is one of Rochester’s biggest traditions and is great to continue since it slows everyone down for a day.
“Everybody's on computers rushing around,” he said. “This is one day it slows down. You get back out into the woods together and you do something.”
Dawn Berube and Michael Banis are from Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical High School. The Bourne duo was racing for the second time in a boat handmade by Berube.
Berube and Banis did the course around 3 hours last year and were excited to try again. They said there are so many great spectators and people willing to help out.
“Everyone's just so helpful especially last year we didn't know the route as well so if you're getting lost people will tell you where to go,” Berube said.
The duo was ready to race in their Pac-Man painted boat and looking to come back next year.
“We're hoping to come back and hopefully do even better next year,” Berube said.
