Sun, 09/02/2018 - 7:30pm

Lynda Clancy

Wyatt Turner, 5, charmed the crowd with his smile and tenacity. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

The three top crate racers: First place, William Rice, 364 crates; second place, Lucas Drinkwater, 336 crates; and Channing Rice, 333 crates. The crowd favorite was Wyatt Turner, 5 years old.

A crowd lined the dock to watch the annual crate race in Camden Harbor at the Windjammer Festival. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Emcees Seth Silverton, and behind him, Camden Harbor Master Steve Pixley. Jessica Manbeck pulls the whole event together. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Bella, from Camden, leads the troops as the first runner of the day, Sept. 1. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Lucas Drinkwater flies over the crates. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Wade Ward helps those who plunge in. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Camden Police keep an eye on the scene. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Bella Wickenden (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

The crates broke apart at one point but were quickly and efficiently repaired and the race was back on. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Alex Cohen, of Camden, takes off running. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Alex Cohen makes a few rounds, before the crates broke, and that was that. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Owen Casas, of Rockport, takes the crates, and tumbles. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Wyatt Turner, 5, charmed the crowd with his smile and tenacity. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

The three top crate racers: First place, William Rice, 364 crates; second place, Lucas Drinkwater, 336 crates; and Channing Rice, 333 crates. The crowd favorite was Wyatt Turner, 5 years old.

A crowd lined the dock to watch the annual crate race in Camden Harbor at the Windjammer Festival. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Emcees Seth Silverton, and behind him, Camden Harbor Master Steve Pixley. Jessica Manbeck pulls the whole event together. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Bella, from Camden, leads the troops as the first runner of the day, Sept. 1. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Lucas Drinkwater flies over the crates. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Wade Ward helps those who plunge in. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Camden Police keep an eye on the scene. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Bella Wickenden (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

The crates broke apart at one point but were quickly and efficiently repaired and the race was back on. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

(Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Alex Cohen, of Camden, takes off running. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Alex Cohen makes a few rounds, before the crates broke, and that was that. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

Owen Casas, of Rockport, takes the crates, and tumbles. (Photo by Lynda Clancy)

CAMDEN — All 40-plus contestants in the 2018 annual Camden Windjammer Weekend crate race, from age 5 to 40-something, had one thing in common: They were game for tearing fast over wet wood lobster crates, in crocs, socks, even sneakers, and gave not a care if they tumbled into the water. Their feet were on fire.

The 28 tilting and tottering crates had been strung together between two of the docks, fastened together by plastic clips. The competition rested solely on how many crates one person could step on and over in two minutes without falling into the drink.

Like thoroughbreds at the gate, the boys and girls, as well as two middle-aged men, were raring to go, waiting patiently for emcees Seth Silverton and Camden Harbor Master Steve Pixley to give them the “one, two, three, go!” before bursting forward.

The first crates took their weight and that was where balance was crucial. Then, each of the runners found their step, some precise and methodical as they barely touched the crates with their feet. Others found their balance with their arms. Some didn’t find their balance at all, and landed in the water. They were helped back to the docks by Wade Ward, who treaded nearby, outfitted in a dry suit, for the entire 90-minute competition.

Everyone had a blast, and the crowd cheered all the runners on. Brothers and sisters, little brothers and little sisters competed with each other, while family gathered around the crates, in boats, on the docks and up in the bleachers.

The three top crate racers: First place, William Rice, 364 crates; second place, Lucas Drinkwater, 336 crates; and Channing Rice, 333 crates.

Runners and their crate run follows:

Bella Wickenden, 224, 2 minutes

Charles Moss, 319, 2 minutes

Corinne Hamilton, 139, 1.29 minutes

Judan Hamilton, 15, 7 seconds

Connor Dowd, 4, 2 seconds

Aaron Dowd, 252, 2 minutes

Caleb Vacchiano, 268, 2 minutes

Lucas Drinkwater, 336, 2 minutes

Oliver Danner-Doran, 252, 2 minutes

Cameron Pinchbeck, 282, 2 minutes