2003 Detroit River Tug Boat Race

With the roar of diesel engines and lots of black smoke, the 27th Annual Detroit-Windsor Tugboat race began on Saturday afternoon, June 28. The tugboat race has become one of the main events in the International Freedom Festival, a joint celebration between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan.

For 2003 there were 25 tugs registered for the race, although a few were unable to attend at the last minute. This is one of the largest turnouts in the history of the race. Tugboat races started back in the 1950's and for many years they were discontinued. 27 years ago the International Freedom Festival started the tradition once again and has made it one of the significant events in the festival.

2003 Race Results
First Over All: Roger Stahl
Class 6: Roger Stahl
Class 5: 1st- Shannon 2nd- Demolen
Class 4: 1st-Dover 2nd-Stormont
Class 3: 1st-Junior C 2nd-Julie Ann
Class 2: 1st-Isabell 2nd-Norma B
Class 1: 1st-KC 2nd-Westcott II
Best Decorated: 1st-Bay Taz 2nd-Isabell
Farthest away: Dover
Smallest Tug: Enterprize
Oldest Captain/Engineer: Roger Stahl
Pickle boat: Enterprize

3 - 2 - 1 GO!!!! Scott Tomlinson	The Tug Norma B. Scott Tomlinson	Close Race for the bigger tugs. Terese Parker	Dover, Neptune III and Elizabeth after the race. Scott Tomlinson
Magnetic, Norma B and Enterprise with Demolen behind. Scott Tomlinson	Demolen Pushing Hard for the finish line. Mike Nicholls	The Shannon pulls away from the rest of the tugs in the beginning. Mike Nicholls	The Norma B. pulls ahead slowly. Scott Tomlinson
A differnt definition of "Rock and Roll". Scott Tomlinson	The Demolen showing her Classic Navy YTB lines. Mike Nicholls	The Roger Stahl slowly catches up as the smaller tugs fall behind. Mike Nicholls	Neck in Neck almost to the finish line. Terese Parker
The Westcott Fleet. Terese Parker	The Dover fighting her way forward. Terese Parker	Demolen passing Downtown Detroit. Terese Parker	The Westcott II sneaking past the Junior C. II, or are they just trying to make another mail delivery? Terese Parker
Dover passing Downtown Detroit. Terese Parker	The Danny Boy or was it "The Polish Navy" ? Mike Nicholls	The tug Elizabeth sneaks past the Magnetic	The Mighty Magnetic. Mike Nicholls
The Roger Stahl. Terese Parker	The Stormont appears to be getting ready to eat the Julie Anne for dinner. Terese Parker	The unusual tug Bionic. Mike Nicholls	Lots of screaming diesels. Terese Parker
Bay Taz under the all the balloons. Mike Nicholls	Crowds at Dieppe Park view the tugs after the race. Terese Parker	Overall winner Roger Stahl with the classic former Navy Tug Shannon rafted alongside. Terese Parker	The Stephen B. Roman even participated in the race by making a lot of noise with their Airchime Horns. Mike Nicholls
The Bristol Bay and her Buoy Barge mark the finish line in Windsor. Terese Parker	Another view of the Bionic. Terese Parker	The Norma B. could have won an award for being the only boat with their own band aboard. The well known Celtic/Maritime Group "Hoolie" hailing from Bay City. Carlos Velez	The John G. Munson passing by before the race. Mike Nicholls
Tugs, Tugs and more Tugs. Terese Parker	Tug Isabel. Terese Parker	The Tug Joan V. Mike Nicholls	The Norma B. attempts to beat the Magnetic right at the finish line. Carlos Velez
The Junior C II. Mike Nicholls	The Neptune III and the Sinbad run a close race. Terese Parker	The Julie Anne demonstrates a new way to wash the decks. Terese Parker	The R & R. Mike Nicholls
Another view of the Stormont and Julie Anne. Terese Parker	The Bay Taz. Terese Parker	The Tug Dover, a regular participant from Goderich, ONT. Mike Nicholls	Here come the Big Boys, better get out of the way. Mike Nicholls
The R & R pushing hard. Terese Parker	2 classic riveted hull tugs, the Magnetic and Elizabeth. Terese Parker	Another view of the Elizabeth. She is a newcomer to the lakes, recently brought in from Mass. Mike Nicholls	The faster tugs pull away at the start. Carlos Velez
The Danny Boy, odd name for a boat in the "Polish Navy". Terese Parker	After the race. Terese Parker	Another view of the Dover. Mike Nicholls	Mike Nicholls
Heading for the finish line. Terese Parker	Elizabeth reaches the finish line. Terese Parker	Looking down the deck of the "Buoy Barge". Terese Parker	Another view of the Dover before the race. Mike Nicholls
Another view of the Elizabeth. Mike Nicholls	Bay Taz. Terese Parker	Roger Stahl races forward. Mike Nicholls	The Demolen shows her bow fenders, looking strangely like a giant mouth ready to bite anything in the way. Carlos Velez
The Coast Guard keeps a watchful eye to ensure everyone stays safe. Terese Parker	Bay Taz again. Terese Parker	Roger Stahl, overall winner of the race. Terese Parker	and more Tugs... Terese Parker
Flags flying on board the Magnetic. Carlos Velez	The tug Enterprise, what a pretty stovepipe stack. Mike Nicholls	The Elizabeth passes the Magnetic Close by. Carlos Velez	Hoolie's "Hooligans" playing as the Norma heads for home after the race. Carlos Velez
The tugs in front of the "Ren Cen" in downtown Detroit. Terese Parker	People watching the race from the Windsor Side. Terese Parker	Another view of the Enterprise. Terese Parker	The Shannon and Dover. Terese Parker
The Diamond Queen passing by. Terese Parker	The Stahl by Cobo Hall. Terese Parker	The Shannon with flags flying proud. Terese Parker	The Sinbad. Terese Parker
The Elizabeth at Dieppe Park. Mike Nicholls	The Dover waits for the start of the race. Mike Nicholls