Detroit River Tug Race 2004

28^TH Annual International Tugboat Race on the Detroit River June 19, 2004
Race results included at the bottom of the page. If you have pictures to include please e-mail to news@boatnerd.net

With the roar of diesel engines and lots of black smoke, the 28th Annual Detroit-Windsor Tugboat race began on Saturday afternoon. Tugboat races started back in the 1950's and for many years they were discontinued. In 1976 the International Freedom Festival started the tradition once again. In 2003 the International Freedom Festival declared bankruptcy and the future of the race was in limbo. Local Detroit tug man Brian Williams, with help of numerous companies, individuals and the Detroit and Windsor Port Authorities was able to organize the event keeping the tradition alive. 22 tugs took to the river and put on an impressive show for the crowds lined on both sides of the river. New pictures added 6/28/04

Elisabeth. Mike Nicholls	Stern view. Mike Nicholls	Grey Fox. Mike Nicholls	Stern view. Mike Nicholls	Patricia Hoey. N. Schultheiss
R&R prepares for race. Mike Nicholls	Mike Nicholls	Westcott Dock the boats are decorated. The Joseph J. Hogan sports a new paint job. N. Schultheiss	Joan V. Mike Nicholls	Another view. N. Schultheiss
A friendly race, Karen Andrie crew steps out to talk. Scott Tomlinson	Julie Anne. Mike Nicholls	Karen Andrie. Mike Nicholls	Elisabeth. Scott Tomlinson	Bionic. N. Schultheiss
Norma B. Scott Tomlinson	Bionic. Mike Nicholls	Enterprise. Mike Nicholls	Another view. N. Schultheiss	Karen Andrie. Scott Tomlinson
Under construction, Acushnet sports her new cabins. Mike Nicholls	Huntington. Mike Nicholls	Paul E. No. 1. Scott Tomlinson	Acushnet. N. Schultheiss	"Polish Navy" N. Schultheiss
Tugs start to line up. N. Schultheiss	Julie Anne. N. Schultheiss	Close up. N. Schultheiss	Sinbad arrives. N. Schultheiss	We'll be landing in Canada for the awards ceremony, OPP collects the paper work.
Magnetic decked out for the races. N. Schultheiss	R&R. N. Schulthiess	Elisabeth. N. Schultheiss	J.W. Westcott enters the line up. Mike Nicholls	Joseph J. Hogan. N. Schultheiss
Fred Miller	Fred Miller	Fred Miller	Preparing for the start. N. Schultheiss	Canadian Navy double checks our paper work. N. Schultheiss
Ready to start. N. Schultheiss	Tug Shannon starts moving for the rolling start. N. Schultheiss	View from the Grey Fox. Fred Miller	Westcott II along side. N. Schultheiss	Capt. Sam Buchanan prepares the Westcott for the race. N. Schultheiss
Rolling start as the tugs head for the starting line below the Ambassador Bridge. N. Schultheiss	Approaching the starting line. N. Schultheiss	Building up speed. N. Schultheiss	R&R moves up. N. Schultheiss	K Sea. N. Schultheiss
Race underway. Mike Nicholls	Field spreads out. Mike Nicholls	Another view. Mike Nicholls	Good start. N. Schultheiss	Fred Miller
Fred Miller	Fred Miller	Fred Miller	Field spreads out. N. Schultheiss	K Sea & Julie Anne. N. Schultheiss
Sinbad rolls through the wake. N. Schultheiss	Patricia Hoey, R&R and Bionic. N. Schultheiss	Joseph J. Hogan. N. Schultheiss	Paul E. No. 1. N. Schultheiss	Leaders pass under the Ambassador Bridge.
Shannon along side Grey Fox. Fred Miller	Moving in close... Fred Miller	Closer... Fred Miller	Along side. Fred Miller	View downriver. N. Schultheiss
View from farther back in the pack. Scott Tomlinson	Scott Tomlinson	John van der Doe	John van der Doe	John van der Doe
Scott Tomlinson	Scott Tomlinson	Scott Tomlinson	Scott Tomlinson	Exhaust smoke fills the river.
Inside the Magnetic's wheel house. Scott Tomlinson	Karen Andrie builds up speed. Scott Tomlinson	Shannon and Grey Fox run neck & neck. N. Schultheiss	Onboard the Westcott. N. Schultheiss	View aft. N. Schultheiss
Karen Andrie gaining. N. Schultheiss	Shannon. N. Schultheiss	N. Schultheiss	Shannon neck and neck with the Grey Fox. N. Schultheiss	View from the Grey Fox. Fred Miller
Westcott tucked in behind. Fred Miller	Another view. Fred Miller	Race to the finish line. Fred Miller	Fred Miller	Fred Miller
USCG Cutter Bristol Bay is the finish line at Dieppe Park in Windsor. Fred Miller	Wake reaches the Bristol Bay. N. Schultheiss	Grey Fox powers up the fire monitors. Fred Miller	Parade lap off Detroit. N. Schultheiss	Paul E. No. 1 turns for a parade lap. N. Schultheiss
Karen Andrie powers up a fire monitor. N. Schultheiss	Grey Fox with water flowing. N. Schultheiss	Bionic. N. Schultheiss	Parade lap. N. Schultheiss	Fred Miller
Tugs arrive to tie up at the park. N. Schultheiss	Lines thrown ashore. N. Schultheiss	Westcott II finished 3rd overall. N. Schultheiss
The Bristol Bay's ATON barge holds the awards ceremony. N. Schultheiss	Awards. N. Schultheiss	Last place award. N. Schultheiss	Sponsors. N. Schultheiss	Bristol Bay's galley staff kept busy preparing lunch. N. Schultheiss
Bill Hoey accepts the William Hoey Jr. award for finishing 1st in Class 1. N. Schultheiss	Bill Hoey, Jim Storen with Dave Cree Receiving Windsor Port Authority First across Trophy N. Schultheiss	Awards. N. Schultheiss	Steven Olinek/Bob Kerr getting the Class 6 1st place-Detroit/Wayne County Port Authority Trophy. N. Schultheiss	Steven Olinek presents the Class Award to Capt. Sam Buchanan (left) Awards. N. Schultheiss
Most Seasoned Skipper Award went to Bill Hoey. N. Schultheiss	Josephine from Toledo. N. Schultheiss	Arrived late for the race. Mike Nicholls	Stern view. N. Schultheiss	Oceanis from Cape. May NJ. Did not participate in the race. N. Schultheiss
Charter boat Infinity passes. N. Schultheiss	Diamond Belle passes Windsor. N. Schultheiss	Fred Miller	Fred Miller	Tugs docked. N. Schultheiss
Magnetic. N. Schultheiss	Acushnet. N. Schultheiss	Fred Miller	Heading back to the Westcott dock the Huron Maid delivers to the Anderson. N. Schultheiss	Close up. N. Schultheiss
Another view. N. Schultheiss	Stern view. N. Schultheiss	Ferris Marine tugs head back to their dock on the Rouge River. N. Schultheiss

	TUGBOAT	OVERALL
FIRST OVERALL CLASSES 1-5	GREY FOX	1*
WINDSOR PORT AUTHORITY TROPHY	SHANNON	1*
CLASS 1
BILL HOEY JR TROPHY	SHANNON	1
	KAREN ANDRIE	2

CLASS 2
WILLIAM W. ENGLAND TROPHY	PATRICIA HOEY	1
	HUNTINGTON	2


CLASS 3
AMERICO DEAN JR TROPHY	PAUL E NO.1	1
	ACUSHNET	2
	ELIZABETH	3
	MAGNETIC	4

CLASS 4
LIONEL HOTTE MEMORIAL TROPHY	JUNIOR C	1
	JULIE ANN	2
	SINDBAD	3
	R&R	4
	JOAN V	5
	NORMA B	6

CLASS 5
JOHN J CARRICK MEMORIAL TROPHY	ISABELLE	1
	ENTERPRISE	2

CLASS 6: NON DISPLACEMENT
DETROIT WAYNE COUNTY PORT AUTHORITY	GREY FOX	1
	J W WESTCOTT II	2
	K SEA	3
	DANNY BOY	4
	JOSEPH J HOGAN	5
	BIONIC	6

BEST DECORATED	JOAN V
MOST SEASONED SKIPPER	BILL HOEY
MOST SEASONED ENGINEER	JIM STOREN

* Grey Fox Finished First However Did Not Qualify Since It Was A Non-Displacement Hull (Class 6) Shannon. A Close Second Displacement Hull Vessel Was Awarded The First Overall Trophy