Over in Hernando Beach, the races were on Saturday Oct. 12, 2019. Cardboard boat races that is. They don’t go too fast, but sometimes the paddlers can get a good clip going. It’s certainly entertaining to watch the creatively designed homemade boats race around the Gulf canal at Hernando Beach Marina. A little further inland, a different sort of racing was taking place involving dogs- no not the type that Florida voters banned last November. It was Marker 48’s annual Wiener Dog Races, but they didn’t discriminate as all types of dogs were given a chance to show their speed. There were small, medium and large dog races before the highly anticipated wiener dogs took center stage.
More on the Cardboard Boat Races…
On Saturday October 12, 2019 the seventh annual Hernando Beach Cardboard Boat Race was held at the Hernando Beach Marina. This is an annual event and it is well attended. The cardboard boats ranged from simple designs that are little more than a water tight box to an ornate steamboat with a paddle wheel.
Marina manager, Bill Jay, closes the marina to host the cardboard boat race. The proceeds from the cardboard boat race fund the Hernando Beach Marine Safety Support Group which promotes marine safety and education.
This means on a Saturday none of the boats in the marina can be rented and boats stored at the marina cannot be accessed. Although it’s not business as usual for the marina, there are few complaints since the cause the event benefits is important for the area.
Many folks showed up to cheer for people they did not know. The children received tremendous cheers as they raced. The races are exciting since there is always the chance the boats will sink or flip. In the first race one of the boats flipped over. The Sheriff’s Office boat stands guard, ready to rescue anyone goes overboard during the race.
More on the Wiener Dog Races..
Funny name, serious race! Marker 48’s Fourth Annual Running of the Wieners benefitted the Low Rider Dachshund Rescue of Florida. Passionate about their pooches, several members of the organization attended the race and celebrated their furry participants.
Propelled by their tiny legs, ears were in the air as the puppers were given the “go” signal when the gate came up. Some were excited to run to their masters who were waiting at the finish line, some decided to socialize with each other on the track, and still others visited with the crowd instead of finishing the race.
An inclusive day for all canines, races were held for small, medium and large dogs of other breeds as well. There were also a couple special needs dachshunds that raced with the assistance of a pair of rear wheels.
