After 12 years, the Working Waterfront Festival did not return last year, to the disappointment of many. So this year, the Fishing Heritage Center, which was created out of the WWF and its volunteers, held a smaller version of the event in downtown New Bedford and on the Working Waterfront. Held at two locations, the Heritage Center on Bethel Street and Steamship Pier, this year’s event had many of the same activities that other years had. Seafood, music, fisherpoetry, author events, boat tours, whaleboat races, contests, safety demonstrations, and lots of activities for kids had downtown and the piers hopping. The scallop shucking contest was cancelled, though, because all the scallop boats came into port early due to Hurricane Jose.
Members of the Buzzards Bay Rowing Club maneuver the whaleboat “Flying Cloud” between the tugboat “Bucky” (left) and the Fishing Vessel “Luzitano” on their way back to Fairhaven on Saturday afternoon, 9/23. Photo by Beth David.
A life raft inflates on the dock as part of the safety and information demonstrations held a Steamship Pier. Photo by Beth David.
The small tugboat, the “Atlantic Hunter II,” was at its last event with its current (and only) owner. Capt. Ben Grudinskas said he built the little tug, which only actually tugged a barge once. It was, largely, an experiment, he said. A carpenter by trade, he is selling the boat this year and will move on to another challenge. He named the 28.9’ tug after his grandson. The small tug is, by no means tiny. On the other side of the dock, “Toot Toot” and “Ko-Hog,” both measuring in at 14.3’, were also on display for the curious public. Some mini-tugs are as small as 7’4” and still do some heavy pulling. Photo by Beth David.
A life raft inflates on the dock as part of the safety and information demonstrations held a Steamship Pier. Photo by Beth David.
A view of the festival from the top of the tug “Roy Boys” which was open for tours, with Captain Conrad Roy, Jr., on hand to answer questions. Photo by Beth David.
For more information about the Working Waterfront Festival, visit www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org. To learn more about the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center visit www.fishingheritagecenter.org
Click here to download the entire 9/28/17 issue: 09-28-17 Encampment
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