2016 Halloween Costume Race

Normally, it’s not a surprise to see strange characters roaming the docks at the Nawiliwili Small Boat Harbour, but on Thursday, October 27th something was different. Halloween characters were rigging their boats for the last race of 2016! The winds were fierce out of the NE, and seven boats headed out to the start line. When the start horn sounded, all the boats screamed like banshees and took off for Kalapaki Beach. It was another scary start with the usual aftermath of carnage.

Speedy had the best start of the fleet. On board, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump could be seen working the jib sheets together – it was surreal. Fast Company had replaced its crew with tell-tails which gave them an advantage going to weather. OZone had the team from Ghostbusters armed with proton ray guns as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man sat on the weather rail. Coyote was being sailed by the Blue Man Group who was evidently here on vacation after their successful Las Vegas tour. Weatherly had life-sized Crayons making their mark as they tacked up the harbor. Lelele was bedazzled with the “Neverland” theme, pirate Captain Hook was at the helm with Peter Pan and the infamous crocodile as crew. Papa a’u sported the usual nefarious crew.

As the fleet converged on “R2” buoy they must have entered the “Twilight Light Zone” — known as an area where objects don’t follow the Laws of Physics (and some racing rules) and weird unexpected things happen. Suffice it to say, the Blue Man Group came, they saw, they forced the Ghostbusters to retire from the race (to paraphrase a line from Ghostbusters).

Trick or Treat, it was Hillary and Trump winning the race as Speedy won PHRF honors with Fast Company in second, followed by Coyote in third. Club Open had Weatherly in first, Papa a’u in second, Lelele in third.

Once back at the haunted clubhouse, crews enjoyed a festive dinner hosted by OZone and catered by Mark’s Place. The esteemed judges tallied the results for the best costumes and bottles of Halloween wine were given out as
awards. Club members then danced away the night as Halloween had officially arrived.

Best Crew Costume Judged from the Mole: OZone ~ Ghostbusters
Best Theme: Coyote ~ Blue Man Group
Most Original: Dick Olsen ~ Priest
Scariest: Ken & Jan Martinez ~ Jack Sparrow and Companion Pirate
Funniest: Weatherly ~ Crayons
Best Costume Judged at the Club: Doug & Sharon Gibson ~ Gatsby Gangster and Flapper Girl
Extemporaneous Award for Best Dance Lead: Bill & Sea Peterson ~ Disco Duo (“Staying Alive” by the Bee Gees)

Kevin Arndt – Rear Commodore

Click for more photos by Pam, Sea, Chris and Charlotte