It’s boat night in Port Huron

By Peggy Walsh-Sarnecki

July 11, 2014 at 5:07 pm Port Huron

The music is starting along the Black River, and Port Huron is heating up for the annual Boat Night party celebrating the start of the Bell’s Beer Bayview Mackinac Race tomorrow.

Port Huron officials estimate that Boat Night brings about 100,000 people, partly to view the Mackinac boats and mostly to party along the waterfront. There may be even more this year, the first Boat Night in years with warm, mild weather instead of the rain or heat of the previous few Boat Nights.

The local police, sheriff and even the U.S. Coast Guard will all have extra patrols out to try to keep the mayhem to a minimum. Restaurants bring on additional staff.

Mike Taylor’s Fuel Woodfire Grill in Port Huron was one of the many food stands set up for the night. Last night, for Family Night, he served up 250 pounds of smoked chicken, pulled pork, brisket and St. Louis style ribs, and expects to serve even more tonight.

“It’s the best party of the year,” said Jessica Darval of Marysville.”It’s the night Port Huron shines.”

Reid Poulliot of Harrison Township is spending the night aboard the boat he will race on tomorrow, the C&C 32 Desire.

‘I’m not going to party that much,” Poulliot said. He does, however, hope to get some sleep amid the bands and partiers.

The Grosse Pointe Park cub scouts sailing aboard the Beneteau 49.5 Christina with a Sea were waiting for two exciting visits. The Tigers’ mascot, Paws, was going to pay a visit, since their boat was also randomly selected to represent the Detroit baseball team. And they were waiting for a visit from their Trombley Elementary School principal, who was coming to wish them well.

The six cub scouts are sailing with their dads and the dads decided to leave the bimini cover on the boat as a concession to their young crew.

The boys spent the last several months studying boating skills and safety. One, Leo Buchanan, gave this reporter one of the best explanations of thermal winds she’d ever heard.

Leo’s fellow cub Tommy Caulfield said his favorite part of sailing is tacking. “We have to use winches and everything.”

It’s going to be a cool race for the cub scouts and other sailors. Weather predictions are for temperatures as low as the 40s at night. And the predictions are for lighter winds.

Even a cold, light race doesn’t diminish the enthusiasm, however.

“It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be awesome,” said Joel Kar of Grosse Pointe Park, who will sail his Catalina 34 Sliante. “We’re bringing back the old guys, we’re going to have as much fun as we can and hopefully get in before Tuesday.”