This event was, for its first 13 years, hosted and produced by the Intrepid Sea*Air*Space Museum and was headed by Capt. Jerry Roberts.  The race ran from the 79th St Boat Basin to Pier 86 (the Intrepid pier) and other events associated with the race (nose-to-nose contests, line toss competition, other competitions and the awards ceremony itself) took place in the adjacent waters or on Pier 86 itself.

After 2004 and Jerry’s departure from the Intrepid’s staff, it was hosted by Jerry personally, with help from the National Lighthouse Museum, The Working Harbor Committee (WHC) and a small steering committee consisting of Jerry, John Doswell (WHC), Bert Reinauer (Reinauer Transportation) and Chris Roehrig (Roehrig Maritime).

In 05 the race and event took place in Staten Island, but with no shore-side facility or possibility for spectator viewing. A Reinauer tug and Hughes Bros barge provided a floating place for the line toss and for vessels to tie up for the awards ceremony. This location was not deemed sustainable for the future for several reasons.

In 06 the event moved back to the North River at Pier 63 Maritime, an excellent venue except that places for tug to tie up were extremely limited and, again a Hughes Bros barge, set in position by two Reinauer tugs and a crane barge, provided a place for the line-toss and vessel tie-ups so that crews could assemble for the awards. John Krevey, owner of Pier 63 Maritime provided free food and beverages for the crews. However, this location was too close to Chelsea Piers for comfort (due to the huge wake-wash it creates) and the tug tie-up solution was not sustainable.

In 2007, a location was selected that seem to solve most of the problems and was well liked by all – Pier 84 in the North River, just south of the Intrepid’s Pier 86. The CG is happy with the race route starting near the 79th Street Boats Basin and ending off of Pier 84. The pier is large, now functioning as a park, but with decent fendering, cleats & bollards for vessels. It has great viewing for spectators, a food & beverage concession, bathrooms and other amenities. Last year it was deem to be a big hit but all.

In 2008 we will use Pier 84 again and plans are now in progress. We anticipate adding some audience activities (on-pier line toss, knot tyoing, etc) and musical entetainment. Our host is the Hudson River Park Trust, and city/state agency that is building a large waterfront park on Manhattan's west side from the Battery to 59th Street.