On Sun. Sept. 3, nine tugboats participated in the 14th Annual New York City Tugboat Challenge. The competition consisted of three events. The most dramatic was a 1-nautical-mile race from a point in the Hudson River near the Intrepid Air-Sea-Space Museum at W. 46th St. down to Pier 63 at W. 24th St. At the end of the race, tugs participated in a line-throw contest, in which each had two chances to have a deckhand throw a line around a securing post on the edge of the pier. The tug Growler, above, won this contest. The final challenge was a nose-to-nose face-off between tugs, as they pushed each other to see which could push back the other. Almost 100 spectators filled Pier 63 to watch and cheer on the tugs. At an award ceremony on the pier, trophies were awarded for such categories as Best-Dressed Crew, Best Tattoo on a crewmember and Best-Looking Tugboat.
