Bed Race equal parts competition, spectacle at Water Fest

Water was flying from all directions -- water guns were squirted, gallons of water were thrown from orange Gatorade buckets and droplets fell from the sky -- as locals sprinted down Bay Street, pushing their friends on hospital gurneys.

It was a wacky -- and wet -- afternoon at the 60th annual Beaufort Water Festival Bed Race.

Commodore Bill Damude, sporting a rainbow lei, coconut bra and green hula skirt, was showered in more than just water.

The soaked festival leader was a walking lump of pizza dough by the end of the race, after getting four buckets of white flour thrown on him by fellow volunteers.

He was nothing shy of a great sport. Laughing and cheering with the crowd, Damude threw the remaining flour onto those around him and greeted his friends with sticky, wet hugs.

Seven teams entered in this year's event, and each had five team members ready to dress up and get soaked.

The Fripp Island recreation interns brought along a unique contender, "Pirate Fripp", who rode down the street in a large -- and later drenched -- pirate costume.

Other contestants wore bright pink tutus, patterned knee-high socks and tropical-themed costumes as they endured the slippery race.

This event may have been more fun for the crowd.

Kids and adults lined the sidewalk, all cheering and peering over each other's shoulders, waiting to for the horn to sound so they could drench their family, friends and coworkers.

One father, Fred White, brought his son Weston, 4, to the event for the first time.

"I want to squirt all of the people," Weston said as he aimed his lime green water gun, dowsing the contestants as they dashed by.

Despite the light-hearted atmosphere, one team was determined to take the first-place title.

A group of Navy men, "The Lowcountry Seabees," returned to the race for their third consecutive year.

Before the race began, group members said they were there to claim bragging rights after getting second place two years in a row.

"We're definitely not leaving here with third place," joked Seth Mangasarian, a returning member of the Lowcountry Seabees.

And they were triumphant.

With 35 soggy contestants and one filthy commodore standing in the center of Bay Street, the festival announced that the Lowcountry Seabees took first place, Cross Fit Beaufort won second place, and Coastal Pediatrics received an award for having the best-decorated gurney.

This story was originally published July 24, 2015 at 7:32 PM with the headline "Bed Race equal parts competition, spectacle at Water Fest."