Splash of color: Water Festival bed race packs a surprise
Chris Canaday knew to prepare for a shock.
Last year he had helped douse Beaufort Water Festival commodore Bill Damude with flour to end the annual bed race. Canaday, now commodore, banned the ingredient from this year’s bed race.
After zooming down Bay Street on a hospital gurney, Canaday was met instead with an explosion of colorful powder similar to what is used to douse participants in a popular series of road races.
“It might as well have been flour,” Canaday said, his hair dyed blue and red.
The powder covered the asphalt at the intersection of Bay and Charles streets as the winning team, a group of officers from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, accepted their award.
The MCAS group outfitted its gurney with cardboard down each side and team’s name. They were called the “Swampfoxes,” the nickname for members of the base’s headquarters.
Five officers manned the team, including two pilots.
“We’ll probably let the two pilots steer and the young, fast guys run,” joked Capt. Clay Groover, a public affairs officer who was the lone rider.
The race began with the blast of a horn at Harrington Street — with teams required to complete a full spin at Church Street — and finished at the Beaufort Downtown Marina parking lot.
Six teams competed, including two teams from Beaufort Memorial Hospital, two representing CrossFit Beaufort and a group from Fripp Island, which boasted a pirate mascot.
The hospital went with Hawaiian and Mardi Gras themes. A team from Coastal Pediatrics donned pink cheerleader outfits.
CrossFit Beaufort’s gurneys were no-frills and bare. One team was built for speed and the other for fun.
“We took second last year,” Albert Knight said. “This year is all about fun.”
With three people on a gurney, one of their beds drifted down Church Street attempting the 360-degree spin.
Canaday’s ride was decorated with Clemson’s purple and orange and was powered by the Water Festival’s Pirettes.
All contestants braved a gauntlet of water flung from bottles, sprayed from plastic guns, dumped from buckets and blasted from a hose.
Canaday took the brunt.
“It’s fun, that’s why I’ve been doing this 12 years,” Canaday said, struggling to breathe as powder filled his nose. “I have so many colors on me at the moment.”
Stephen Fastenau: 843-706-8182, @IPBG_Stephen
61st annual Beaufort Water Festival
Saturday
Unless otherwise noted, events held in Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park, Bay Street, Beaufort.
- 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Arts and crafts market.
- 10 a.m. to noon Grand parade, downtown Beaufort.
- Noon to 4 p.m. Nonprofit expo.
- 1 to 4 p.m.: Air show.
- 7 p.m.: Commodore’s Ball, featuring The Band Punch. 7 p.m. $10.
This story was originally published July 22, 2016 at 7:55 PM with the headline "Splash of color: Water Festival bed race packs a surprise."