My hydro report for 2014 On a perfect morning Carl Olsen won the annual 4th of July hydro race coming in with a personal best time of 40:19. After passing the finish line Olsen took a tour of the inner harbor and on returning to Jensens Point, while pulling off his helmet, asked members of the 175 or so onlookers “who won?” To Olsens surprise the crowd yelled back, “You”. The winner of the race the last two years, Evan Mattingly came in second recording a time of 41.26, four seconds later Ty Cristophersen crossed the finish line in third place, Mitch VanBuskirk came in at 42:08, in fourth place. But the story of the morning was that of racer Paul Hoffman. While the hydros were making their 40 minute run word came back to the spectators at Jensens Point, from the Heights ferry dock, that a hydro had flipped just off the dock. Concerned wives, dads and friends anxiously awaited word of who it was. Word soon arrived that it was Paul Hoffman, who caught a wave near the ferry dock and flipped his hydro. Hoffman later said, “I went through the front of a wave, the back end of the hydro fishtailed a little bit, and then I went out the front, the next thing you know this thing was pitched around backwards and I was sitting in the water. Kimm Shride an Island resident and ferry worker who was working on the ferry dock caught the flip and ferry service response on video. The ferry Tillicum sent out a rescue boat to investigate, upon arrival at the scene it was found that the driver was alright and that the hydros chase boat had the situation under control so the rescue boat returned to the ferry. Due to the ferry systems response the Coast Guard and the King County Police Marine Unit came out to investigate. County Police cited Hoffman for not having a Coast Guard approved life jacket. The county deputy read off other possible violations, no registration, no mandatory education card, no sound proofing device, no carbon monoxide decal, all Coast Guard Class A requirements for boats under 16. Drivers explained that reason they have not followed all Coast Guard Class A requirements in the past is that similar hydros in races are not required to follow all the Coast Guard class A requirements. Several drivers said they were going to work to get their hydros to meet the requirements. The King County Police Marine Unit, citing safety concerns, contend that the annual race needs to be permitted through the county. Racers explained that in the 56 plus years the hydros have been circling the Island there has never been an injury, despite several mishaps.The racers say they are also concerned about their safety so they use several chase boats running with the hydros and in most years a spotter plane. They say there is no fee, prize, or responsible organization to permit. Those involved say the event at its core is nothing more than four to six guys and their friends who love to wrench on things, and want to keep a long time, truly unique Vashon tradition alive by going out for a run together once a year, and putting the winners name on a trophy. The calls for the Coast Guard and Police caught the attention of KIRO news who sent a crew to cover the story, interviewing Hoffman at the Heights dock, which aired on KIRO TV News later in the day The event has been stopped by the Coast Guard and County Police once in 1973 due to similar code violations. Over the years there have been numerous complaints due to the noise and the early hour, and talk from County Police about stopping the race because of the absence of a permit. Hoffman had flushed his motor and had his hydro running again by the afternoon, he will repair the minor damage to his hydro and along with the other drivers gear up for next year. All drivers say they are determined that as long as they can keep their antique hydros running they will be circling the Island every fourth of July into the future. .
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 06:37:15 +0000
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