Looking to prove that you and your crew are the strongest in town? No need to wrestle giant squid, climb the Pilot Tower or lift unsuspecting tourists’ golf carts over your head. Instead your team of six can compete in the Second Annual Jack’s Boat Pull and help raise some funds to prevent drowning. It’ll be you and five friends on one end of the rope and the Sea Tow rescue boat, trailer and crew cab pick up truck on the other. First to pull the 7.5 tons across the finish line 75 feet away wins.
Jack’s Boat Pull is a fundraiser for the Jack Helbig Memorial Foundation and is held in conjunction with with the Southport Wooden Boat show on Saturday, Nov. 2 at in the parking lot of the Morningstar Marina. The first pull is at 1 pm as the boat show is winding down. In addition to the boat pulling competition, the event features a kid’s boat pull, a DJ, food trucks, and a variety of community information booths. There will also be life vest giveaways for kids and a 50/50 drawing for cash and prizes.
According to the Jack Helbig Foundation, drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1-4 and is one of the top three for ages 5 through 34. Melanie Roberts, President of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, said, “Last year we had 12 teams and grossed $14,000 that will help the foundation with mission critical activities which include scholarships for Brunswick School of Fish (swim lessons at BCC), life jacket giveaways, our kindergarten water safety and literacy program and increase the amount of Rip Current awareness and rescue tube stations on Southeastern NC’s beaches.
“I am looking forward to implementing improvements in this year’s event,” Roberts said. “The event chairs — Mick Palagruto, Ken Hutton, and Gene Helbig — have been working hard to make this year’s boat pull even more successful and fun for the community. One of the biggest changes we are making is moving the kid’s boat pull to a lane right beside of the main towing area. This will highlight their event and amp up the cuteness factor.”
Last year’s event was a not only a lot of fun to watch, it was a huge success for the Foundation. “The best part about the First Annual Jack’s Boat Pull was seeing the amazing support from our community,” Roberts said. “With over 300 participants and spectators we were able to share information about being safer around the water throughout the event.”
But they hope to make this year’s event even bigger.
“We hope to have twice as many teams sign up this year and challenge the previous winner, Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office,” Roberts said. “This is truly a fun and family-friendly event. All the teams enjoyed pulling together, literally and figuratively, and supporting water safety.”
The cost to enter a team is a $400 donation, and there is a 20-team limit, so register soon to ensure your spot. Sponsorships are all available, including an opportunity to set up a booth at the event.
For information on registering a team or becoming a sponsor, visit https://www.strideevents.com/jacks-boat-pull/event-information. To find out more about the Jack Helbig Memorial Foundation, visit https://jackhelbig.org/
