Manatee hits waves for Bottle Boat Regatta

By ALLISON GARCIA

Special to The Herald

PALMA SOLA

About 500 people, and quite a few dogs, came out Saturday to see the Annual DeSoto Heritage Festival Bottle Boat Regatta.

The group gathered on the southwest side of Palma Sola Causeway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to watch fourteen races in all.

Finalists won cash, trophies and medallions.

In the Finals for G Class (men), USA Fence defeated Saint Stephen's Episcopal School Dads to win the Festival Cup and honorary float entry in the DeSoto Grand Parade on April 26.

When asked what made their streamlined fire engine-red boat such a winner, Link Glascow, one of eight young men on the crew, answered, "Hard work and aluminum."

"An aluminum manufacturing company named Etco donated this boat to us," he said.

The crew's captain, Shannon Glasgow, said he was just proud to be able to have fun with family, friends and co-workers.

The rest of the crew were Cody Glasgow, Joe Sicking, Joel Bellemare, Matt Hendrix, Justin Johnson, Mike McGrain, and Scott Ryan.

This same boat and a crew of gals in bikini tops sporting the American flag brought USA Fence to the finish line first in the Finals for E Class (women).

Daughtrey Elementary School won first place in the Finals A Class and $500 for their school.

"The students have earned this, so they will have input on where we spend this money," said Daughtrey Principal Monica Hankerson.

Alexis Hernandez, the 12-old-designer of the Daughtrey Dolphin made his way to the Regatta taking three buses across town by himself.

"We really didn't think that we would make it, but we actually won," said Alexis as he clutched the trophy, "I really want to thank our teachers."

When asked where he got the idea for this winning boat with two-liter bottles forming what the crew called "pyramid prisms" design, Alexis said it was from his "imagination."

Crewmembers were Franklin Roman, Liliana Juarez, LaPorsha Adams, and Stephen Curtis.

Patrick Hussey, member of the Hernando de Soto Historical Society, chaired the Regatta this year.

"This is just one of the events in our DeSoto Heritage Festival," Hussey said. "The Regatta has been happening for over 30 years, and this year's conditions were perfect for everyone in the water and on the shore to have a lot of fun."

School winners

A Class/Elementry:

Daughtrey Prep/Dolphins: $500

Weiffenbach & Kaklis/USS Tim Teboat: $300

Dillon's Birthday Team/Tiki Hawk: $200

B Class/Middle school:

SMART Sailors: $500

Buffalo Creek Middle/Tiki Hawk: $300

The Lucky Ducks: $200

C Class/High School

Low Expectation

Black Medallion

• Also, in Festival Royalty Class 2008 DeSoto Queen's Court raced against 2007 Desoto Queen's court-2008 won (got out and pushed The Black Medallion for their win)

• Festival Fun Class 2008 Hernando Desoto & crew beat 2008 Desoto Applicant Candidates

Manatee residents take to the waves for annual Bottle Boat Regatta