The Anything that Floats Race, part of the June 6 Bay Day events, proved to maintain its high level of fun as well as being a great people pleaser. Friends and relatives of the wacky race participants lined up on Beekman Beach cheering their favorites. Erin and Jamie Van Dyke ran the wacky races.

The Oyster Bay High School Interact Club came in first in the Anything that Floats Race with crew members Seana Burke, David Roach, Stephanie Murdock and Bobbie Stainkamp. The Interact advisor, social studies teacher Robert Kurtz was on hand to cheer them into shore. "Kurtz rocks!" said Interact members Sharon and Caitlin Burke. For winning first place the four rowers received tackle boxes "to work on next year's project," said Erin Van Dyke as she announced the winners.

Jamie Van Dyke said, "I was especially pleased to see that the WaterFront Center is reaching out to other areas to get children interested in marine education and boating. There were two boats in the 'wacky race' from Brentwood High School (their boats were built soundly). The Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club had a contingent of kids racing. The theme of their boat was Disneyworld." Even though their boat sank after a few minutes in the water, the builders and the crew had a wonderful time. They won for creativity and for putting up a great struggle. Their crew came out of the water soaking wet with their teeth chattering. Yvonne Brown, assistant director of the Kips Bay Club made sure they warmed up before heading back to the Bronx by bus.

Fritz Coudert, president of the WaterFront Center board and board president of the Kips Bay Boys & Girls Club said he was proud of the inner city kids for competing in the race. "They put their float/boat together in one of the waterfront buildings. While it didn't last long in the race, and gently sank into the waters at Beekman Beach, what it lacked in sail ability it more than made up for in enthusiasm. The supporters wore Mickey Mouse-ear hats. One boy carried a giant Mickey Mouse stuffed toy. The boat itself was a reminder of Walt Disney's Magical Kingdom. Over a dozen kids worked on the board. They even wrote a poem about the day."

Mr. Coudert said five Kips Bay youth will be selected to go on a week sail on a three-masted Polish boat through the American Sail Association (ASA). They will be going as crew members on the trip from Greenport, out into the ocean and on to Rhode Island. "It's one heck of an experience for kids from the inner city," he said.

Audie O'Connor won in his category, as a lone paddler.

The Locust Valley Middle School boat was called the Silver Bullet. There were two winners from the North Shore Community Church, one for adults and one for the kids. The judges had extra prizes and Jaime and Erin Van Dyke made sure they were all given out to the children.

The WaterFront Center offers free Community Nights on Thursdays in July, (6 to 8 p.m.). The WFC offers free Kayak and Sunfish rentals to qualified sailors; a racing program; and a Christeen cruise, for which they offer 20 percent off coupons for "before or after the sail dinner" at local restaurants for that night (Thursdays).