Blackwater Pyrates announce Great Mill Town Duck Race winners

MILTON — The civic organization Blackwater Pyrates holds a single annual fundraiser, the Great Mill Town Duck Race every July 4. This year's third to first place winners were Chris Smith, Cindie Ponsell with Blackwater Bay Tours and Lynda Vines with Bypass Radiator. The prize amounts were $250, $750 and $1,500 respectively

The Pyrates sell pairs of numbered, rubber ducks. The supporter receives one and the other goes in the race. To start the race, the Pyrates dump a bin of the ducks into the Blackwater River. A Pyrate designated the Duck King retrieves the winning ducks.

This year's event was especially successful for the Pyrates, according to Captain Carl "Boot" Whitson.

"We sold out around 3 p.m. the day of the event," he wrote in an email. "We adopted out 4,500 ducks at $5 a piece."

Whitson couldn't give a final amount the Pyrates collected after expenses yet.

Next year's race may see more contestants, Whitson said.

"There is a possibility we will have more ducks next year," he wrote. "Our organization is always growing and one expectation is each member adopts out at least 20 ducks. Also we have a corporate sponsor committee that reaches out to local business to have the opportunity to be in the Great Milltown Duck race and support our mission by giving back to the community."

The fundraiser supports the Pyrates' three-fold mission: river cleanup, maritime history preservation, and boater safety and education.

The Pyrates hold two river cleanups annually. The funds they raise help pay for equipment for these ventures. The Pyrates also partner with the University of West Florida and give grants to university students "doing research on the Blackwater River as well as the Milton and Bagdad community." The Pyrates have also supported the Bagdad Millsite Park and annually bring a historical presentation to the area. Finally, the Pyrates work with the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide boat inspections and help boaters meet their requirements with life jackets, sounding devices, and proper boat identification.

"There are numerous more examples to give, but in short, we are very proud of our crew and our efforts," Whitson wrote. "We are proud to live in a community where it is so nice to work with the City, County and the Chamber to be able to do what we do. So to all of them I say a big thank you!"

This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Blackwater Pyrates announce Great Mill Town Duck Race winners