PORT TOWNSEND — Droves of youth sports supporters flocked to the Marine Science Center at Fort Worden State Park on Sunday, much like ducks migrating south for the winter.
The people came for the first Port Townsend Duck Derby, to see 8,080 small rubber ducks — previously adopted for $5 each — float in a derby for a grand prize of $2,500.
The event was sponsored by Save Our Sports Foundation, which is raising money to maintain extracurricular sports at Port Townsend High School and Blue Heron Middle School.
Port Townsend Mayor Mark Welch opened Sunday morning’s derby by telling a joke about a construction-working duck that was asked why he’s not in the circus since he obviously has such an impressive skill for a duck.
The duck responded by asking what would the circus want with a brick-laying duck.
When the joke fell flat, Welch admitted he had gotten it for free from the Internet.
Then, Port Townsend High School students began emptying 50 large, blue bins filled with the racing ducks — each numbered to a corresponding ticket number — into the water below the Marine Science Center.
An encircling yellow boom was opened and the ducks were off.
A group of them got an early lead, with the crowd of about 200 cheering them on.
The ducks had to make it to shore, where a six-inch-diameter clear tube was waiting to receive the 10 winners.
By the time the leading group of ducks reached the shore, the mass of yellow had caught up.
It was any duck’s race.
