Second Maritime Throwdown Set For October 13

The second annual Maritime Throwdown competition is set for October 13 at the Lamar-Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, La., near Baton Rouge. The event, created by Capt. Kenny Brown, will feature a trio of challenges with an emphasis on safety, skill and overall performance. The competitions—the Maritime Throwdown Course, the Anchored In Muscle Line Throwing challenge and the C-Hero life ring toss—are open to mariners from around the country regardless of age or years of experience.

The Maritime Throwdown Course will feature a brand-new integrated timed course with six mooring stations. Mariners will hit a timer to start the course, then proceed to simulate securing mooring lines via a D-ring, a vertical kevel, single timber, horizontal kevel, a ship hook and an extended piling. After clearing the line at the end of the course, mariners will hit the timer again to mark their time. A demonstration of the line-handling course is posted on the Maritime Throwdown Facebook page.

Brown said the Maritime Throwdown course measures about 35 feet long and is designed to test a mariner’s real-world line-handling skills.

“This year, there are more realistic mooring situations,” he said. “It’s achievable, yet designed to test the skills of the most experienced mariners.”

Brown added that, ultimately, the Maritime Throwdown is about promoting safety, by increasing skill and efficiency through the thrill of competition.

“We truly believe that through this competition they become safer and more efficient line handlers and better mariners in general,” he said.

The first place prize for the Maritime Throwdown course is $1,000, with $400 and $200 going to the second and third place finishers, respectively.

Just like last year, the Anchored In Muscle line throwing challenge will be a winner-take-all “tournament style” distance line throwing competition. The person who catches a line on a timberhead from the greatest distance will pocket $1,000.

Then, the life ring throw, sponsored by C-Hero, will award $500 to the person making the farthest throw, with $300 and $200 going to the second and third place finishers, respectively.
“So someone has the potential for walking away with $2,500 if they sweep all three challenges,” Brown said.

The event will start at noon on October 13, with registration opening at 9:30 a.m. Participants can register for the competition online at www.maritimethrowdown.com or on site the day of the event. Registration is $100.

Just over a month later, the Maritime Throwdown will host a southern qualifier competition at the International Workboat Show in New Orleans October 28–30 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Winners of the regional qualifier receive free registration for the 2019 Maritime Throwdown competition. Maritime Throwdown will host a northern qualifier event May 20–22 at the annual Inland Marine Expo in St. Louis, Mo.