Hope floats: All the good boat news from The Red Hook Regatta

I recently graduated from a film MFA program. In many ways, the industry outlook is quite bleak. The sky has perennially been falling for the independent filmmaker, but now it seems to be rushing faster, with AI-obsessed corporate oligarchs hellbent on squashing creativity like the mosquito they think it is. I could, of course, hole up in the apartment and lament my uncertain future, doomscrolling until my eyes dry out. But that would be stupid. Because I live in a city full of people who constantly prove the value of creativity with a human touch.

That's what drew me to the Red Hook Regatta last weekend, where contestants make custom-built, radio-controlled boats and test them against the mighty New York Harbor. Whether they were 3D-printed or made from common household materials, the boats were super inventive and fun. I was inspired from the moment I arrived at the race location, not just by the boats, but also by the event itself, which was like a big party where a bunch of weirdos gathered to stare at tiny, funky-looking boats.

I was also, it turned out, desperately in need of some good boat news in the world:

The event was founded by artist Dave Sheinkopf in 2015. It's run by Pioneer Works, an artist and scientist-led non-profit based in Red Hook. Additional partners include Red Hook Community Justice Center, Red Hook Initiative and Makelab. There were also some great non-profits at the event, like the Brooklyn Book Bodega (where you could snag a free book), Portside, which educates and advocates for the importance of NYC waterfronts, and Brooklyn Boatworks, which teaches kids how to build boats out of plywood.

Ultimately, it was students from Brooklyn Boatworks who took home the top prize, with their super-speedy DIY plywood boat, Pinky. But it wasn't all about winning. Those who eschewed aerodynamics and, perhaps, functionality, in favor of a unique aesthetic, built boats in the shape of delicious foods or large animals and cruised the harbor in style.

After the event was all said and done, I saw there were many photographers lined up at the end of the Louis Valentino, Jr. Pier. As it turns out, there were at least two boat races in NYC this past weekend. The photographers were lined up to capture boats competing in The SailGP, which a British gentleman told me is the "F1 of sailing."

Soon enough, I saw the boats as they zipped into the harbor going at impressive speeds. But they were all so sleek and clean, and none were shaped like avocados, or ducks, or floating around aimlessly just taking in the sun. So I left the pier and headed home, feeling inspired and pleased that I had captured the actual No. 1, coolest NYC boat race.