Every September, Sag Harbor turns its attention to the water. This year, on September 19 and 20, the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s HarborFest once again filled Long Wharf and the surrounding waterfront with music, food, and a healthy dose of friendly competition, and Brown Harris Stevens of the Hamptons was proud to be part of it.
HarborFest honors the village’s whaling and maritime heritage while giving neighbors and visitors a reason to gather along the harbor. The festivities stretched from Long Wharf and Windmill Beach to Marine Park, Steinbeck Park, and Main Street, with live music, classic boats, kids’ activities, an arts and crafts fair, and local food and drink.
Longtime traditions like the Whaleboat Races and the Clam Chowder Contest, which benefits the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce and Sag Harbor Cinema, returned alongside some new touches, including live music at the Steinbeck Park amphitheater.
East Hampton Agent and member of one of the men’s teams, James Blueweiss shared: “HarborFest is one of those wonderful Sag Harbor traditions that really brings the community together. Even with the rain this year, the energy, camaraderie and friendly competition were incredible. Brown Harris Stevens had three teams competing in the Whaleboat Races, and it was great to see our colleagues, friends and neighbors cheering one another on”.
The centerpiece of the weekend is the Whaleboat Races off Windmill Beach, and this year we fielded three teams comprised of two rowers, a coxswain and a harpooner (no actual harpoons were used in this event). Elimination rounds ran through the weekend, closing out Sunday afternoon, so the shoreline was packed with spectators. Participating Brown Harris Stevens agents included, James Blueweiss, Michael Dougherty, Steven Girardi, Raul Guazhambo, Robert Lohman, Tristan Sands Remkus, and Debbie Kropf rounding out two teams, with an additional women’s team including Jane Babcook, Christina Matos, Karoline Menacher, and Clare J. Tenkarian.
“Our men’s team had an especially exciting finish, coming from behind and crossing the finish line in what looked like a dead heat for second place. It was a terrific weekend and a great reminder of what makes Sag Harbor and the Hamptons such a special community,” Blueweiss continued.
Sag Harbor Agent, Jane Holden, an organizer of the teams and community shared “The wind may have been blowing on Saturday, and the rain came down on Sunday, but BHS came through! We may not have won the Trophy; we won something far more important- laughter, friendship, and memories that will last forever.”
The Hamptons are more than a place where we sell homes. They’re where we live, work, and spend our weekends. Events like HarborFest are how a village stays a village, and we love being on the wharf, in the boats, and part of the crowd alongside our neighbors.
Thank you to the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce for another well-run weekend, to everyone who came out to cheer, and to our team members. We’ll see you at the water next year.
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