Coast Day celebration attracts thousands

4:19 p.m., Oct. 7, 2005--Perfect fall weather, an exciting and varied array of exhibitions, lectures and lively activities celebrating the coast and ocean made Coast Day 2005, held Sunday, Oct. 2, a winner with thousands of visitors taking part. Delaware Gov. Ruth Ann Minner and U.S Sen. Thomas Carper (Del.) were among those present.

This year’s theme was “Float Your Boat,” with tours of Delaware’s tall ship, Kalmar Nyckel; research vessels Shuman and First State; and DELRIVER, an oil skimmer.

In a special ceremony, the National Weather Service, part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), announced that Delaware was the first state in the nation to meet the criteria for the StormReady Program, which helps communities to be prepared for natural disasters.

U-Haul International, which has designed graphics for each of the 50 states on its trucks, was on hand to unveil its design for Delaware.

The town of Lewes chose Coast Day to formally kick off the celebration of its 375th anniversary, coming up next year.

A popular attraction was a special exhibit on shipwrecks, including artifacts that came from a 1760s shipwreck near Lewes.

Children enjoyed special activities geared to them, including the critter tank, fish painting and the Coast Day treasure hunt. The Great Crab Race was another winner with both young and old.

The Crabcake Cook-Off, another Coast Day tradition, was won by Anne Haley of Bethany Beach for her South-of-the-Border Crab Cakes with lime-yogurt chutney. The First State Chef Association won the Seafood Chowder Challenge.

Article by Sue Moncure
Photos by Dave Barczak

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