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'Uneventful' day at Pottahawk party, say police

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Police and other officials were bouyed late Sunday afternoon to report an “uneventful day” at the annual Pottahawk boat party.

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Norfolk OPP reported about 700 boats had been anchored at the so-called “Pottahawk Pissup,” a long-standing tradition that happens every second Sunday in July off Turkey Point in Lake Erie. By 4:30 p.m., some 450 vessels were still out on the water.

“The numbers are down significantly,” Const. Ed Sanchuk, media relations officer for the Norfolk OPP, said in a video shared on Twitter showing boats widely spaced apart and no one in the water.

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A large contingent of police were set up at a command post all day Sunday at the Port Rowan Marina, patrolling both the water and the roads.

Every year there are impaired boat operators,” said Sanchuk earlier in the afternoon. “We’re asking people to make safety a priority.”

A plane touches down Sunday on Lake Erie at the annual Pottahawk party where police say about 700 boats gathered. NORFOLK OPP PHOTO
A plane touches down Sunday on Lake Erie at the annual Pottahawk party where police say about 700 boats gathered. NORFOLK OPP PHOTO Photo by Norfolk OPP /PHOTO

In past years, up to 10,000 partiers and 1,000 boats from across Ontario and the United States, would spend the day drinking, leading to assaults, sinking boats, injuries and people left stranded.

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This year was extra worrisome given the potential for the crowd to forget about physical distancing and turn the festivities into a COVID-19 hotspot.

Police, Norfolk County officials and even Ontario Premier Doug Ford called for boaters to take safety measures and use their common sense. When asked this week about the event, which has been previously billed on social media as “North America’s biggest boat party,” Ford said “Be careful and socially distance. That’s the golden rule.”

Jim Millson, bylaw supervisor for Norfolk County and former manager of the Pottahawk event for the OPP, said at mid-afternoon he’d witnessed only responsible behaviour by boaters.

There would typically be 200 to 300 boats anchored at Pottahawk, a point on Ryerson’s Island, overnight Saturday. This year, there were only about 40.”

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Millson attributed the reduced crowd to the pandemic, high water levels in the lake that are waist deep, high fuel prices, and just common sense.

Police said this year’s Pottahawk boaters’ party was uneventful with fewer boats and people gathering at Pottahawk Point in Lake Erie. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Police said this year’s Pottahawk boaters’ party was uneventful with fewer boats and people gathering at Pottahawk Point in Lake Erie. SUBMITTED PHOTO jpg, SR

Police are holding people to account for over-drinking,” he said. “People just don’t want to take the chance anymore.

There are lots of places to enjoy responsible boating in Norfolk County.”

Millson said the Pottahawk event has been gearing down for the past several years. A decade ago, he said, police would typically lay about 120 mostly liquor-related charges. He said there were also incidents of assault, sexual assault, drug use, propeller cuts, sunken boats, and people left stranded on the island or in distress as they attempted to swim back to Turkey Point or Port Rowan.

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It can be dangerous,” said Millson of the island party. “There are no roads, no phone service and now no beach.”

Millson said he spoke to boaters at ramps in Port Dover and Turkey Point who said they were aware of the messages of caution being sent out by the county and police.

Sgt. Byron Newell of the OPP East Region SAVE (Snowmobile, ATV and Vessel Enforcement) unit, said that by early afternoon they hadn’t encountered any boats coming from the United States with borders between the two countries closed. He said any American boats would be sent back and Canada and border control would be notified.

Brad Thomson, general manager at Turkey Point Marina, said he’d launched about 90 boats by about 2 p.m.

We tried our best to make them aware they should stay in their boats,” said Thomson. “I think for sure they got the message about the increased police enforcement and covid practices.

We’ve really had no problems so far this season. I think people are so appreciative just to have the opportunity to get out.”

There was plenty of police presence on Sunday at the annual Pottahawk boat party in Lake Erie. Police say there were fewer attendees than in other years and no serious issues. SUBMITTED PHOTO
There was plenty of police presence on Sunday at the annual Pottahawk boat party in Lake Erie. Police say there were fewer attendees than in other years and no serious issues. SUBMITTED PHOTO jpg, SR
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