Maya McFadden Photo
The Elm City summer was kicked off on Saturday with street food and boat racing, thanks to two now-annual events on Long Wharf.
Thousands spent their sunny day on the waterfront for the fourth annual Dragon Boat Regatta and the fifth annual Food Truck Festival.
This year’s Regatta champions were the Wheel Good Paddlers, who beat out their rivals and three-year reigning champions, the Nightmare on Elm Street.
The Wheel Good Paddlers, who captured first place for the first time in four years.
“We finally broke the curse,” said Anne Martin, 57, the Wheel Good Paddlers co-captain.
The event was held at New Haven’s Canal Dock Boathouse at 475 Long Wharf Dr. Many team members were accompanied by their friends and family for support along the shoreline docks as a total of 10 teams competed.
As the boating event came to its final race, the winds picked up by the shore and the aromas of the nearby food trucks filled the streets as they set up and prepared for a busy day.
“I came for just a quick bite, but the area is so beautiful and my kids are having fun so we’ve been here for an hour now,” said Amy Vollano.
The Wheel Good Paddlers head for a final time of 54.7 seconds.
Many families brought out their four-legged friends to enjoy the warm weather, music, shoreline breeze, and good eats.
The Wheel Good Paddlers won with the support of their four-legged Rhodesian Ridgeback friend, Maya.
Calvin Fang, 24, co-captain of the Wheel Good Paddlers, joined the team last year to accompany Martin in leading the team.
“It was most difficult to maintain our excitement during every race,” Fang said.
The Lockness Mosters #1, during their second race of the day.
This year the Tuff Girls, the only all-female team, returned to the competition to show what hard work and motivation looks like from a diverse group of women.
“We’re perceived to be the underdogs,” said Roo Ciambriello, 36. “But we’re always up for a challenge.”
Many of the teams were made up of regatta veterans, but there was at least one new addition to each team this year. Members’ experience levels varied, as well as their New Haven interest. Ciambriello is the creative director at Bark, a mobile app organization geared towards helping parents keep their children safe online. A mix of entrepreneurs, business officials, and students joined together for friendly competition.
The Harbor Muscles placed third, while the Nightmare on Elm Street placed second for the first time in three years.
Bob Bettigole, 64, captain of Nightmare on Elm Street, is on the board of the boathouse and works at Elm Street Ventures. “We’re happy for them,” he said of the Paddlers, “but we’ll be back next year.”
Food trucks from all around the state included a diverse array of foods and cultures for the thousands who passed through during the day.
Local vendors like Yale-New Haven Health and IKEA were also welcomed to the festival, offering those who passed opportunities to win free prizes and free health screenings.
The day remained upbeat until its end at 7 p.m with a concert that featured both local and nationally recognized musicians.