A very successful Bash by the Bay!

Mastic Beach Conservancy held its first paddle race, Race the Narrows, on Saturday, July 15, followed by Bash by the Bay, a free community event with live music. The two-mile recreational race took 54 paddlers from Marina 5, through the bay, ending at Bayview Park. The racers paddled crafts including kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, a prone paddleboard and a paddle ski. Nine of the racers were high school students sponsored by the organization and paddled crafts donated by Experience Saltwater Long Island.

After the race, people flocked to the Bash by the Bay, dancing to music by Brooklyn band, lovetempo, and enjoying food from local restaurants. Kids made crafts sponsored by the Mastic Beach Community Library, had their faces painted by local artists, and participated in a limbo contest, where everyone got a lollipop and learned from local environmental groups. All proceeds raised during the event will go toward Mastic Beach Conservancy’s mission of preserving the more than six miles of publicly accessible waterfront parkland around the Mastic Beach peninsula and creating a blue/green trail network that highlights the natural beauty and biodiversity of the area.

The events were attended by Jim Mazzarella, Suffolk County legislator; councilman Dan Panico; and Sen. Dean Murray. Racers were awarded with both fastest times and best sea creature costumes. The Robotti Foundation donated a paddleboard, which was raffled off, raising $950 for the organization.

“Our first paddle race was such a success. All the racers completed the course and everyone was safe. We are thrilled to get Long Islanders out on our waterways to experience the beautiful and unique Mastic Beach bayfront,” said Maura Spery, president of Mastic Beach Conservancy.

Mastic Beach Conservancy would like to thank all our event sponsors, including Blue Point Brewing, Calvin’s Smokes and House of Glass, Experience Salt Water Long Island, The Good Bickle, Linsa Torres, M & D Good Life- Coldwell Banker, Maui Chophouse, Mastic Beach Mini Indie Film Festival, Montauk Bus Company, The Nature Conservancy, New Info Studio, Open Water, The Pudding Lady, Robotti Foundation, SNL Film Unit 48, Wine Spectator Magazine. Also a big thank you to the Mastic Beach Ambulance Company Youth Squad, who helped racers porter their vessels.

For information about future events, please visit their website www.masticbeachconservancy.org or follow them on Instagram or Facebook @masticbeachconservancy.

About Mastic Beach Conservancy:
Our mission is to conserve the 6.5 miles of publicly accessible, recreational waterfront parkland and to improve and protect the waterfront’s environmental health; to serve as an incubator for
ecology-centered arts, architecture, and design-related initiatives; and to work with the community on areas of conservation.