Summer Kickoff a boatload of fun in Milton

Hydroplanes prepare for a hard turn to the left as they zip almost four abreast at Milton Three Ponds Summer Kickoff on Saturday. (Lebanon Voice/Harrison Thorp photos)

MILTON - More than 200 folks strolled about Milton Town Beach on Saturday as the town celebrated its Summer Kickoff under spectacularly beautiful blue skies and mild temps.

"This is a perfect day," said Milton Rec Director Karen Brown as she signed up residents for Milton Three Ponds Summer Camp.

Down at the beach dozens of festivalgoers gawked as hydroplanes and runabouts from the South Shore Outboard Association competed in their 4^th Annual Three Ponds Challenge.

Around 3 p.m. one of the boats flipped while turning at high speed and Milton Fire and Rescue prepared to rush to help but got a thumbs-up from the driver that he was OK. The boat was towed back to shore by race officials.

Race organizers explained there are only two types of boats in the organization - runabouts and hydroplanes, but 10 different classes, based on variables like driver age, boat weight, horsepower and size of boat.

Spectators watch from the shore during one of the races on Saturday at Milton Town Beach.

Some of the hydroplanes can go nearly 80 mph, but many stay in the 60 mph range on the Three Ponds Course, which is a ¾-mile course set up about a 100 yards out from the beach.

Each race comprises three laps around the course, but one of the biggest keys to winning is the start.

Once a green flag signals drivers to get into their starting position, they motor their boats out to the north end of the course, waiting for a giant clock on the back side of the official race boat to start ticking off the seconds. The clock counts down from 60 seconds to zero, which is when the race begins. Drivers try to time it so their boat is going across the start line as fast as it can when the clock finishes its 60-second countdown.

Activities today start at 8 a.m. with more boat racing beginning at noon.