The 53rd Windjammer Days Festival taking place June 21-27 has new events this year: a paddle board race, lighted boat parade and the first ever tug of war across the harbor. That's right — a tug of war across the harbor.

The tug, comprising five pulls and 10 teams of 10-12 individuals, will happen on the last day of the festival, June 27, at 5 p.m.

Participants will gather on the north side at the parking lot near the footbridge and on the east side in the parking lot of Steve and Margaret Branch on Atlantic Avenue. The total distance is 700 feet. The water depth will be five to six feet (low tide is at 2 p.m.).

The Friends of Windjammer Days have waived the registration fee, so you could say that money is no object! Let the team assembling begin.

Teams that traditionally pull during the region's annual Fishermen's Festival tug, might want to try their hand — and strength — over the water.

Other matches could be between shipyards, fire departments, local businesses, nonprofits, lobster wharves — or towns? Boothbay against Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Harbor against Wiscasset or Southport versus Edgecomb?

Another idea from a Friends of Windjammer Days member is for those attending family reunions take the celebration to the water - as participants!

After all, tugs of war were once thought of as, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, “the decisive contest.”

Participants should have footwear with good traction for the event.

Friends of Windjammer Days board member Mark Gimbel also recommends pullers wear gloves to protect their hands from the rope.

That recommendation was supported by Tom Yale of Yale Cordage. Yale and his wife Debrah have donated the 1,200 feet of rope for the tug, which arrived on June 2.

Yale developed the rope 17 or 18 years ago for the first tug of war across the water in Annapolis, Maryland, where the towns of Eastport and Annapolis pull for charity and bragging rights.

“The rope had to float and stretch across Spa Creek (inner Annapolis Harbor),” Yale said. “I was lucky to get the support of Honeywell Fibers. The rope is high strength (can withstand 100,000 pounds).”

Gimbel's idea for a tug of war event during Windjammer Days was inspired by the Annapolis event, known as “slaughter across the harbor.”

The Yales are sponsors of the a tug of war event along with Federal Distributors, Tindal & Callahan Real Estate, and the Branches' Boothbay Harbor Electric.

This will be the first tug of war for Windjammer Days.

Back in 2000, when the Real World Road Rules Challenge played out at the Co-Op, based on Fishermen's Festival games, a tug of war was not one of the events. This makes this tug the first for the Harbor as well.

Oh, and if the fear of getting wet is what's keeping you from assembling or joining a team, forget about it. Yale says no one has gone into the drink in Annapolis. Ever.

So, stay dry, stay focused and pull your way into Windjammer (and Boothbay Harbor's), history.

Download registration forms and waivers at www.windjammerdays.org. Packets for pullers will be provided at registration including parking areas, details about the pull, etc.

For more information on the festival, visit www.windjammerdays.org and www.boothbayregister.com.