Captain Derrick Hoy of Quantico, Md., and his crew of the “Crusher” and Captain Treavor Green of Hayes, and his crew of the “Lady Luck” were the top winners in Saturday’s Mathews Volunteer Fire Department’s East Riverfest Boat Docking and Fireworks Celebration at Williams Wharf.

While this second annual event wasn’t held until the day after July 4, the day still ended with a bang, as the MVFD treated crowds that packed Williams Wharf Landing and residents and boaters up and down the East River to a free Independence Day fireworks show.

“I do not have numbers yet, but we sold more product than last year and the event went flawless,” said event coordinator Neal Hudgins, who added that there were guesstimated to be 422 boats in the river at one point.

“I have not received one complaint from anyone, not one,” Hudgins said of the boat docking/fireworks event. “They also stated they were shocked at how smooth the shuttles and the entire event went … Thank God for volunteers and their hard work.”

Boat docking winners

The boat docking contest is a timed race, with each boat seeking to have the fastest time from a dead stop to tying off in a slip. Boats have to take off, approach four pilings that represent a slip, back into the slip, and tie up.

“Crusher” took first place in the fast boat division, holding onto its title from last year, while Jamie Marshall, in “Heather Nicole II” placed second and Danny Haddaway, in “Hard to Handle” came in third.

The “Lady Luck” claimed the top spot in the slower boat division, followed by Karen Townsend aboard the “Miss Karen” in second place and Bobby Matthews aboard “Heaven Sent” took third place.

The boat docking contest was just one part of the day’s festivities, as patrons enjoyed entertainment and food, including spiked orange crushes and ice cream. All proceeds from Saturday’s event went to help the Mathews Volunteer Fire Department.