Abilene Wide Open: Global Samaritan sets sail with first Recycled Regatta

Ronald W. Erdrich, Abilene Reporter-News
·1 min read
The team from My Emergency Room carries their entry, the Blood Vessel, into the waters of Lake Fort Phantom Hill Saturday. Global Samaritan Resources held its first Recycled Regatta, where sponsored competitors raced in craft made from recycled items.
The team from My Emergency Room carries their entry, the Blood Vessel, into the waters of Lake Fort Phantom Hill Saturday. Global Samaritan Resources held its first Recycled Regatta, where sponsored competitors raced in craft made from recycled items.

Nobody could match The Blood Vessel in Saturday's Recycled Regatta.

Made from dozens of plastic jugs, the two-woman crew easily paddled their stable craft to the marker and back to win the competition Saturday.

Organized by Global Samaritan Resources, the four sponsored entries had to be made from recycled items. Two survived the race, the other two fared not so well.

Abilene City Councilman Kyle McAlister and Qeylee Sewell fall into the water as their vessel, the Aquaholic, swamps and tips over. The crew was racing for Lamar Advertising.
Abilene City Councilman Kyle McAlister and Qeylee Sewell fall into the water as their vessel, the Aquaholic, swamps and tips over. The crew was racing for Lamar Advertising.

Erica Pangburn, the executive director for GSR, hopes to bring the race back next year with even more entrants. Saturday's event was at Johnson Park at Lake Fort Phantom Hill.

JJ del Toro paddles hard for All American Doors in his craft, the Brick Pile.
JJ del Toro paddles hard for All American Doors in his craft, the Brick Pile.

"I just want to invite the community to engage with us, we have a Global 101 we host the third Thursday of every month," Pangburn said. "If you're wondering what's happening in that giant warehouse on North First Street, come let us fill you with donuts and coffee and show you what we're doing."

Justin Anderson joins his teammate Daniel Kaufmann as they fall from the back of their recycled boat, the Bullship. The men were racing for the Toro Company.
Justin Anderson joins his teammate Daniel Kaufmann as they fall from the back of their recycled boat, the Bullship. The men were racing for the Toro Company.

Ronald Erdrich is the photojournalist and a columnist for the Abilene Reporter-News. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com. 

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Abilene Wide Open: Global Samaritan sets sail with first Recycled Regatta