'Once you get airborne it's a different feeling'

All four boats in the first heat round a yellow buoy in the final turn during the Milton Three Pond challenge at Milton Summer Kickoff at Town Beach on Saturday. (Rochester Voice photos)

MILTON - Adam Carruthers of New Brunswick spent four months making his own hydroplane and eight hours getting to Milton Three Ponds, but he said the thrill of throttling his homemade boat up to 70 mph made all the time spent well worth it.

"Once you get airborne it's a different feeling," he said shortly after completing his first run.

Carruthers, who lives near Moncton, was one of scores of hydroplane aficionados from all over New England, New York and Canada who make the trek each year to Milton Three Ponds for the South Shore Outboard Association's Three Ponds Challenge as part of Milton's Summer Kickoff weekend.

Adam Carruthers of New Brunswick with his carbon fiber and mahogany hydroplane at Milton Town Beach on Saturday.

On Saturday some 60 racers turned out in a dozen classes from kids age 9 to several in their 70s to race these tiny boats up to 70 mph on a tight circuit on Townhouse Pond.

Carruthers, a contractor by trade, said he'd been racing the tiny boats for two years. On Saturday he was running his carbon fiber and mahogany boat in two different categories. He said most of the boats in the competition are made of wood but the carbon fiber class pushes out a little more speed and able to plane at as much as 70 mph.

On his first race, Carruthers jumped the gun, unfortunately, which gave him a last-place finish in his first heat.

Milton's Summer Kickoff continues today at 9 a.m. with more boat racing, a climbing wall and a food concession.

Milton Rec will have plenty of food options for eventgoers, including hot dogs, pizza, chili, cotton candy and popcorn.

Meanwhile, Milton Police, Fire and Rescue and Public Works will all be on hand giving tours of their vehicles for kids to see up close and personal.

Registration will also be available for Camp 3 Ponds, a summer camp. Camp packets and weekly forms will be available for parents.

The rock wall climbing, which should be a big hit with youth, is set for Sunday at noon as part of a program "Libraries Rock" hosted by MFPL.