TheSailingChannel.TV covers the 2006 Annapolis-Maritime Republic of Eastport Tug-of-War: MRE Men, sponsored by River Crest Design Build versus Annapolis Men.. Once a year, local and national attention focuses on the Annapolis Harbor or, as some like to call it, the Gulf of Eastport for a competition unlike any in the world: the Slaughter Across the Water. It is the longest tug-of-war over a body of water in the world. The Tug is staged between the Maritime Republic of Eastport, the MRE, and Downtown Annapolis, featuring a 1700 rope, over 350 tuggers, and more than a thousand spectators. The Tug transforms Downtown Annapolis and Eastport with a festival-like atmosphere that includes food vendors, cheering crowds, and all sorts of local color. The Tug draws on the rivalry between Eastport and the City of Annapolis, with civic pride on both sides allowing this zany event to improve more than community morale. The MRE has raised more than $180,000 for charities over the past eight years. Read more about the 2006 Tug… What is MRE? Like any great movement, the concept for the Maritime Republic of Eastport began in a local pub over a couple mugs of beer. The prime mission was to find a creative way to promote and encourage the patronage of Eastport businesses that were destined to be hurt by the Maryland State Highway Administration’s shutting down for repair of the drawbridge connecting mainland Annapolis with the Eastport peninsula. The citizens of Eastport took advantage of their isolation to sever their social, political and economic ties as well. Read more about the MRE on their website…. Be sure to subscribe via iTunes to this free video podcast series and our other podcasts for cruising sailors from TheSailingChannel.tv. And watch more sailing coverage from our partner, SailTV on TheSailingChannel. Visit TheSailingChannel.TV Ship’s Store

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