The Non-Mariners race was far from a non-event despite the non-dry weather yesterday.

Hordes of boaters and onlookers gathered at Mangrove Bay for the annual wacky spectacle at Sandys Boat Club.

As usual, most of the home-built crafts participating in the race had a political theme, poking fun at events of the past year.

The centre of attention and ultimate non-winner of the race was the Non-Mariners Wet Rocket, built by the (non) Mariners Rugby Club.

Their aim: to blast Ewart Brown, the soon-to-be non-Premier of Bermuda, into outer space with a few bottles of rum to send him on his way.

A team spokesman, who was clad from head to foot in a fire retardant suit and declined to give his name, explained: "We've provided some transportation. He's going to need some horsepower. It's a non-voyage."

What the team described as an "action figure" of Dr. Brown was strapped to the back, but dressed in a suit from The Barn rather than his usual tailor-made clothes.

A sign on the front bid him "non-voyage Doc Brown".

"There's a bottle of Black Seal on board as a non-bribe to the judges. She's going to float, it's just how long," said the spokesman.

The craft soon gathered a large crowd of swimmers around it, but it was unclear whether they were keen to see the blast-off or because the crew was pouring neat rum down their throats.

As it turned out, the rocket defied the race motto "the sea does not want them, the sea shall not have them" and came to a soggy end halfway down the course.

The rugby-playing astronauts were accompanied in their mission by four other rafts. The SOB (spouse of Bermudian) Refugees poked fun at how much it now costs to marry a non-Bermudian, since a $1,375 license is needed if the foreigner wants to help buy property.

"We've brought some excellent bribes for the judges some of our foreign spouses although they are expensive," joked Alex Jones from the team.

The brides looked serene and lovely as they took to the water, complete with veils and bouquets, in the hope of finding Bermudian husbands. Until the raft sank, and they swam off in search of some rugby players to marry instead.

The Casino Royale raft featured a giant roulette wheel painted with the names of nine potential candidates for the future leadership of the Country. The plan was for the wheel to spin as it headed out to sea, but the arrow appeared to get stuck on Paula Cox before the wheel fell overboard.

The Bermuda Spirits craft poked fun at the wet Cup Match weather with their slogan "watered down but still strong".

The Gosling's non-craft, called Limelights, was built of giant Corona cans. It fared well on the choppy seas and the crew made lots of friends by handing out free samples.

The beginning of the race was signalled by the traditional non-Penguins fly past, which many missed since they unexpectedly came in over Somerset Police Station rather than as anticipated from the west. Next, the non-Calypso pipe band warmed up the crowd with some traditional tunes and colourful costumes before the main event got underway.

The rain only added to the party atmosphere, with many listening to the sage advice of non-commentator Bruce Barritt: "Next time jump overboard so you don't get wet."

Hailing the event as a huge non-success, Commodore of Sandys Boat Club Brad Woodings said: "The day has gone fantastically. There was a little bit of wet sunshine but apart from that it was fine. The bay is full and everybody is having fun."