A colourful band of revellers armed with satire and swizzle took to the waters at Mangrove Bay, bidding farewell to Cup Match with the traditional Non-Mariners Race.

Among those hammering and spray-painting makeshift entries on the beach yesterday morning was a contrite Matt Parker, the Australian visitor who landed in hot water after streaking across the pitch at Somerset Cricket Club on the second day of Cup Match.

“Yeah, I got arrested for it,” Mr Parker told The Royal Gazette, saying his semi-naked sprint had been the result of losing a bet.

Building the Offshore Same-sex Marriage Temple with friends, the visitor from Melbourne, Australia, was also documenting the 44th annual non-race as part of a crew filming “exotic festivals of the world”.

Starting with the hoisting of the non-colours just before noon, the Non-Mariners Race did not disappoint.

While Mr Parker’s team were taking a genuine stand in support of same-sex marriage, the social commentary came with the offbeat humour customary of the event.

“While we can’t do it here in Bermuda [or in Australia], we may be able to do it in international waters,” he said. “Hopefully, we will non-win this non-race.”

Others had the same idea: a team near by was assembling a “three-tier wedding cake with rainbow icing”, according to Johnny, a preparing non-mariner.

“Let everyone eat cake,” he said, as a spoof reverend got ready to perform the non-marriage — while a third team chose the title of Mangrove Gay Chapel.

Another visitor, Marco, declared himself “a Brexit refugee looking for asylum in Bermuda” and willing to work for rum.

The Bermuda Discount Airport team, meanwhile, said that they hoped their craft would “stay above sea-level better than the actual airport”.

The Fat Tyre Massive built their non-boat in a nod to Bermudian driver’s licences getting banned in Massachusetts.

Trophies for the race ranged from a mutant ninja turtle to a ceremonial egg whisk, according to Lisa Siese, one of the organisers at Sandys Boat Club.

Ms Siese, who has helped put on the non-race for many years, was taking part for the first time, as the Brexit-themed dancing group All Dressed Up With No Place To Go.

“We’ll all be dancing with the non-calypso pipe band,” she added.

Several new features were introduced this year: paper aircraft featuring defunct airlines were launched from the club’s windows, bearing tickets for prizes.

Ms Siese said there will be a competition brought in to design the colours to be hoisted at the next non-race.

The festivities were joined by a flotilla of guests at sea, as boats descended on the West End and moored up for the light-hearted end to the holiday.

While Cathy Bromby, of Sandys Boat Club, said the Society of Non-Mariners welcomed guests, she said she wished more people would contribute to what was ultimately a charitable event.

“There are people who make a lot of money out of bringing people to Non-Mariners and don’t donate,” she said.

Eight official entries, which included the Duchess of Mangrove Bay, each nominated a charity for its non-cause.

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