Ready, set, shuck! Clam-lovers enjoy Port Jeff festival

When Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce’s director of operations Barbara Ransome shouted “Go,” four contestants dug into clams and pried open shells as if they were digging for pearls during the clam shucking competition at the Port Jefferson Boater’s Maritime Festival.

When the two-minute contest ended, clam-lover and mother Maria Forlano, 58, was named the winner of the clam-shucking competition on Saturday afternoon in Chandler Square.

Forlano, a 22-year resident of Port Jefferson,  took a strong lead as her children shouted, “That’s my mothershucker!” She defeated a muscular, tattoo-covered contestant by one clam and won a gift certificate to Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace.

“I’m very competitive,” said Forlano, who managed to open 10 clams in two minutes. “If I do something I try my hardest to follow it through.”

The Forlano family was among the hundreds participating in activities this weekend during the Boater’s Maritime Festival, including a visit from some pirates.

“The pirates have descended on Port Jefferson,” said Suzanne Velazquez, president of the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce.

A nonprofit organization, Ye Pyrate Brotherhood, hosted two pirate shows and a treasure hunt the day  in Harborfront Park.

Oakdale resident Ellen Weidner, 41, brought her children, Shayna, 3,  and  Randy, 2, to enjoy the festival -- and the pirates.

“It was very cute. Shayna was a little afraid when they blasted off their guns, but they enjoyed finding the treasure chest on the beach,” said Weidner, who visits Port Jefferson often for the parks, local seafood restaurants and ice cream shops.

Port Jefferson Brewery, Jolie Powell Realty, the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and P.J. Lobster House sponsored the festival which continues from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.

“The purpose is to have a great weekend and to hopefully support our local businesses, to shop in our stores and to eat in our restaurants,” said Velazquez.

Antonio Corcella, 27, entered the clam-eating contest with 11 other contestants. He won after eating 28 raw clams from the P.J. Lobster House.

“It’s refreshing to see this North Shore town trying to revitalize itself,” said Corcella.