Annual tug of war ends with a familiar result

The sky was gray, the air was damp and cold, but they didn’t care. Because when the rain stopped, the beer came out and the self-proclaimed Maritime Republic of Eastport walloped Annapolis in yet another tug of war — the 10th in the history of the MRE.

But unlike the MRE’s sweeping victory last year, this year’s score was close to tied — Eastport won three heats and Annapolis won two.

“They are on the juice,� said Leslie Pierson of Eastport, after her team lost to Annapolis in the third heat. “And I haven’t had a drink yet. That’s the problem, I need fuel.�

The “Slaughter Across the Water,� as...