Four years ago, Marianne Banks got hooked on kayaking.

“I just by chance sat in someone’s kayak,” she said. “I sat in it and said ‘This is for me.’”

Last weekend, the Anacortes resident got to practice her skills at the revived San Juan Orca Challenge race.

Her goal was to finish in under six hours.

“I’m really not a racer ... I’m just kind of treating it like a paddle,” Banks said.

Gerardo Andaloz said he just hoped to finish. The Blaine resident races occasionally and came down for the day to get together with other racers.

“It’s a big camaraderie with all the people. You see them at other places and races,” he said.

Kayaks lined Seafarers’ Memorial Park Saturday for the San Juan Orca Challenge as part of the weekend’s Anacortes Waterfront Festival. Forty-one contestants finished in two races — the 25-mile endurance race around Guemes and Cypress islands and the 4-mile fun race in Fidalgo Bay.

Both racers beat their goals. Andaloz finished in 21st place at 4:53:57 and Banks came in 28th, finishing at 5:46:14.

The day was perfect for a kayak race, said Nadja Baker, who organized the event with Jim Zimmerman.

“We couldn’t have asked for more perfect weather conditions,” she said.

The goal was to raise funds for the Orca Network. It raised more than $1,000 for the nonprofit organization that raises awareness of Pacific Northwest whales and the importance of providing healthy and safe habitats for them.

The first-place finisher in the long race came in just more than three hours after the start.

“We continued to all be just blown away by how fast the long-course racers were coming in — the top 10 all crossed the finish line under four hours,” Baker said.

For complete race results visit http://www.expeditionpaddlers.blogspot.com.

Overall, the Waterfront Festival got great revues.

“What I’ve heard overwhelmingly is that this was the best Waterfront Festival ever. That it really brought the water back to the festival,” said Stephanie Hamilton, Anacortes Chamber of Commerce program and events director. The event is sponsored by the chamber.

“I think that we’ve turned the corner,” Hamilton said. “I welcome other water-related groups to join in with us and figure out how they can dip their toe into the Cap Sante basin.”

She said the reorganized grounds helped.

“The redesign really went well for the festival feel,” Hamilton said. “I felt it was bigger than last year.”

The combination of great music, waterfront activities and the Quick and Dirty Boat Building competition kept people coming by all weekend.

“Increasing teams for the Quick and Dirty added more excitement in that area,” she said.

Seven teams had six hours to build a seaworthy boat during the competition.

Some succeed better than others.

The Hard Core Builders, made up of three America’s Cup professional boat builders, took second place in their long, thin boat.

Their strategy? Practice.

“We make it last night,” said Manuel Armenanzas.

The team took home the trophy, despite finishing behind the Strandberg Construction team in the race.

The first all-women team built a boxy boat that made it about 100 yards before sinking.

“It looks nice it’s just not very seaworthy,” said Courtney Orrock, who hit the water with teammate Janette Golomeic. “We gave the crowd a good show.”

The ladies took home the People’s Choice award and were recognized as giving the judges the best bribes.

“We started the day with mimosas and sweet rolls,” said organizer Pat Barrett.

Judges also lunched on deli sandwiches and ended the day with cold beers.

“They did a fine job. They had a sub team in charges of bribes,” Barrett said.

The event raised $2,500 for the Small Boat Center.