The Silverdale Rotary Duck Race took place July 31 on Dyes Inlet.

The 23rd annual race marked the end of the annual Whaling Days festivities in Silverdale. This year’s race was one of the fastest in history. Thanks to a favorable onshore wind, the first Duck crossed the finish line in only eight minutes.

The Duck Race is the Rotary Club of Silverdale’s major fundraiser. The net proceeds from the Race are distributed to many local community and international organizations through Silverdale Rotary’s “Duck Bucks” grant process. This year, there were 18,000 Ducks in the Race. Preliminary figures show that net proceeds total approximately $70,000.

Silverdale Rotary thanks all the sponsors and volunteers who made this Race such a success. Special thanks go to everyone everywhere who supported this enormous effort with their purchase of Duck adoptions, making the theme of the Race, “Adopting Ducks Changes Lives,” a reality.

There are 76 Duck Race prizes this year, with a total value of more than $50,000. This year’s grand prize winner is Janet Gupton of Seabeck. She is now the proud owner of a Nissan Frontier pick up truck (or $16,000 cash) generously donated by Advantage Nissan.

Winners of other major prizes are:

— Shirley Hoover, of Snohomish, won a Holland America cruise for two.

— Nancy O’Guin, of Port Orchard, won a Ben Bridge Jeweler diamond pendant.

— Alicia Pisegna (Arper), of Edmonds, won a Kitsap Credit Union $1,000 cash.

— Gale Brown, of Silverdale, won an Amish Touch $1,000 shopping spree.

— Norm Sanders, of Port Gamble, won a Quality Heating $1750 gift certificate.

— Jodi Olsen, of Tacoma, won an Olympic Animal Hospital $800 gift certificate.

— Virginia Kasper, of Seabeck, won a CK Chiropractic $650 gift certificate.

— John Buesch, of Bremerton, won a CK Chiropractic $650 gift certificate.

A complete list of winners is available on the club web site, www.silverdalerotaryclub.org.

— Edited by Michelle Beahm