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The 3rd Annual Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce pedal boat challenge takes place today on Wesley Lake.

For the two previous years, the team organized by the chamber raced against members of the Asbury Park City Council.

This year, the chamber team will take on a new set of foes — members of the Asbury Park Police Department [APPD] led by Police Chief Mark Kinmon — to raise funds for tomorrow night’s National Night Out celebration in Municipal Plaza. The race starts at 6:30 p.m.

The chamber started the pedal boat races three years ago as a way to have some fun and raise money for local charities. Last year, commemorative T-shirts were sold and the funds raised helped send local kids to summer camp at the Asbury unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Monmouth County.

Once again, the as-yet undefeated chamber team will race in the white swan boats.

Jackie Pappas, executive director of the Asbury chamber, says there is a strategy to winning the race — but she isn’t giving up any secrets.

“I can tell you, there is a formula for winning,” she said. “But I’m not saying anything until after the race. I think the police department is a very worthy opponent this year — they might be a little bit closer to the strategy than anyone else.”

Last year, Kinmon raced as a part of the chamber team.

The match will be a relay race with three heats and two riders from each team per boat.

Each leg of the race is “roughly a third of a mile,” Pappas said. She is confident the chamber will pull off another win.

“Absolutely, no doubt in my mind,” she said.

Members of the Asbury chamber team include Pappas, Matthew Whelan of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini, Roger Boyce of Interfaith Neighbors, D.J. Presto of DJ’s Delights, and Chase Kruppo of Chase/Now marketing.

Police Chief Kinmon has not yet released his team’s full roster.

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