NATCHEZ — The front-runner in Phatwater’s mixed tandem unlimited category was Keith Benoist, along with his partner, Melissa Morrison.

But Benoist was also behind the scenes Saturday as event coordinator, making sure everything was running smoothly.

He’s been preparing all year.

“For me, the fatigue factor was sometime around 11 p.m. last night. We get everybody together at the Country Inn (on Saturday morning), and the city provides us with school buses. Everybody gets on the buses at 5 a.m., and they go down to the put in. So our day really started at 3:30 a.m., because I’ve got to prep. Tonight’s my whiskey night.”

Benoist has earned his celebration after bringing 107 boats to the seventh annual kayak and boat race down the Mississippi River.

So has his crew, who arrived at Natchez Under-the-Hill at 6:30 a.m. The Under-the-Hill Saloon opened at 9 a.m., and the band began to play at just after noon.

But most of the people participating in the race were not locals.

“Ten percent at best (are from Natchez),” Benoist said. “Most of these people are not only out of town, they’re out of state. It’s a big injection for Natchez, and it’s getting bigger. I’d like to see more Natchez people down here, participating in the after party, but we’re getting there.”

Still, the turnout was impressive to watch people paddle their way down the great river.

The coast guard stopped barge traffic for the duration of the race, and everyone was out of the water by the deadline.

Four people broke the four-hour mark.

“Everybody was cooperative — it was epic,” Benoist said. “Everything went well today.”

Benoist and his partner were just two of the many winners in many different categories that Benoist said he is trying to scale down.

But it’s hard, he said, because there are too many different categories of boats and people — male, female and mixed, one-person, tandem, canoe and other.

The length of the craft is also considered.

Benoist said he and Morrison try to kayak the length of the Phatwater at least once a month during warm months, so they are fully versed in river.

Ben Cochran, a Natchez native who finished in just under six hours, said there is a power line marking one hour left until Natchez, and when you reach it, you can see everyone partying on the hill.

“The power line is kind of like the steak in the window and the dog walks past the window. He can see it, but he can’t get to it,” Benoist said. “You see the power line long before you get there, and it feels like you’re never going to make it. It can work on you psychologically.”