Connecticut River Raft Race

The 28th annual Connecticut River Raft Race and Charity Benefit on Saturday, August 3 starts at 10 a.m. from the blue railroad bridge in Middletown (approx. 100 yards south of Arigoni Bridge on Route 66). The race ends 4.1 nautical miles downriver at the shallows of Dart Island State Park. Pre-race, the hub of activities will be Riverside Marina, 37 Riverview St. in Portland, from which the majority of participants will launch their vessels. A party follows the race at river-access-only Dart Island, where there will be awards, entertainment (a live band), volleyball, picnicking, and great fun and merriment.

The race is a costume-optional, creative family event and involves participants from 10 years old to 60-plus. All rafts in the race are self-propelled, handmade vessels. Most rafts are built and crewed by groups of friends; there are also some rafts sponsored by local companies. There were approximately 30 rafts registered to race in 2001, including entries with creative names like Skulldoggery Fantastic, Lock Nessi, Chickasaurus Becks (with an all-female crew), and some very large "sweeper" class rafts with names such as Miss Moon andThe Fearless Fools. The motorized sweeper rafts are in a class of their own, competing to see which one can "sweep up" the greatest number of disabled rafts and tow them across the finish line.

Connecticut River Raft Race, Inc. is a nonprofit organization and donates a portion of the race proceeds to various Connecticut children's charities. The Connecticut River Raft Race is the oldest and largest self-supporting, charitable raft race in the United States.

A captains' meeting and barbecue will be held on Saturday, July 20 at Riverside Marina. This is the final day of registration ($12 per crew member) and will provide a feel for the event. Raft captains are required to attend; all crew members and volunteers are welcome, as well as anyone interested in this event. Safety requirements, raft race rules and any last-minute instructions will be presented, and all questions will be answered. A barbecue for all attendees will commence after this informational meeting.

For more info, including raft regulations, call Race President Bob Niland at 860-342-4473, or David R. Malboeuf, Public Relations, at 860-298-9216; or visit <www.ctriverraftrace.org>.