Ahoy, Mateys! Announcing RRATFR 2019 Race Date
The Rock River Anything That Floats Race steering committee is pleased to announce the 2019 race date: Sunday, August 18, 2019. Registration for the event begins Thursday, January 17 at 1:30 P.M. at the official race website, RRATFR.com.
Also, on Thursday, January 17 at 1:30PM, racers past and present and the public are invited to a celebratory Press Conference at Prairie Street Brewing Co. The success of the 2018 event has allowed us once again to give back to some great local organizations. Join us at the press conference for the check presentations to these important community organizations: Rockford Park District Forest City Queen Fund, the Rockford Fourth of July Committee and Rockford Ski Broncs. And a special thanks to all our generous volunteers and sponsors who provided the support for another successful year.
2019's race will once again feature our traditional DIY Division as well as the new Hulled Division. In the Hulled Division, participants can use and decorate hulled craft in any way they wish: to create a raft or just decorate a boat, kayak, canoe, standup paddle board in any way their imaginations take them. Hulled craft will compete against each other for speed in their own division and against DIY made-from-scratch rafts in the Frank Schier Creativity and Design Award (Judges Choice) as well as the People’s Choice categories, featuring a newly-designed online voting tool. Please remember, NO MOTORS ALLOWED - human power only.
New this year, we are excited to announce a new partnership with Rocktown Adventures, a local outdoor retail and rental shop located on Madison St. right across from our Prairie Street Brewing Co. finish line. This partnership will allow folks to rent a canoe, kayak or standup paddleboard for a fee on race day and get transportation to the start line from Rocktown Adventures. Please contact Rocktown Adventures for details. No excuses not to participate! Details will be provided at the press conference and online.
Tentative Partial Race Day Schedule
Sunday, August 18
12:00 Noon Raft Race Begins
3:30 p.m. Duck Drop
4:30 p.m. Awards Ceremony
Please visit our Rules & Regulations page for information and Registration page to register your raft online beginning Thursday, January 17! People interested in volunteering on race day are encouraged to visit our Volunteer page.
Be sure to check out our video of the winner of last year’s People’s Choice Award, the Spirit of Survival!
Let’s go, land lubbers and seamen and women alike! It's once again time to Get Your Ship Together for the 2019 Rock River Anything That Floats Race!