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The Essex River Race |
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The Essex River Race |
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Please preregister by emailing your name, type of boat, and color of boat to Bill Kuklinski at: wmak@comcast.net. Please include "Essex River Race Registration" in the subject line.
Check in is 8 am
Captains meeting at 9 am
First heat starts at 9:30 am
Finish Line facilities open at Noon
The Essex River Race is a 5.5+ mile open water event from the Essex River at
Route 133 in Essex, out behind the barrier beaches of Ipswich and back. Participants
row or paddle small boats through one of the most scenic tidal areas in New
England. Occasionally the water can be very rough, with strong winds and
currents. As with all on-water activities in such conditions, safety should
be the first concern of all participants and organizers. The orderly, safe
and sportsmanlike conduct of this event is your personal responsibility,
and is essential to guaranteeing the future of the Essex River Race.
We have no rain date; there’is always an event.
The Essex River Race is open to all seaworthy human-powered rowing
and paddle boats. Participants' crafts usually include Banks
dories, fixed seat singles, doubles, multi-oars with cox, multi-oars
without cox, sliding seat singles & doubles, single & double touring
kayaks, single & double racing kayaks, surf skis, touring canoes, racing
canoes, and outrigger canoes.
In this year's event, there will be awards; prize categories will be posted
on the day of the race at registration.
Given the narrow size of the river at the start, participants will be sent
out in heats composed of roughly comparable crafts. Heats will be announced
at the Skipper's Meeting at 9:00AM. Times will be kept and recorded for
all participants, and results will be made available at the finish line
(and later posted on the CARC web site). Serious racers are allowed and
encouraged, within the guidelines of safety and sportsmanship, to push one
another to their limits. Casually oriented participants are equally welcome,
and may cover the course in a more relaxed fashion (though, for safety reasons,
all participants MUST clear the course within two hours of their starting
time).
YOU MUST REGISTER AND SIGN A WAIVER IN PERSON! Registration begins at 8:00
am at the ERBA parking lot near the intersection of Routes 133 and Route
22. Registration tables will be located in the parking lot near the boat
ramp. Vehicles may be parked in the lot while unloading boats and equipment.
However, YOU ABSOLUTELY CANNOT LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE PARKED IN THE ERBA PARKING
DURING THE EVENT. YOU MUST MOVE YOUR VEHICLE AS SOON AS YOU HAVE UNLOADED
YOUR GEAR! Parking is available behind Woodman's Restaurant on Route 133,
or behind the Essex Police Station on Route 22 (each of these lots is approx.
1/4 mile from the ERBA lot - plan accordingly!) Rest rooms are available
next to the ERBA Kayak Rental facility.
LOGISTICS CAN DELAY YOU! Please allow time to park, register, and attend
the skipper's meeting and launch. Boats can be rowed or paddled to the starting
line from the ERBA parking lot up river to the Conomo Café on Route
133.
Race results will be posted approx. 2 weeks after the race.
All registration is on-site on the day of the race. There is no pre-registration.
Entry Fee: $15
Fees include T-shirt, race management, prizes and post race food & beverages.
Extra T-shirts may be purchased at the finish line.
The Cape Ann Rowing Club reserves the right to refuse to register any individual
or boat. CARC may also expel or refuse any participant or boat before or
during the event for lack of required equipment, unsafe operation, disregard
for event rules, or unsporting behavior.
Each participant must carry or wear a USCG-approved PFD (life jacket).
Each participant must also carry an attention-getting noisemaker, such
as a whistle on a lanyard.
Participants may also find useful bailers, compasses, and charts of the
area.
For more information, contact Tom Lawler (978)281-2642 tlawler@marshallac.com,
Rich Klajnscek (978) 524-4648, Donna Lind (978) 764-9407 at donna-lind
(at) comcast.net. or Bill Kuklinski (978)774-5077 wmak (at) comcast.net
Also check website www.blackburnchallenge.com for updates.