Rochester Memorial Day Boat and Kayak Race

The Rochester Fire Department will again sponsor the Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race.

A boat building seminar will be held at the Rochester Fire Station, Saturday, April 13, 1:00 to 3:00 pm. The focus will be on the wooden boat construction. We are planning on demonstrating the process of building a Mattapoisett River Racer on a small scale to show the process and techniques. We are asking people who have a boat that is no longer needed to bring it to the Fire Station to sell, give, or loan to someone looking for a boat to use. Anyone in need of a boat should come and see what’s available for them.

The Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race on the Mattapoisett River will take place on Monday, May 27, starting at 8:30 am at Grandma Hartley’s Reservoir, Snipatuit Road, in Rochester and finishing at the Mattapoisett Herring Weir at River Road and Route 6.

A Kayak Division will again be included in the race this year. Basic guidelines for the division are: minimum age 18, single person kayak that the contestant can sit inside of the cockpit, contestant must wear an approved USCG personal flotation device for the entire race, and there will be a $10 entry fee. See the rules document for all information pertaining to the kayak division.

For the Mattapoisett River Racer (MRR) boats, the minimum age for contestants is seven years old on Memorial Day. There will be two persons to a boat. The boat must be a homemade river racer design of any material you choose. There are no limitations or restrictions on types of paddles.

Divisions include the new kayak division and the MRR open/men’s, women’s, junior boys, junior girls, co-ed and parent/child divisions. Junior division teams are both contestants under 14 years old. Parent/child is for a parent with his/her child (child under 14 years old) or an adult (25 or older) with a child (child under 14 years old). Trophies will be awarded to the first, second and third place finishers in each division.

Preregistration is required. Only one registration session will be held at the Rochester Council on Aging (RCOA) Senior Center, 67 Dexter’s Ln, Friday, May 17 at 6:30 to 8:00. Starting positions will be assigned or drawn after the registration closes. A signed registration form must be submitted by each contestant for a team to be eligible for a starting position. Registration forms and rules may be obtained by April 13 at Lloyd’s Market, at Art’s house, 319 Cushman Road or at the registration session or email Art (artbenner@comcast.net) and request the rules and registration form.

You may deliver the completed forms to 319 Cushman Rd. Or, you may return the forms by email but you must bring the original, signed forms, to the registration session. OR, you may return them by regular mail (USPS). If returned by email or USPS mail, you’ll get acknowledgment that they were received. If you don’t get a reply from Art, assume the forms were not received and hand deliver a set. Registration forms must be in the Committee’s hands by Friday, May 17, 8:00 pm in order for last year’s teams to be assigned a starting position based on last year’s finish position or for new teams to draw a starting position this year. Kayak contestants will draw starting positions after the MRRs.

The traditional Ham and Bean Supper will take place at the RCOA, Senior Center at, 67 Dexter’s Ln, Saturday, May 25, 5:00 to 7:00 pm. Supper ticket price: adults, $10.00, children under 12, $5.00.

There will be raffles for each of two carbon fiber racing paddles made by Bill Watling III and a silent auction for each of two carbon fiber paddles. And also, a raffle for a hand crocheted afghan, made by Cecelia Hall. Tickets will be sold at the registration session and at the Ham & Bean supper. The winners will be drawn at the supper.

For further information, contact Boat Race Chairman, Arthur F. Benner, 508-763-2024 or email; artbenner@comcast.net. Check Facebook ‘Rochester Memorial Day Boat Race for updated info.