Living in Peru : your everyday companion

The Amazon Rafting Club, based in Iquitos, Peru, invites rafters, canoeists, rowers, and paddlers from all over the world to compete in this year’s event.

The 3 day race will start in the town of Nauta on Friday, 21st September 2007, and finish in the City of Iquitos on Sunday, 23rd September 2007. Each 4 person crew will paddle their ready built, lightweight, balsawood raft down the mighty Amazon River for 132 miles. The winning crews will show excellence in teamwork, stamina and knowledge of currents and rivers.

The History of The Great River Amazon Raft Race

In June 1998 Mike Collis moved to Iquitos from Birmingham, England, for what he thought would be a quiet life. In 1999 Gerald Mayeaux was appointed as the Director of Tourism for Iquitos. Gerald asked Mike if he had any ideas on how to promote tourism in Iquitos. Mike told him that for more than 25 years he had organized raft races in England. Gerald asked Mike to organize the first raft race on the Amazon.

The first Amazon Raft Race took place on the 29th July 1999, on the Nanay River. 43 crews competed in the 12 mile, one day race from Santa Clara to Bella Vista Nanay. The winning team completed the course in just over 2 hours and 30 minutes.

The second race, one year later, was on the same course with over 60 teams competing from 14 different countries.

In 2003 the course was extended to 26 miles over 2 days, from the village of Nina Rumi to Bella Vista Nanay. The winning team completed the course in 4 hours and 20 minutes.

This race format continued into 2004 and 2005 but then it was decided to go for the “Big One” in 2006, “The Worlds Longest Raft Race”.

THE WORLD’S LONGEST RAFT RACE

The 2006 Great River Amazon Raft Race attracted rafters from Australia, the United States, England, South Africa, Peru, Ecuador, Ireland, Puerto Rico, Canada and Russia. We expect more countries to participate this year.

Cash prizes will be awarded to the winning crews in addition to trophies for the 3 fastest foreign teams. The fastest foreign team will also win 3 days and 2 nights at the fabulous Amazon Rainforest Lodge on the Momon River.

Last year’s winning team, “Los Invincibles,” was from the village of Padre Cocha, and completed the course just shy of 14 hours over 3 days. The average time for all teams was approx. 18 hours for the 3 day race.

Safety

The Peruvian Coast Guard and Civil Defense will provide boats and personnel to ensure the participants' safety.

The Amazon Rafting Club will also have its own speedboat codenamed Mother Duck . Mother Duck's only purpose is to patrol the fleet during the race protecting her brood, the foreign crews. She will have a crew of 2 and will carry emergency supplies such as water and food etc., in addition to equipment such as spare paddles, machetes, hammers, nails and rope.  She will also take care of any injured, sick or exhausted rafters.

Race Information 2007

Itinerary/Arrival & Departure Info :

All foreign teams must be in Iquitos by Tuesday 18th September for the “Rafters Get Together” and reception hosted by the Mayor of Iquitos, Mr Salomom Abensor Diaz, at the Eldorado Plaza Hotel at 8.00 p.m.

Wednesday, September 19- 7.00 am: All teams will leave on the support boat for the 10 hour cruise up the Amazon to Nauta, sleeping overnight on the support boat.

Thursday, September 20: This day is for the collecting of rafts and paddles, checking rafts & equipment, and practice.

Friday, September 21: Mass start from the beach in Nauta at 8.00 a.m. First leg is to the isolated village of Porvenir, a distance of 43 miles and an average time 6.00 hours. Foreign crews and supporters sleep overnight on the support boat.

Saturday, September 22: The slowest crews from the first day will leave Porvenir at 6.30 a.m. All teams will leave over the next 2 hours, with the fastest teams leaving at 8.30 a.m.

This 2nd leg is to the town of Tamshiyacu, a distance of 45 miles and an average time of 6.30 hours. Foreign crews and supporters sleep overnight on the support boat.

Sunday, September 23: Again, the slowest teams will leave at 6.30 a.m. with the others following over the next 2 hours. This final leg is from Tamshiyacu to the Fishing Club at Bella Vista Nanay, just outside the City of Iquitos, at a distance of 42 miles and an average time of 5.30 hours.

Party and Prize ceremony will follow the finish at the Fishing Club. Rafters Party at Antica Restaurant 8.30 p.m.


1. Each team must consist of 4 persons.
2. Substitution is allowed, but with a time penalty of 2 hours per substitution.
3. Rafts will consist of a minimum of 6 balsawood longs no less than 5 meters in length.
4. Only paddles may be used; no oars, no sails, no motors, no towing.
5. Life jackets MUST be worn at all times while on the water.
6. Teams must not interfere or impede the progress of other teams.
7. No alcohol or drugs allowed onboard rafts.
8. Each team will be allocated a raft number which must be displayed on the raft at all times.

Items needed on Raft:

Life jackets*
Ponchos
Long pants*
Flashlight
Sun screen
Foam rubber for seat
Water bottle(s)
Broad brimmed hat*
Long-sleeved shirt(s)*
Gloves, ardening or similar
First aid kit
Insect repellant
Machete
Snacks/small food items


The above items can be purchased in Iquitos.  Items marked with an * can be rented in Iquitos.

Inscription/Entry Fee for Foreign Teams

The Entry Fee is $350US per team of 4. This includes: Entry Fee $50US paid to the Municipality of Maynas to cover support costs; Ready built balsawood raft and paddles; Four nights of hammock accommodations on the support boat; Transport to the Start in Nauta in the support boat. Rescue speedboat “Mother Duck”

CLOSING DATE FOR ENTRIES 7th SEPTEMBER, 2007
Contact michaelcollis@hotmail.com for methods of payment.

Additional Information

For those foreign crews who would like more comfortable accommodation during the race then the luxurious river boat “Dawn on the Amazon” has a limited number of cabins available. For more information please visit: www.dawnontheamazon.com

For spectators and supporters who wish to follow the race the cost of travel to Nauta, 4 nights hammock accommodations, and passage on the support boat following the racers to the finish is only $50US per person. Food is not included but will be available on the support boat at a reasonable price. Beer and cold drinks will also be on sale.

More information, including various articles about last years race, can be found by logging onto iquitostimes.com/raft-race-2006-results or LivinginPeru.com's related articles at the bottom of the page.

The Amazon Rafting Club

http://www.livinginperu.com/images/galleries/normal/421.jpg400319

The after party

© LIP

The Amazon Rafting Club was informally formed after the 2006 Great River Amazon Raft Race.

Membership Fee = *FREE*
President 2006 - 2007 Dale Baskin
Membership Qualifications - Open to anyone who competes in “The Great River Amazon Raft Race.”
Club Benefits – Certificate of Membership; Bragging rights to being one of the elite few who have competed in this unique race.

SIGN UP NOW FOR THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME

Contact by e-mail: michaelcollis@hotmail.com


 

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