One of the Riviera’s most colourful annual charity events, of particular interest to everyone with a nautical disposition, the Antibes Raft Race takes place on Saturday, April 14. The Raft Race Association said it excited to be working with Bluewater, Mover Shaker International and Port Vauban to deliver this historic and “totally bonkers” event.
The organisers say they need donations for the charities the entirely not-for-profit community event is supporting: SNSM Lifeboat and Restos du Coeur.
Many big names have signed up as rafters, sponsors, service providers, volunteers and generous donators, such as Worth Avenue, Edmiston, Bluewater, YPI, Hill Robinson, Frasers, Ocean Independence, Sturge Taylor, Sunseeker, Riviera Yacht Support, Heineken, Colgans, The Blue Lady, Banana Bar, Port Vauban, Monaco Marine and many more.
Participants are building their own rafts, which cannot be motorised, and they must sail them round the port with activities to be completed en route. They will be vying for the 10 awards up for grabs including Biggest Cheat, “Raft we’d least like to insure”,and Most Entertaining Crew.
The port will open at 11 am to the public and the 1-hour race will commence at 1 pm. There will be a prize giving ceremony for all the rafters from 7 pm at the port, and then the party will start with live music, pop-up bars from The Banana Bar and The Blue Lady sponsored by Heineken, and there will be food stands too.
Wristbands can be purchased from Bluewater or the Blue Lady at €10 each.
For more details contact: Gary Morton, Raft Race Committee (06 09 52 30 55) or Dawn Morton, Sponsorships for evening party and raft race organisation plus volunteers (06 19 02 46 89).
The first Antibes Raft Race was organised by Julian Mills in 1981.