Next weekend, on July 20, the historic town of Petaluma, Calif., hosts their annual Rivertown Revival, which bears the tagline “The Greatest Slough on Earth.” The event features aerial acts, performances, music, local foods, $5 weddings, and an art boat contest and race.
From the site:
Calling all Artists, Makers, Tinkerers, Engineers, Burners, Boaters, Racers, and Wayward Drifters!
You’re invited to craft an art vessel that will win the Rivertown Revival’s Grand Art Boat Flotilla and wow our judges with your artistic and engineering brilliance!
Our local celebrity judges will deliberate and award trophies to Best of Show Winners, in recognition of your talents, in the following categories: River Beauty Award, River ICON Award, River Clean Award, River Smarty Award, River Speedy Award.
Dream up and build your vessel. It must be human powered or green energy powered. Otherwise, all is fair game.
Human Powered Boat Rules:
•We welcome peddle powered, paddle powered, or otherwise human powered vessels.
•There are no restrictions on boat size.
•Themes and costumes are encouraged!
•PFDs (Personal Flotation Devices) are highly encouraged and mandatory if a crew member is under the age of 16.
•A bucket or pump must be on board (if there is ANY chance your vessel might sink).
•All vessels must have an anchored hook for retrieval and towing purposes.Green Energy Boat Rules:
•No internal combustion engines allowed regardless of fuel type.
•Electric powered craft are limited to 18 volts max output of battery source. No off the shelf electric outboards, unless modified. For example, control unit must be separated from motor prop unit and mounted as two separate units.
•If your power is steam, your fuel must be alcohol (but not to drink!).
•Drive systems can be prop, air jet, water jet, water or air wheel, rubber band, or any other creative means of propulsion, as long as all other rules are followed.
•Physical length must remain 18’ or less.
•It must be an art boat and look amazing!
•A working, small fire extinguisher must be on the craft (if there is ANY chance your boat might catch fire).
•A bucket or pump must also be part of the craft (if you have a boat that might sink).
•All vessels must have an anchored hook for retrieval and towing purposes.
•PFDs are highly encouraged, but mandatory for all participants who are under the age of 16.
Here are some pictures of boats from years past:
It’s great to see the community come out in costumed support:
Here are some shots from the photo booth they set up, images by Michael Woolsey:
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