Peru's Great Amazon River Raft Race 2006 comes to a close By Niko Kyriakou What may be the world's longest river race on primitive rafts, drew to a close Sunday night as participants from seven countries reached the muddy end-point in Iquitos, Peru. With sore and soggy hands, eighty-eight people wearily tugged their vessels -- logs lashed together with jungle twine -- ashore after racing some 133-miles down the Amazon over three days. 16 of the 22 teams competing were Peruvian -- most of whose members grew up on the banks of local rivers. But six of the four-member teams came from countries such as Ireland, South Africa, the U.S., Russia, and Australia. One might guess only the most die-hard or life-weary foreigners would travel thousands of miles; brave biting bugs, piranhas and anacondas; endure scalding heat and wild storms, all for prizes worth less than the trip's cost. And yet, it was Dale Baskin, a mild-mannered product manager for a genetics company in Seattle Washington, whose team took first prize among the foreigners. He and his team won 3-nights at a jungle lodge near Iquitos. Second place among the foreign participants was a team of four female veterinarians. Last place was won by a team led by 74-year-old Mort Kaplan, from Sun City Arizona. 
Randy Quinn from Santa Barbara, California said he joined the race primarily "because my friend Mort is crazy." "I hope to finish and get a t-shirt and have bragging rights for life," he said. But most foreigners said they signed up for adventure. And that they got. Teams spent up to 10-hours a day paddling balsa-log platforms through the warm, brown river, which sometimes reached a quarter-mile across. But the race was clearly dominated by the Peruvians, all of who came in hours ahead of the foreign teams. The first and second place winners overall, were both from Padre Cocha, a nearby village. (Click here to see the race for first and second) The best cumulative time over the three-day race was 13 hours and 17 minutes - Los Invincables de Padre Cocha, followed by 13 hours, 23 minutes - Los Incrieibles de Padre Cocha. Third place was over 16 hours. “The Great Amazon River Raft Race”, now in its seventh year, was organized by Mike Collis, an Englishman living in Iquitos. Sponsors included private donor and english businessman Peter Schneider, as well as Dawn on the Amazon, a cruise boat company, and the Iquitos municipality. Prize money was worth 7,000 soles ($2,248) in all. For more on the race visit www.livinginperu.com It is expected that next year this event will be even bigger so it is important that teams interested in participating should book their place as soon as possible. Thanks to our sponsors for making this year's race a success! 
Amazon Rainforest Lodge 
Dawn on the Amazon - Tours and Cruises  www.liviginperu.com
Municipalidade de Maynas For information contact Mike Collis ; michaelcollis@hotmail.com 
2006 Award Ceremony and Gallery 2005 Results and Photo Gallery Read all about "The all girl veterinary team" |
My Rafting
Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Rafting
"Do you not know that those who paddle in a race all paddle but one receives the prize?
Paddle in such a way that you may win!"
I Corinthians 9:24 The Lalo Paraphrase
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