From Barbie boats to pirate ships, Rock River Anything That Floats Race brings smiles to shoreline

Posted By: Chelsea
August 20, 2023 @ 8:25 pm
815BLOG, Featured, Local, Rockford, Top Stories

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Three years ago Tim West had the materials ready for a pirate crew to set sail on the Rock River.

Then, the coronavirus pandemic put a halt on the Rock River Anything That Floats Raft Race and his homemade pirate ship had to stay ashore.

On Sunday, West and the rest of his crew finally got to raise the skull and crossbones flag and float the 1.65-mile straight-line route from the Auburn Street bridge to Prairie Street Brewing Co. in downtown. The annual race, which has roots going back to 1976, returned to the river for the first time since 2019.

“We were really kind of blown away at the captain’s meeting on how many people had rafts still left over that they just didn’t get to race in 2020 that they were planning on,” said Reed Sjostrom, co-founder of Prairie Street Brewing Co., which puts on the event along with multiple other organizations on the race steering committee. “So it was just really cool to see a lot of people get excited to get their raft in the water that had been sitting in their driveway for a few years.”

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The event raises money for the Rockford Fourth of July Civic Committee, Rockford Park District, Loves Park Ski Broncs and Keep Northern Illinois Beautiful.

For West and his pirate crew, called team Rrrr, there was another good cause: bringing a smile to the faces of families along the shoreline.

“The best part about the whole thing was all the little kids along the shore,” said Walt Lange, West’s brother in law and fellow pirate. “That made it all worthwhile for me, watching the little kids just have a blast.

“When the little kids are having a blast, the parents are having a blast. That’s what it’s all about. Everybody having fun.”

The National Youth Advocate Program team paddles down the Rock River on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, during the Rock River Anything That Floats Raft Race in downtown Rockford. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Lange had the idea for the pirate ship, which West put into action by designing and building the 40-foot boat. West built it with retractable sails so that it could clear under the 10-foot Auburn Street bridge before they’re raised more than 25 feet in the air. The sails aren’t functional, but the wooden steering wheel is. The boat was propelled by three pedaling stations and a paddle wheel in the back.

“We were about this far from having smoke come out of the cannons, but she said heck you’ve spent enough money on that already,” West said with a nod to his wife, Ingrid, who was also part of the pirate crew.

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The ship floated thanks to 27 sheets of styrofoam. There is also a three-quarter inch plywood deck, fence boards on the side, two-by-fours and a trailer attached underneath so it can be pulled immediately out of the water.

“It was all bought three years ago, before COVID, so it wasn’t quite as expensive as it would be to build it today,” West said.

Rrrr was an obvious crowd please on the shoreline, where spectators were greeted with a honking horn and the chance to have chocolate covered in a gold rapper tossed their way. The team was named the winner of the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by an online vote.

“Every time I pointed at somebody I’d see them smile,” said Jeff “Monk” Wells, a member of the crew.

RCC Amos paddles toward the docks on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, during the Rock River Anything That Floats Race in downtown Rockford. The team won the judges’ choice award for creative design. It used all materials salvaged from the Rock River. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

The popularity of the new Barbie movie was also apparent Sunday with two Barbie-themed rafts. There were also Super Mario Bros., a crew celebrating a friend’s cancer remission, a party barge and more. There were 21 total entries, Sjostrom said.

“It’s just really cool to see when any craft comes in the entire crowd, whether they’re here at Prairie Street or somebody’s just passing by the shore, everybody gets excited to see these unique vessels floating down the river,” Sjostrom said.

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Rockford Airport won the crown for having the fastest do-it-yourself made ship, clocking in a time of 36 minutes and 8 seconds. Blackhawk Athletic Club had the fastest ship in the hull category with a time of 43 minutes.

The Frank Schier Creativity and Design Award went to RCC Amos, which built its ship from materials salvaged from the Rock River. The total cost because of the use of salvaged materials was $17, judges said.

Team No Mercy, which is comprised of Mercyhealth doctors and nurses, paddles one of two Barbie-themed boats on Sunday, Aug. 20, 2023, at the Rock River Anything That Floats Race. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)

Brandi Morrow and Alexandra Flodin, of team No Mercy, said they were a last-minute entry and decided to capitalize on the Barbie craze.

“We played a Barbie soundtrack and we just paddled as hard as we could to make it to the end,” Flodin said. “There was really no current. We paddled most of it. It was kind of brutal.”

The team, which was comprised of doctors and nurses at Mercyhealth’s intensive care unit, finished seventh with a time of 59:45. The goal, however, was never winning.

“We just did this to support our community and bond as a team,” Flodin said. “It’s just a fun activity.”