10th ANNIVERSARY
Rotary River Rally
April 17-18, 2009

Click here for Winners List.

This was a BIG year - the 10th anniversary of the Rotary River Rally! Special this year there was an award for the best boat in our 10th anniversary theme "Making Dreams Real"!

We want to thank all the participants and spectators who have made the annual Rotary River Rally featuring The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta® such a great success. With your help (and fun!) we have raised over $75,000 for childrens charities.

If you haven't joined us before, this event is a Boatload of Fun! Teams build full-sized boats out of corrugated cardboard, then jump in and paddle them on a 200 yard race course on Tempe Town Lake. Teams come from local schools, youth groups, families, individuals and corporations.

Boat designs get pretty elaborate – in 2008 we saw a Football, a full sized Crane, and a replica Paddle-Wheeler - with costumes to match - hard hats and hoop skirts, plus pokemon outfits and pirate costumes!

Awards are given for the fastest boats in 3 classes and 2 divisions, plus there are trophies for the Best Dressed Team, the Most Spirited, Pride of the Regatta, Vogue Awards, and (the most sought after) the Titanic Award for the most spectacular sinking ship! The competition is fierce - see the list of 2009 winners below!

Some Sink, Some Swim, Everyone Has a Great Time!!!

2009 RESULTS

1st, 2nd and 3rd place Trophies awarded for each Class:

Class I (Youth) presented by Rio Salado Rotary Club

Boats made entirely of corrugated cardboard and propelled only by canoe paddes, oars or kayak paddles.

1st - "Going the Distance" from Tempe, sponsored by Suncor. Captain: Emily Purucker. Crew: Delaney Hopkins, Jami Zelinko, Katie Duvall, Tori Raimondi, Morgan Gunsella, Bria Giovenelli.

2nd - "Mythbusters" from Connolly Middle School, Tempe. Captain: Dillon Rusinski. Crew: Alec Swanson.

3rd - "Troop 2505" from Tempe, sponsored by Girl Scout Troop 2505. Captain: Julia Weiss. Crew: Alexys Torres, Sydney Attridge, Tessa Taylor, Hayley Gorman.

Class I (Open) presented by Ferguson Jenkins Foundation

1st - "The Not Billie" from Tempe. Captain: Tim Milakovich. Crew: Dustin Franklin, Tom Villareal, Brandon Tomasovich.

2nd - "Island Paradise" from Tempe, sponsored by Islands Restaurant. Captain: Jason Fucci. Crew: Anto Facio, Matt Sims, James Faccio.

3rd - "Freedom" from Tempe sponsored by Girl Scout Troop #1174. Captain: Meg Webster. Crew: John Kokins, Isiah Patterson, John Webster, Brad Duvall, Bob Hopkins, Robert Raimondi, Jim Poulin.

Class II Power Assisted presented by ITT Technical Institute

Use paddlewheels, propellers or sails. May not use paddles or oars!

1st - "Moby Brick" from Tempe. Captain: Randy Smith.

2nd - "The Grinch" from Waddell, AZ. Captain:John Swanger. Crew: Steve Dahho, Ed Swanger.

Class III Instant Boats presented by ITT Technical Institute

Built on the day of the race using an Instant Boat® kit

1st - "53" from Phoenix. Captain: Spencer McDonald. Crew: Morgan McDonald.

2nd - "Nautilus" from Gilbert. Captain: Jonathan Yount. Crew: Caitlin Yount.

College Cup presented by U.S. Marines and ITT Technical Institute

"Patches" from XXXX sponsored by Scottsdale Charros. Captain: Kelli Stieg. Crew: Christina Ricci, Erica Kenney, Justeen Morrow, Tim Hanes, Max Young.

High School Cup presented by U.S. Marines and ITT Technical Institute

"Cadence" from XXXX High School sponsored by Kokopelli Winery & Bistros. Captain: Emily Webster. Crew: Anna Zizzo.

JUDGES AWARDS

Make Dreams Real Award presented by Dibble Engineering.
best at exemplifying the 08-09 Rotary Theme - Make Dreams Real.
"Lowell Limo" from Mesa sponsored by Arizona Regional Medical Center.

People's Choice Award presented by Sweet Tomatoes
voted most popular by event spectators.
"Moby Brick" from Tempe.

Pride of the Regatta presented by Best Western Tempe ASU
most creative design and best use of cardboard
"Moby Brick" from Tempe. Captain: Randy Smith.

Vogue Award presented by Mesa HoHoKams
most attractive or spectacular looking boat. Selected BEFORE the races begin!
"The Grinch" from Waddell, AZ. Captain: John Swanger. Crew: Steve Dahho, Ed Swanger.

Team Spirit Award presented by Sleep America
most spirited and best organized team. The looks of the boat don’t count!
"
Freedom" sponsored by Girl Scout Troop #1174. Captain: Meg Webster. Crew: John Kokins, Isiah Patterson, John Webster, Brad Duvall, Bob Hopkins, Robert Raimondi, Jim Poulin.

Best Dressed Team presented by Empire Southwest
it may be funny, spiffy or elegant, but it must be creative!
"Freya the Fierce" from Tempe sponsored by Ventura Valkyries. Captain: Jan Barstad. Crew: Bobi Harshfield, Ron Barstad, Gayle Knowles, Carol Berg, Maureen Campbell.

Titanic Award presented by Tempe South Rotary Club
the most spectacular sinking. To qualify, teams MUST salvage the remains completely.
"10" from Albuquerque, NM sponsored by Sandia High School. Captain: Justin Guevra. Crew: Michael Gilligan, Mandie Gonzalez, Deryk Harden, Jess Howe, Stacy Kelsey, Charles Nuanes, Isabella Ortiz.

COMMEMORATIVE BUTTONS

Each year we sell a limited number of commemorative Rotary River Rally buttons. If you didn't get yours at the event, we still have a few. Just $2 each. There are also a few t-shirts for $10. If you'd like one, contact us today.

The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta® and TIPPS

This event has been organized with the permission and license of the TIPS Foundation.