51st Annual Bridgewater Raft Race was fantastic fun

The 51st Annual Bridgewater Raft Race took place on Saturday, with dozens of rafters turning out with homemade rafts to Bridgewater Corners for the three-mile race down the Ottauquechee River. Rafter Rob Capossela was the first to successfully complete the route from the Long Trail Brewery bridge to the Bridgewater Mill.

Rick Russell Photos

Competitors run towards their rafts as the race begins.
Rafters attempt to board their rafts and start paddling.
Rafters attempt to board their rafts and start paddling.
Team “It Is What It Is” gets started paddling at the Bridgewater Corners bridge.
Race winner Rob Capossela gives a thumbs up after reaching the Bridgewater Mill.
Trakker Hut stays afloat.
River Hutt paddles downstream.
Chris Hiltz navigates the river with a lucky horseshoe nailed to his raft.
Joss Perkins grins as he paddles downstream.
From left: Mike Rosenberg, Lia Olmstead, 11, and Will Olmstead, perched on wooden pallets, paddle their pontoon-style raft towards the Bridgewater Mill.
Alice Sterling and Andrew Prior paddle their raft, the “U.S.S. Bridgeweiser,” downstream.
Holden Larmie and Hudson Maxham paddle their “Buck Norris” raft downstream.
Aboard “The Unsinkable,” Lexi Gabardi and Troy Jillson paddle with oars made out of scrap wood and a five-gallon bucket.
Caden Smith and Reese Palmer shout triumphantly from their raft, the “Twisted Bud,” as they keep afloat.
Jeremy Prior rows the “Black Mamba” downstream. R
Collen Doyle paddles his floatplane-style raft with a plywood oar.
“Riff Raft” crewmembers Karyn Casey-Hurka, Doug Quatchak, and Chris Hurka hoist their oars at the finish line.
Joben Burbick paddles his primarily duct-tape raft towards the Bridgewater Mill.