Rumson Boat Race Celebrating its 10th Annual Year Featuring Five D-1 Collegiate Rowing Teams

The Rumson Boat Race, presented by RFH Rowing, will be celebrating its 10th year hosting a collegiate regatta in our area.  Five Division-I collegiate rowing teams will participate this year.  Varsity Crews from the United States Military Academy, West Point, Drexel University, Rutgers University, the United States Coast Guard Academy, and Villanova University will compete for the Governor’s and Mayor’s Cups.
 
The sport of rowing on the Navesink River is continuing to grow in popularity every year.  From middle school age to Masters the river is experiencing sweeping and sculling boats. The Rumson Boat Race brings another dimension to those on the Navesink having collegiate teams here as well.  On September 21, 2019 collegiate crews will race five across in the approximately 1½ mile sprint. 
 
The Rumson Boat Race will begin at 8 am, following the Mast Color Guard conducting opening ceremonies at approximately 7:15 am. The collegiate crews launching eight-oared shells from Rumson’s Victory Park at 7:30 am. Crews will warm up on the Fair Haven, South side, and race the 2500meter course on the Middletown, North side, of the Navesink River. In the grand tradition of the Henley Royal Regatta, over 100 athletes and coaches will enjoy the hospitality of local families on the evening of Friday, September 20th, following the Coaches and Athletes Dinner at Bingham Hall in Rumson, NJ.  The Rumson Boat Race Reception, adult only event, will be held at 8pm to welcome collegiate coaches of this year’s teams.  For ticket purchase, go to:  www.rfhrowing.org.
 
RFH Rowing athletes and the community benefit tremendously from this collegiate regatta being held close to home. Not only is it a great opportunity to see some of best collegiate crews from prestigious educational institutions complete against each other on the Navesink River but Rumson and Fair Haven is virtually turned into a small college town for the weekend. Starting with the lamp post signs that welcome the collegiate crews and their boat filled trailers to the launch site. Don’t be surprised to see several athletes in Army West Point in matching clothing going for a run up River Road on Friday afternoon before the RFH Rowing sponsored dinner at Bingham Hall.
 
This is the 10th year that Dan Edwards, founder of RFH Rowing and the Rumson Boat Race has been organizing this event and bringing attention to the sport of rowing in our community which also gives our RFH Rowing athletes great exposure. A number of former RFH rowers have gone on to study and row for these universities.
 
Boat race spectators will congregate at Victory Park for the race festivities. Weather permitting; the race will be live streamed to watch the crew’s compete as they race along the Navesink River.
 
In addition to the event/team sponsor, Morgan Stanley, RFH Rowing thanks sponsors Alliant Boynton/Boynton, EZ Docks Marine Construction, Jersey Mikes of Red Bank, Stifel, World Subaru, Zebra Medical Vision, and Jersey Devil Sport Fishing. Sponsorship and underwriting opportunities are available. Please reach out to [email protected] for further information. The Rumson Boat Race Inc, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization, supports the RFH rowing team and promotes the culture of rowing in the Rumson-Fair Haven communities. For more information on RFH Rowing and the Rumson Boat Race, go to www.rfhrowing.org.