The 2013 Lincoln Heritage Water Trail ~ Abe’s River Race will provide paddlers the opportunity to explore approximately six miles of the lower Sangamon River as it flows north from Sangamon County to Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site in Petersburg, Illinois.

The inaugural Lincoln Heritage Water Trail ~ Abe’s River Race will include five (5) divisions: Racing Canoe (RC1); Recreational Canoe (RC2); Racing Kayak (RK1); and Recreational Kayak (RK2); and Wooden Boat (WB). Awards will be presented for each division.

ADDITIONAL AWARDS AND PRIZES WILL BE GIVEN OUT AT THE POST RACE RECEPTION AT THE RIVERBANK LODGE, IN PETERSBURG.
The Wooden us Boat division is an open category for all wooden boats, historical in nature, and of any length. We encourage participants in this division to embrace the local cultural history and heritage of the Sangamon River. Special awards will be presented to the boat and/or team that best represents this division and the cultural heritage of the River.

The Lincoln Heritage Water Trail and Abe’s River Race is collaborative effort of local organizations, businesses and governmental entities including but not limited to the following: Menard County Trails & Greenways Association; Menard County Tourism Council; Menard County Jaycees; Petersburg Rotary; Hill Prairie Winery; Rolling Meadows Brewery; Riverbank Lodge; Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition; Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; Lincoln’s New Salem State Historic Site (Illinois Historic Preservation Agency), Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Menard County Sheriff’s Office; Menard County EMS, Menard County Rescue Squad, and the City of Petersburg and many others. All proceeds from the Abe’s River Race will be applied to future paddling events and efforts to improve and protect the Lincoln Heritage Water Trail.

In-Person Registration
* Friday 10/4 5:00PM to 8:00PM Riverbank Lodge, Petersburg -- for all paddlers
* Saturday 10/05 8:00AM Riverbank Lodge, Petersburg -- for all paddlers

PADDLER PACKETS (shirts, tickets for prizes, and more) will be presented at Race reception the Riverbank Lodge

Race reception and post paddle party at the Riverbank Lodge in Petersburg –starts when you arrive!

• Food, beverages, live entertainment, awards, prizes and more!
  
• In case of threatening weather, Abe’s River Race will be run Sunday, October 6th at NOON.

The Event Management Teams reserves the right to alter, change, and/or postpone the scheduled events for October 5th, including the Inaugural Abe’s River Race.

• AFTER REGISTERING - ALL RACERS MUST ALSO SIGN-IN at Riverbank Lodge starting Saturday 9:00AM to receive race gear and wristband.
  
• Equipment drop at the Put-in staging area upstream from GUDGEL Bridge –no parking at the launch.
  
• Shuttles will run from New Salem to Launch site from 9:30AM to 12:30PM
  
• All RACERS will put in just upstream from GUDGEL Bridge in Menard County approximately 6 miles upriver from New Salem.
  
• Racers will be issued bibs and transponders at Sign-in, Race starts in masse at Sandbar—racers must cross threshold on land at starting line and finish lines to be properly timed.

• AFTER REGISTERING - ALL NON-RACERS SIGN-IN at Riverbank Lodge starting Saturday 9:00AM to receive wristband for receiving raced packet at the afternoon event reception at Riverbank Lodge
  
• All non-racing paddlers will drop their equipment at the Put-in staging area at GUDGEL Bridge no parking at the launch.
  
• Shuttles will run from New Salem to Launch site from 9:30AM to 12:30PM
  
• All recreational paddlers should be aware of the racers and yield appropriately
  
• All recreational paddlers are encouraged to paddle as a comfortable pace with the target of reaching the take out at New Salem no later than 4:00PM.

* Registration fee includes $5.00 ACA liability insurance

* Several Way-point safety checks will line the route and provide racers and recreational paddlers with assistance as needed

* Pre-registered racers and paddlers will receive a t-shirt – shirts are not guaranteed for paddlers who register Friday, October 4th or Saturday October 5th

* All paddlers should plan to be off the water by 4:00PM

* Post-race Awards, t-shirts, and prizes will be available at Riverbank Lodge in Petersburg starting at 4:00PM

* Food and live entertainment at Riverbank Lodge in Petersburg throughout the afternoon and evening.

Contact James Reed (mctcreed@gmail.com) or by 217/899-5131