Lowell's Boat Shop to revive Mighty Merrimack Rowing Race

It has been an exciting, revitalizing year for a local historic treasure, Amesbury's own Lowell's Boat Shop on the banks of the Merrimack River. Now, as a means of celebrating the highly successful completion of a Partners in Preservation (PIP) grant and of expanding its rowing program, the nation's oldest continuously operating wooden boat building establishment is reviving its Mighty Merrimack Rowing Race (MMRR) - the featured event of the Boat Shop's Fall Haul celebration - Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The MMRR was started by Jim and George Odell in 1983 and was last held in 2005. This year's race, a preview of the 2010 race, will be the first step in reviving the annual event. It will be a small, less formal event intended to reflect the fun and pleasure of rowing.

Open to the general public, the race will include six classes of boats: dories with single rowers, dories with two rowers, fixed-seat boats with single rowers, fixed-seat boats with two rowers, canoes and kayaks, and recreational (though no racing) shells.

The race will extend for approximately 2.5 miles, staring at the Amesbury Town Landing, heading to the Whittier Bridge, turning back to the Amesbury Town Landing and finishing at Lowell's Boat Shop.

Although there is no entry fee, there is a suggested $20 donation to Lowell's to help defray the costs of the event. Donors of $20 or more will also receive a MMRR commemorative hat. Following the race, all rowers are invited to join the Fall Haul festivities, including the band Demijon, at the Boat Shop.

Pre-registration is strongly recommended, though additional registrations on the day of the event will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at the Amesbury Town Landing.

To pre-register, visit lowellsboatshop.com or call 978-834-0050.