IMPORTANT UPDATE 4/23/2024

The City Hall Boat ramp is closed for construction. We are moving to Blue Run Park to start and finish the race. Registration has been moved to 8am. RACE START IS 9AM. We need to leave earlier since this park fills very quickly on weekends.

Launch site / boat drop off.

Blue Run Park

19680 E Pennsylvania Ave, Dunnellon, FL 34432

(Circled red on map)

There's about 30 spots available here.

Overflow parking is around the block at 

San Jose Blvd

Dunnellon, FL 34432

(Circled in Blue)

There's about 20-30 more spots here maybe more.

Then the Lifesprings Church has agreed to let us park as well

19460 E Pennsylvania Ave, Dunnellon, FL 34432

Circled in Yellow

Parking roadside on San Jose is the final option and that road can hold 100 cars.

You can drop your boat off at Blue Run then go down the block for parking. There's walking trails to get back to Blue Run.

The start line will be 200 meters downriver of the bridge, and the finish line will be going under the bridge coming back downriver. This makes the long course around 10 miles and short course 5 miles.

If you have any questions feel free to message/email or call me

Robertnorman142@yahoo.com

352 201 2468

FCPA RAINBOW RIVER RACE 2024
Join the Florida Competition Paddlers Association for our annual Rainbow River Race in Dunnellon Florida on Saturday, April 27, 2024. This free race has long and short course options and is open to all paddle craft.

Registration begins at 9:00 am and the race starts promptly at 10:00 am at Centennial Park on the Withlacoochee River in Dunnellon. Long course racers will paddle a short distance upstream to the mouth of the Rainbow River, then up to the head spring sign forbidding motorboat traffic and back for a total of approximately 12 miles. Short course racers will paddle upstream to the dock gazebo with the triangular metal roof and back for a total distance of approximately 6 miles.

Centennial Park is located on the western portion of City Hall property. Park amenities include a boat ramp, boat trailer parking, a kayak launch, restrooms, and a picnic deck. Admission is free. If needed, there is additional parking on Ohio St. Please – NO PARKING ON THE GRASS!  Please do not use the trailer parking spaces unless you have a trailer.  Additional info can be found at: http://dunnellon.org/.../Centennial-Park-and-State-Boat....

Following the race, we will meet for lunch and awards across the street at the Blue Gator.
Location of Race: Centennial Park (behind City Hall), 20750 River Dr, Dunnellon, FL 34431.

Registration: All competitors must register on-site 9-9:45am. Online preregistration Facebook is appreciated and will help us anticipate the number of participants.

Race Start: 10:00 am

All Competitors MUST also check in with the timer at the completion of the race, to make sure that your finish has been recorded.

POC: Robert Norman, robertnorman142@yahoo.com

The FCPA was formed in 1976 to coordinate and promote the sport of canoe and kayak racing in Florida. The FCPA hosts approximately fourteen free recreational races across the state of Florida each year. To be eligible for the annual points championship, you must be an FCPA member which costs $10 annually. FCPA members receive a free meal at the awards banquet and a monthly email newsletter which contains a race schedule, race results, articles written by members and member classified ads.

FCPA races are very high-stake affairs, with ribbons awarded to winners in each division. Annual points champions are awarded a coveted T-shirt during the annual meeting/awards banquet (following the Silver Springs Race) in December. Divisions are established using the USCA age/gender designations and the following boat classifications:

Boat Classifications

Paddle with your hands – Prone

Paddle while standing – Paddleboard (SUP)

Paddle while sitting:

With two-blade paddle – Kayak (K)

With single-blade paddle – Canoe (C)

Outrigger or Highkneel Canoe – Unlimited Canoe (OC)

USCA Age Classes

Junior (J) - <18

Open (O) – 18-39

Master (M) – 40-49

Senior (S) - 50-59

Veteran 1 (V1) - 60-64

Veteran 2 (V2) - 65-69

Grand Veteran 1 (GV1) - 70-74

Grand Veteran 2 (GV2) - 75-79

Grandmaster Veteran (GM) - 80+

NOTE – All participants are responsible for carrying safety equipment required by law.