MIDDLEBORO — On your marks, get set, row.

A local tradition since 1969 continued on the morning of Saturday, April 29 at the 2023 Canoe River Race on the Nemasket River.

Fire Chief Owen Thompson provided safety tips and Parks Director Fran Cass welcomed the participants and kicked off the race. Spectators peered down from the Old Bridge Street bridge as around 30 canoes and kayaks raced about three miles to Oliver Mill Park in Middleboro.

“It’s always fun,” Cass said of the race. “And the rain is holding off just for us.”

The boats were a mix of single- and double-occupancy with many pairs of relatives and friends teaming up. 

A few rowers brought well-behaved furry friends on the journey, and others strapped GoPro portable cameras to their helmet or canoe.

Each boat was assigned a number so Cass and Thompson could make sure they all arrived at the planned destination. 

One duo dressed head-to-toe in American flag gear did not receive a number, so Cass gave them the number 1776. 

A fellow patriot in a single-occupancy boat, who also dressed in American flag garb and also did not receive a number, was known as Captain America.

“It’s organized chaos,” Cass said with a laugh as he went to set up post-race festivities at Oliver Mill Park for the participants. “People get in without numbers on their boats, we’re very clear about numbers on the boats, but they don’t put numbers on the boats! So we have to make up and contrive names just so we can get their times.”