The battle is on for the Tugela Raft Race

Organisers of the Tugela Raft Race are ready for this year’s big day.
They say the only thing they have not ticked is the weather, but they hope it plays along.
The 46th annual adrenaline junkie experience is being organised by Mandeni Municipality together with Mandeni Round Table with a multitude of their sponsors.
“We are ready for our guests and hope the weather will come to the party and not rain cats and dogs on March 29 when the rafters take to the water,” said Mandeni mayor, Siphesihle Zulu.
This year’s theme is Battleship and companies like Renken’s Spar and Powerspares, who are also sponsors, have started putting their teams together hoping to take this year’s trophy home.
“The actual race is on Saturday, March 29 but the festivities start on Thursday when we will be presenting a mayoral award to the University of KZN mechanical engineering department for the amazing raft they built for the 2011 race,” said Zulu.
For non-rafters, the free for all pre-party will be held at the Mandeni Country Club on Friday from 6pm with deejays Cndo, Nono and Eish setting the pace. A picnic will also be held at the club after the race on Saturday from 12pm and Manzi said they are expecting families to come and enjoy an afternoon of good music and laughter with them.
Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Mandeni municipality and sponsors such as the Renckens and Enterprise Ilembe will be responsible for cleaning the Tugela River after the race.
“We urge all rafters to respect the river and not to leave polystyrene and other waste in the water. We also ask participants to assist us in our clean up after the race by donating money towards this effort,” said Round Table’s Donavan Paton.
The entry cost is R850 per raft with two to 12 crew members per raft. Companies entering three or more rafts will pay R600 per raft. Life jackets are compulsory.
The race starts at 10am on Saturday, March 29 at the nursery. Registration is open from 5pm to 9pm on Friday, March 28 and 6am to 9.30am on the day of the race.
For information contact Mduduzi Manzi on 032-4568200/ 078 655 1347 or Phumulile Mhlongo on 073 175 3650 or Donavan Paton 083 796 7032.