Can you imagine how relaxing it would be to just hop in a boat and quietly float away from all your troubles? Â Rolling on the waves … letting them carry you away toward unknown waters … where sharks, pirates, storms and slow starvation lurk. Â Wouldn’t take long to regret that decision.
There’s a better way. Â Right here on Lake Lanier. Â On Saturday, September 16, 2017, the Lake Lanier Flotilla River Raft Race hits the water at about 10 AM. Â (That’s four bells, in sailor lingo.)
Some folks call it the River Raft Race; but, either way it’s going to be fun. Â And there is ZERO chance that you will be swamped by the wake of a supertanker on Lake Lanier!
Our pals at Don Carter State Park, where the Flotilla Thingy begins, say:
Make your own raft, gather your friends and join this fun race on Lake Lanier. Â Rafts can be powered by poles, paddles, wind or creative “people power.” Â Life jackets and shoes required. Â Register in advance. Â Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts pay half-price and earn a badge. Â Lunch from Chick-fil-A is included.
Tom Sawyer never had it so good on his raft!
The Flotilla River Raft Race has a few rules to follow. Â Okay, there are a lot of rules … but they’re good ones. Â Such as:
- All participants riding on the rafts must have a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device and wear shoes with a heel strap.  (This event will be held after Labor Day, so please do not wear white heels.)
- All participants must be 10 years of age or older.  All participants under 18 must have at least one adult on each raft.  (No, I don’t know what that means.  Sorry.)
- All rafts must have a 20-foot safety rope attached.
- There will be a minimum of three and a maximum of eight persons on a raft.
- All raft material must be removed from the river and campsite after the race.
- Each raft will be judged at the start for seaworthiness, safety and compliance with the rules.
- Rafts may be made out of inner-tubes (one inner-tube per person plus one extra) or natural decking material (saplings, cane, bamboo, etc.).
- The following cannot be used: barrels, row boats, canoes, foam, surfboards, milk jugs, pontoons of plywood, fiberglass, etc.  (Which, of course, is what normal people would use.)
- Each raft must have a deck construction using lashing skills only. Â No nails, bolts, wire, etc.
- Rafts must be powered by: Poles, paddles, Serbians, wind, sheer luck or people power.
- Rafts may add flags, coolers (no glass allowed on the river); however, they must be securely lashed in place and not subject to littering the river.
Click Here for Complete Lake Lanier River Flotilla Race Rules
More Details
Admission: $10
Parking: $5.00
Event phone: 678-450-7726
Admission:Â $10
Don Carter State Park
5000 North Browning Bridge Road
Gainesville, GA Â 30506