The Lake Lanier Flotilla River Raft Race Rules

Can you imagine how relaxing it would be to just hop in a boat and quietly float away from all your troubles?  Rolling on the waves … letting them carry you away toward unknown waters … where sharks, pirates, storms and slow starvation lurk.  Wouldn’t take long to regret that decision.

There’s a better way.  Right here on Lake Lanier.  On Saturday, September 16, 2017, the Lake Lanier Flotilla River Raft Race hits the water at about 10 AM.  (That’s four bells, in sailor lingo.)

Some folks call it the River Raft Race; but, either way it’s going to be fun.  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.  Rafts can be powered by poles, paddles, wind or creative “people power.”  Life jackets and shoes required.  Register in advance.  Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts pay half-price and earn a badge.  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.  Okay, there are a lot of rules … but they’re good ones.  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.  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: $10

Don Carter State Park
5000 North Browning Bridge Road
Gainesville, GA  30506