Monday, June 7, 2010
  Largest kayak and canoe flotilla - 'Paddle at the Point' sets world record
  PITTSBURGH, PA, USA -- More than 1,700 canoeists and kayakers converged on the confluence of Pittsburgh's three rivers to float toghether for 30 seconds, during ' Paddle at the Point ' , an event sponsored by Venture Outdoors Largest kayak and canoe flotilla

 Photo: The World's Largest kayak and canoe flotilla . Photo by Mike Vindler. ( enlarge photo )

    Participants braved heavy downpours to gather in the Allegheny River off Pittsburgh's Point State Park and joined hands for the required time of 30 seconds and then raised their paddles aloft in celebration.

    "That's the spirit of Pittsburgh. As I was traveling down here, I saw thousands of kayaks and canoes in there already and we did it an hour early too; so, kudos to Pittsburgh," said Mayor Ravenstahl .

   Kayaks of all varieties were represented - from hard plastic expedition, whitewater, flatwater and ocean kayaks to handmade vessels of pine and other types of wood. Canoes also were well-represented, including some made of wood that seemed more artwork than boat.

The previous Guinness world record for the Largest kayak and canoe flotilla was 1,104 set in 2008 by the Inlet Area Business Association in upstate New York. Cleveland held the world record for seven years before that with 776 boats.

    Pittsburgh's exact number could be available within a few days, said Cara Rufenacht of Venture Outdoors, the local nonprofit that organized "Paddle at the Point" to help celebrate World Environment Day.

   Link: 'Paddle at the Point' GigaPan image by Matt Kisasonak

Lou DeVito , Venture Outdoors operations director, said the organization wanted to set the record Saturday on United Nations' World Environment Day. He hoped the event would raise awareness about recreational uses of Pittsburgh's waters.

 "We thought the rain was going to deter a lot of people," he said. "But they all came out in their gear."

    Most of the boaters were from southwestern Pennsylvania, but many came from other areas, including West Virginia, New Jersey, Virginia and other parts of Pennsylvania. Some people brought their dogs, and at least one man brought a trumpet.

    A helicopter was aloft to take aerial photos -- "the nail in the coffin" of the record-breaking attempt, Mr. DeVito said -- but its crew missed the flotilla, which began to disperse after the downpour soaked the participants.

A group of local foundations and businesses supporting World Environment Day paid for the event and the costs of closing the river.

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