LOCALadk Magazine

Paddlers Unite for a Cause in 2014 Story by Anne Brewer Photo by Nancie Bataglia Most paddlers enjoy the company of other paddlers, so when Connie Perry, a colleague of mine, first mentioned that she was going to try to break the record for the largest gathering of canoes and kayaks rafted together, I was in. She and an army of volunteers brought together 1902 canoes and kayaks, breaking the Guinness Book of World Records, and raising $80,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation. The event also caught national attention through Sports Illustrated and National Geographic, both of which featured aerial shots taken by local Adirondack photographer Nancie Battaglia. This event took place in September 2011, on the north end of 4th Lake, and was hosted by the small town of Inlet. As the owner of a small kayak business, I quickly recruited family members to join me for the big event. I wanted to make sure all of my boats were on the water and accounted for. There were seven of us. The event was well organized, with a smooth registration process that let us know the exact location of our designated launch spot. This was crucial, in order to ensure everyone was able to safely enter and exit the water. Once on the water, we checked in with an official boat for recording purposes, then paddled our way into the designated area. It was crazy - a synergy of color and sound, like a collision of Crayola 128 and a hornets' nest. Colorful kayaks were everywhere, and the buzz and hum of all those people carried across the water like a wave of song. And, being in the middle of the pod was so much fun! Everyone was excited to be there, and being so close together forced people to make friends fast. We bobbed around and tried to hold our position so we would be ready for the aerial group photo. Without even a sign, paddles started popping up into the air, and all around us people followed suit until everyone's paddle blade was waving back and forth. People started to cheer. A faint engine sound could be heard. Soon there was a seaplane flying overhead, and it made several passes over the giant pod. It was positioning itself for the perfect shot. This photo would serve as the official One Square Mile of Hope photo that Guinness Book of World Records would use to count the boats and verify a world record. It would also put the little town of Inlet on the map. When the news came that we had officially broken the record, I was guiding a hiking trip in Zion National Park with a friend of mine, Kate, from Suttons Bay, Michigan. I had the Sports Illustrated with me, and since my friend is also a kayaker, I bragged about the event and told her how much fun it was and how much money was raised. I thought that was the end of the story. In fact, it became the new beginning. Long story short, after two attempts, finally in September of 2013, my friend Kate, and her own small army beat our record, during the Suttons Bay Flotilla in Michigan. They gathered 2099 canoes and kayaks - and won. Inlet was supportive of the Suttons Bay Flotilla and cheered them on, but now they would naturally like the title back! I plan to be there with my fleet of boats filled with family and friends, and I encourage you to do the same. It's not every day you get to hold a record in the Guinness Book of World Records. One Square Mile of Hope 18 Summer 2014 LOCALadk

• Cover