Lackawanna River Corridor Association

Regatta 2004

May 8, 2004

The Lackawanna River Regatta
A regatta was originally a race of gondolas, that was held in Venice, Italy during the Renaissance, when Venice was at its apex as a naval and economic power in the Mediterranean.  Over the years the term “regatta” has been applied to any showy contest or parade of ships or boats in which prizes are offered for competition. It is in this spirit of celebration and competition that the Lackawanna River Corridor Association is proud to announce that the Third Annual Lackawanna River Regatta will be conducted by the LRCA as part of the finish line festivities at River Fest 2004.

The Regatta will be held between 3:00PM and 4:00PM, after the Canoe-A-Thon race results are announced, and before Duck-A-Thon, which will be held at 5:00PM.  The Regatta is a FREE competitive event that anybody can enter, and will offer cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25 for entrants who follow the following Regatta Regulations, Navigation advisories, per diem and de factor pronouncements of Regatta officials, and/or the quasi divine prognostications of the the River Doge'.

All captains and crew who desire to participate in the Lackawanna River Regatta must strictly follow the following rules.  There may be a spot quiz on these rules and suggestions at any time. Don’t be embarrassed for not knowing the answers.

A vessel may be pre-registered by mailing or personally filing the Regatta 2004 Registration Form with the LRCA, PO Box 368, Scranton, PA 18501. All vessels not pre-registered for the Regatta must register by filing a registration form at the Regatta Registry, which will be located on the corner of Ross Avenue and Nay Aug Avenue, Scranton, PA, from 1:00PM to 3:00PM on Saturday, May 8th. You must register or pre-register and confirm your navigation orders between 1:00 and 3:00PM.  You will be assigned a Regatta Number.  This number is very important to you; it will define when you will be launched and how you will be judged.

The Regatta will be launched from the east bank of the Lackawanna River near the corner of Green Ridge Street and Nay Aug Avenue at 3:00PM.  The Regatta will proceed downstream from the Launch Site.  A Reviewing Stand will be located at mid-point in the Regatta Course. The Regatta Judges, the River Doge and other officials real and imaginary will conspire concerning various points related to miscellaneous esoteric, arcane, and riparian aspects of your vessel and its crew. 

The Regatta will end at the exit ramp on the east bank of the river (that’s the left bank as you proceed downstream.). The exit ramp is immediately upstream of the Albright Avenue Bridge. The entire course of the Regatta is 3,100 feet or 1,000 meters long. The judges and other officials will deliberate, calculate and analyze the various points awarded to make a final determination as to which of the Regatta entrants will be awarded the prizes and other laudatory awards as befitting their deportment, compartment and riparian navigating skills, imagination and sense of humor

It is always advisable to design, select and maintain a vessel that floats and in the case of rivers, one that can be encouraged of rocks and gravel bars with relative ease. Boats which may be appropriate for the Lackawanna River Regatta include but are not limited to:

Homemade Boats and Rafts Pontoons Canal Barges (with or without mules) Rowing Shells Pirogues Inflatable Boats or Rafts
Pool Chairs Row Boats Inner Tubes Polynesian Outrigger Canoes Dinghies Keel Boats
Hip Waders (for those who wish to walk) Canoes Dug out Canoes Viking Long Boats> Bateaux John Boats & Small Bass Boats


Regatta vessels are recommended to be of shallow draft 8 inches or less and to be no longer than 25 feet in length.  Paddle driven paddleboats are allowable, motorboats or jet skis are not.  Steam propelled vessels and nuke-u-ler submarines or carriers are an exception to the non-motorized rule.  Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission rules require all participants to have access to a personal floatation device and a whistle or other audible noise-making device such as a stadium horn.

All Regatta participants will be judged on the following:
1.  Effectiveness of their choice of vessel
2.  Creativity and Imagination in choice of decorating
3.  Skill in communicating any messages or themes
4.  The extent to which they either seriously or absurdly interpret the mission and purpose of the LRCA thereby encouraging their bizarre but socially responsible behavior under the guise of this Regatta Thing.
5.  Skill in utilizing duct tape and other every day items

All regatta captains and crew are advised to drag, carry or otherwise transport their vessels off the exit ramp and to the regatta vessel disembarkation point as directed by officials at their point of exit from the river.  Extra points will be given to any crews who paddle back upstream to exit at their point of entry.
After securing their vessels in the disembarkation zone, captains and crew are advised to repair to the vicinity of the reviewing stand to mill around and await the announcement of the awards and prizes as well as other sundry comments by the distinguished panel of judges and the River Doge.  Whilst they are milling around awaiting said results, they are encouraged to do the following:
Enjoy the food and beverages they have purchased from the food tent 
Listen to the music of the Hellbenders, High Falls, Mighty Fine Wine
Purchase or encourage others to purchase ducks for the Duck-A-Thon
Tell and embellish tall tales regarding their navigations of the Lackawanna River or other bodies of water upon which they have navigated