The Lackawanna River Regatta

The Regatta will launch from the Middle Street Pumping station next to the Farmers Market at 3:00PM. 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 come ashore at the Olive Street bridge.  

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 Fifth Annual Lackawanna River Regatta will be conducted by the LRCA as part of the finish line festivities at River Fest 2008.

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 facto 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 2008 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 near The Ice Box and the Olive Street Bridge, Scranton PA, from 1:00PM to 3:00PM on Saturday, May 10th. 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 end at the exit ramp on the west bank of the river (that’s the right bank as you proceed downstream.). The exit ramp is immediately upstream of the Olive Street Bridge. 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:

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 

TO BE ANNOUNCED