Registration is now open for the Raft Up!

Vashon Youth and Family Services (VYFS) invites everyone to set a new world record for the most kayaks and canoes rafted up in the waters off Quartermaster Harbor. The entire weekend includes a family-friendly music festival and expanded camping opportunities, waterfront activities, and a chance to get out and experience all that is great about Vashon and the beautiful northwest Washington environment.

Kayakers and canoeists “raft up” when they need additional stability. The technique involves coming alongside one another and holding each other’s boats temporarily, until each can safely go on their way again. The current world record is 2,199 boats rafting up together - held by a group from Sutton’s Bay, Michigan.

“I saw a picture of a record setting raft up a few years ago and it was beautiful,” said Kathleen Barry Johnson, VYFS Executive Director. “The colors of all the boats made this gorgeous tapestry, but you could see each individual at the same time. To me it struck a chord – this is who we are. Stronger together and yet beautiful on our own.” Inspired by the photo, Johnson set out to hold the same event on Vashon.

“To me, it really speaks to Vashon. We are creative and quirky, we love the outdoors and the water, we believe in community but we cherish our individual strengths and differences. I thought, this is the perfect, fun and audacious thing to do here.”

The goal for this summer’s raft up is 2,500 boats. “We need to blow that Michigan group out of the water,” Johnson said.

“Rafting up itself is really simple,” said Marshall Murray, VYFS Administrative Coordinator, who is helping put together the event. “People who aren’t super experienced can get in their boat off of Jensen Point, paddle out a few feet and grab onto another boat. On the other hand, folks who love to kayak can spend the day on the water and join us about 1 p.m. on Sunday. Either way, if we all join together for 30 seconds, and there’s enough of us, we set a brand new world record!”

“I don’t know that I’ll have a lot of chances to set another world record in my life,” said Murray, “I figure this is my chance.”

Other groups will be trying to beat the record this summer, “I know a group in the Adirondacks is going to try in September,” said Johnson. “And a group in Illinois will be trying to set a record rafting up in the Mississippi the day before we do it,” said Johnson. “So we’ve got some competition.”

As part of the Raft Up weekend, VYFS is hosting a concert on August 16th at the O Space. The line-up includes:  the Low Hums, the Corespondents, Kaleidasuar, Inly, Olivia Mendez, Rusty Willoughby, Gabriel Mintz, Bill Patton, and Eugene Wendell and the Demon Rind. Doors open at 2 p.m. with the outdoor music beginning at 3 and the indoor concert starting later that evening.  (see box at right).

VYFS has arranged for expanded camping opportunities on the Island for the weekend. Camp sites will be available at the O Space and at the School District. A shuttle bus will help raft up participants ferry their boats to the waterfront around Quartermaster. The primary launch sites will be off of Jensen Point, Dockton Park and the Portage area, although people can put in along any stretch of waterfront they can access. “We’ve heard already that people plan to paddle over from Tacoma and make a day of it,” Johnson said.

The logistics of the day are complex and include a water safety plan that involves volunteers from the Quartermaster Yacht Club, as well as help from Puget Sound Energy, Vashon Be Prepared, Voice of Vashon, Shape Up Vashon, and many others. “The idea has a lot of enthusiastic supporters and volunteers. I know the day will be great,” said Johnson. “We’ve just started registration though, so now is the moment when we find out if Vashon will get behind this. People need to register and we need to see the number rising. Everyone should go to vyfs.org/raftup to find out more.”

VYFS will be marching in the Strawberry Festival parade and pnromoting the event throughout the Puget Sound. “We see this as a chance to draw people from throughout the region, people who might not think of Vashon as a place to camp and visit. It’s a unique opportunity to do something fun and unusual, and walk away with bragging rights to a world record,” said Johnson.