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People armed with inflatable rafts, kayaks, swimsuits and alcoholic beverages descended on Lighthouse Beach in Port Huron Sunday for the unsanctioned event known as Float Down.
Floaters drifted past Desmond Landing at about 2:15 p.m. While grey clouds covered the sun, forecasted rain had not yet come to dampen participants’ revelry.
Emergency boats from the U.S. and Canadian coast guards, St. Clair County Sheriff Department and area police and fire departments bobbed on the water, keeping a watchful eye on the floaters as they entered the water around noon.
The turnout appeared to be in the hundreds. Roger Randall, St. Clair County Dive Team chief, said the turnout is about third or a half of what it has been previous years, probably due to the threat of rain or storms.
Some rafts had creative flair. Michelle Keagy traveled from Wood Haven for the event with a group of about 10 family and friends. A raft sporting an inflatable bull sported a blow-up man with a sign that said “Ship Faced Beaches.”
Keagy said she has participated for a few years because she enjoys doing it with her group and they enjoy the adventure of it. One year, they were nearly blown to Canada, and had to be pulled back by the coast guard. Another year, their rafts deflated, and they were pulled out by coast guard members.
“It’s like Christmas here,” she said.
Jason Drake traveled to Port Huron with his wife, Missy Drake, from Holland to meet up with his father, Tom Drake. They said they enjoy being on the water and relaxing. They plan to pull out at a private residence on the border of Port Huron and Marysville to attend a party with family and friends after the event.
The threat of rain didn’t deter them, but they said they were prepared with phones and water and have people to pull them out if the weather turns sour.
Robert Nead, a Port Huron resident who was attending the Float Down with his girlfriend and two friends, also was unconcerned about the weather. He stood on the beach next to his canoe. He said he enjoys being able to help people and pull them back if they stray too close to Canada with his small vessel.
“I just love the water, the fun, the adventure,” Nead said.
Randall said there were no reported incidents at about 1:15 p.m.
Contact Laura Fitzgerald at (810) 941-7072 or lfitzgeral@gannett.com.
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