Congratulations are in order to Inlet’s One Square Mile of Hope Committee. They have received notification from Guinness World Records that on Jan. 31, 2012 their claim for the world’s largest raft of canoes and kayaks (and guideboats) was approved.

The new record, 1,902 boats, eclipses the previous record of 1,619 boats held by Paddle at the Point, Pittsburgh, Pa. After receiving all of the documental evidence from One Square Mile of Hope’s September 24, 2011 event, it did not take the Guinness people long to recognize the accomplishment. This record almost doubled Inlet’s first record of 1,104, set on Fourth Lake in 2008.

The event itself, a monumental undertaking by a small but dedicated committee, raised an impressive $80,000 for breast cancer awareness, education, research and treatment. Participants traveled from 17 states and two Canadian Provinces to lend their support. The entire day was deemed an unqualified success with activities all based on a health and wellness premise.  

An influx of over 3,000 visitors saw tiny Inlet at the head of Fourth Lake become a very busy place on an off-season fall weekend.

“Had Guinness not verified our record, we could have lived with it because of the wonderfully powerful and positive response to our day-long event,” said Connie Perry, co-chair with Paula Stanton of the One Square Mile of Hope Committee, “But this is the icing on the cake.”

“Once again, we’ve put Inlet in the record books, and we’re hoping the record will stand for a while ... at least until we catch our breaths. But, of course, we welcome all challenges.”