Lake Saint Louis Community Association to attempt world record
Anyone can participate in the float
Some might say it's also strange, or a little silly. Then again, that's true for a lot of Guinness World Records.
On July 26, CA members and friends will attempt to secure their place in history by creating the longest continuous line of floating air-beds, or rafts. Eight hundred sixty-three Australians currently hold the record, which they set in January 2006. Lake Saint Louis plans to break it with a group of 1,000 on Lake Sainte Louise, the smaller of the two lakes in the city.The idea came to CA Board of Directors President Greg Jones while he and his niece sat on a couch reading the 2008 edition of Guinness World Records she got for Christmas.
"I saw it in the book and we were kinda like, 'Well we could do that!'" Jones said last week.
He got the rest of the board's support in June. Now, Jones said, it's only a matter of planning.
The event is open to everyone. Each participant is responsible for bringing his or her own raft, and organizers are asking for an optional donation of at least $10. Proceeds will go to Zachary's Playground, a barrier-free playground in Lake Saint Louis for children with and without disabilities, and a memorial fountain for the SSM St. Joseph Hospital West's future cancer center, in honor of Glen Mueller, a longtime Lake Saint Louis resident who lost his battle with cancer two years ago.
The CA hopes to split the proceeds 50-50, but that depends on how much is raised, Jones said.
The record attempt will begin at 4 p.m. Organizers hope to have everyone in the water by 5 p.m. and each of them lined up within the next hour. They likely will stay together by holding some sort of rope. Once everyone is in place, a local pilot will fly overhead to take an aerial photograph. That picture and a record of the names of each participant will be submitted to Guinness World Records for verification.
What does Jones predict? "Organized mayhem," he said, laughing.
To offset that chaos, organizers are looking for 40 line captains. Each captain will be in charge of his or her line, which will total 25 people. They also will help to recruit participants, Jones said.
Entertainment will follow the world record attempt, said Ron Wilson, operations manager for the CA. From 6:30-10:30 p.m., the cover band Phoenix will play rock, country and Motown hits. A barefoot waterskiing tournament also will take place later in the evening, and food and beverages will be available at the CA Clubhouse, 100 Cognac Court.
The record attempt will be the first of its kind for the CA, Jones said.
E-mail worldrecordfloat@gmail.com for more information on how to participate.
