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Last summers Aquapalooza was quieter than most. Authorities had urged boaters to skip theannual raft-up off Prudence Island in Potter Cove, fearing that it could turn into a COVID super-spreader event.

This year, the all-day partywill returnon July 31, and it could be bigger than ever. Large gatheringsare no longer off-limits, and boat sales surged last year as people "tried to get out, socially distance, and have a good time," pointed out Mike Hurley, the assistant harbormaster for the Town of Portsmouth.

The massive floating celebrationtypically draws hundreds of boats from all corners of Narragansett Bay, some with live bands on board.Potter Cove fills up with jet skis, inflatablerafts, kayaks, paddleboards and dinghies, and larger vessels often tie up side-by-side so that partiers can easily hop from one deck to another.

More: PHOTOS: Aquapalooza 2020 in Potter Cove

First organized byWarwick-based boat dealer Derek Leigh more than a decade ago, Aquapalooza has evolved into an informalgathering of boaterswho coordinate plans in a private Facebook groupwith roughly 7,000 members.

"It's crazy," Leigh wrote in a Facebook message. "There is no sponsor, planned event, or anything."

The event isn't sanctioned by the U.S. Coast Guard or any local or state authorities, and presents a challenge for law-enforcement agencies because it has no official organizer and is driven primarily by social media.

"Honestly, we always dread Aquapaloozaand were really dreading it this year," Michael Healey, the chief public-affairs officer for the Department of Environment Management, wrote in an email to the Providence Journal. "It brings together hundreds of boaters into a finite area,some of whom are inexperienced, theres drinking and with it the likelihood of poor decision-making, and with the Delta variant of the pandemic a growing worry, were also very concerned about the social-gathering aspect of this event."

More: With influence of COVID, Prudence Island is seeing signs of change

The event requires "ahuge law-enforcement response," Healey added. Typically, the Coast Guard, DEM and Rhode Island State Police Marine Unit are brought in to help Portsmouth's harbormasterand make sure things don't get out of control.(Prudence Island is part of Portsmouth, even though theonly ferry service connecting itto the mainland operates out of Bristol.)

Boaters attending Aquapalooza this year can expect to see authorities "out there in full force," said Maj.Michael C. Arnold, Portsmouth's deputy chief of police.

In previous years, numerous attendees have been charged with boating under the influence, a boat has sunk, and "weve had incidents in the past when people dive off boats and hit their heads and that kind of thing," Arnold said.

"We certainly want people to enjoy themselves," headded. "With that said, we want to make sure that anyone whos operating a boat does so responsibly."

By tradition, Aquapalooza always takes placeon the last Saturday in July, and there is no rain date.

In past years, 11 a.m. has been the unofficial start time for the event, and most boaters have cleared out by sunset. But some arrive even earlier or stay even later, and there's no set schedule for the day.

Officials aren't discouraging anyone from attending Aquapalooza this year, but they do expect attendees to follow the latest guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

All applicableboating laws will be enforced including the "no-wake" rule that prohibits speeding. In past years, police have set up a blood-alcohol testing unit on the shorelineand monitored for drunken boating.

More: Aquapalooza fills Potter Cove off Prudence Island with boats, though not as many as usual

Additionally, boaters should be aware that all the moorings in Potter Cove are privately owned and cannot be used without permission, Hurley said. Unauthorized use of a mooring can lead to a $100 fine.

Boaters are free to anchor in the cove, but need to make sure that they're keeping a safe distance from other vessels and moorings.

Leigh, who organized the first Aquapalooza gatherings, adds one additional ground rule: "No water balloons."

Read more from the original source:
Aquapalooza returns to Prudence Island on July 31. Officials are 'really dreading it.' - The Providence Journal