CANCELLED FOR 2012 ONLY. Due to low water.

Hi Cruisers,

Well, it ‘s a tough thing to do for all of us that wait a whole year to participate in one of the most unique boating adventures in the world. But after very careful analysis and input from her staff, the Cruise Commodore, Kathy Ryan, has decided that it is in your best interest to CANCEL this year’s 2012 Friendship Cruise. We have very carefully been looking at the snowpack levels on both the Green and Colorado Rivers. We have communicated with representatives from National Parks, Reclamation (Flaming Gorge) and State water officials. We have looked at weather and river forecasts. All have dismal forecasts for water flows on the two rivers. A few weeks ago we thought we could pull it off had the weather cooperated, but the warm weather has added to the problem as the limited snowpack is coming down unseasonably early. Some streams and rivers feeding the Green and Colorado are already hitting their peaks flows and will be over even before the Memorial Day weekend.

Bottom line is that low water would create some real serious problems for outdrives. Rather than you tearing up your equipment and having a miserable time, we just decided it is not worth losing your loyalty, friendship and future support because of our poor judgment.

Hope that you all keep in touch and that you are right now marking your calendars for 2013 which will be the 50th Running of the “Friendship Cruise”.

We appreciate all of you and the many e-mails and support we are getting. Take care and “keep your bows high and your transoms above the water line”.

Commodore’s Message

Welcome to Green River, Utah.  You are about to embark on a unforgettable trip down the pleasant Green River to the confluence of the mighty Colorado and Green rivers and up the Colorado  to Moab, Utah.

Nowhere else is there a boating challenge quite like we have here on the Green and Colorado — 195 Miles of water-way coursing through some of the most colorful and awe-inspiring  panoramas in North America.

The water ranges from “mill pond” stillness to mild “river-runner” fast water and around each bend you will encounter a new and challenging conquest.  Although we have a very few ”fast water” areas on the rivers, the “Sunday Skipper” can negotiate anything there is with just plain common sense –and attain a real and satisfying sense of accomplishment once he or she has been ” down the Green and up the Colorado”. Yes we do, and have had many lady skippers make the trip.

We have named our annual cruise the “Friendship Cruise” for that is the atmosphere you will encounter on the two or three day run from the community of Green River to Moab, Utah. The people participating come from all over the United States and the citizens of our little corner of the world go all out to welcome and accomadate the out of town visitors.  From its early high-speed-race days that started in 1958, the Friensdship Cruise has evolved into the perfect way  for motor boaters to experience the absolute beauty and serenity of Canyonlands National Park that can only be gained from being on the river itself.  Although we no longer “race” the course, the excitment still remains as you wind your way through this primamtive and virtually untouched landscape. You will experience  thrills, excitement and enjoyment unlike anything else you have undertaken.

The Cruise is completely informal. You travel at you own speed, float when you want, stop where want, explore what you want, power up when you want and camp in the plentiful campsites when and where  you want. In short, you make your own fun and relaxation.  Boating and camping with friends always adds to the enjoyment.  Although you could drift for hours without seeing another boat, remember that  for the rare case you might have a problem, there will always  be assistance provided by our search and rescue boats along the way, and by those that “sweep” the river after the last boat has left Green River. In 49 years of running the Friendship Cruise , we have never left a boat on the water.  We take great pride in “Bring them all Home”.

Boating, of course, is the common bond , but more than that, everyone shares a sense of adventure and sastifying accomplishment.

We sincerely and honestly feel that once you have partaken of the hospitality and behold the magnificant “big country” through which these rivers wind, you will return again and again to the land of the Green and Colorado Rivers.

At this point the Emery County Sheriff’s Posse would like to extend an open invitation to all of you to come see us, join the ranks of the “river runners” and a hearty welcome to those who have been with us before.

Kathy Ryan, Commadore