CLOSE Thousands of people float down on inflatables in the St. Clair River during the annual Float Down.

Floaters travel down the St. Clair River during Float Down Sunday, Aug. 21. (Photo: MARK R. RUMMEL, TIMES HERALD)

After strong winds blew Float Down participants off course Sunday afternoon many landed on Canadian shores.

Sarnia Police Service Staff Sgt. Scott Clarke said between 1,200 and 1,500 floaters landed in Sarnia.

It took 19 Sarnia Transit bus loads and six hours to return everyone back to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Clarke said.

Clarke said Canadian Customs did not process the citizens, but left that for U.S. officials to do.

“It was a bit of a nightmare but we got through it,” Clarke said. “There were long waits and long lines, they were cold and wet, but they all made it home.”

Sarnia Police Service began getting calls around 4 p.m. Sunday from floaters who needed assistance on the St. Clair River.

Float Down participants wait for a ride back to Port Huron in Canada Sunday. (Photo: Submitted)

Clarke said it was a wet and windy day that participants were not prepared for. However, he said no injuries escalated past some minor scrapes and bruises on the Canadian side.

“No one had (identification) or anything, they were unprepared to be stranded anywhere,” Clarke said.

Contact Nicole Hayden at (810) 989-6279 or nhayden@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @nicoleandpig.

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