Posted on: July 6, 2017

The winds were light, the sun was shining and the thermometer hovered around 80 degrees Saturday, July 1, when 30 competitors in the annual Lake Ellyn Cardboard Regatta did their best to navigate the lake’s waters.

The race, an annual summer tradition for decades, was presented by the Glen Ellyn Park District. Congratulations to the winners, to the runners up and to all who took the time to build a cardboard boat and test its float-ability.

With crowds lining the shoreline in Lake Ellyn Park, the boaters created a spectacle, whether they got off to a jack-rabbit start, or experienced some trouble when their watercraft was put to the watery test.

The race was conducted in heats of two and three boats at a time and racers competed in three categories: youth, adult and family. The categories referred to the ages of the sailors aboard.

A boat named Do Oar Dye, captained by Carrie Drobnik, placed first in the youth division. The adult division first-place winner was a boat named “USA,” helmed by captain Micha Chadwneli.

The honors for first place in the family category were taken by a boat named Independence under the guidance of captain Greg Hayden.

Sponsored by Glen Ellyn Masonic Lodge 950, Independence was an homage to the allied soldiers who fought in World War I battles at Flanders in Belgium.

The boat featured a cardboard memorial wall in its center, painted with a scene depicting silhouetted soldiers traversing a poppy field at sunset. At one of the end of the wall was written an excerpt from Canadian soldier John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Field,” penned soon after his close friend died in battle.

An Independence crew member said this year’s Lake Ellyn voyage marked the boat hull’s fifth regatta trip, repainted each time with a new theme and look.

Not every vessel fared as well as that one, but recognition for feats other than fastest time was doled out.

Before it reached the first buoy, the S.S. Stubby began to tip and wobble, ultimately meeting its demise as it took on water.

Built by four recent graduates of Glenbard West High School in just a few days and captained by Michael Setzke, the boat was built to look like a big, gray elephant, complete with tusks and trunk. Crew members said they carried the watercraft about a mile from its storage location to the lake because they didn’t have a vehicle to transport it. When it fell apart on the trip to the lake, the crew got busy with duct tape and managed to restore it so that the SS Stubby could take home the SS Saturation trophy, the prize for best sinking.

The first-place Vogue award, for best-looking boat, went to the SS Chiquita Bananas, captained by 11-year-old Joseph DeMarco.

The bright yellow banana boat, complete with brown freckling, was manned by 8 children. Six were dressed as monkeys, the other two, both boys, dressed as Miss Chiquita, the brand’s fictional ambassador, a lady wearing a fruit-laden hat.

The boat’s entry into the regatta was the first for the DeMarco family and their friends.

“We live in the neighborhood and we come every year and the kids always wanted to do it,” said Melissa DeMarco, Joseph’s mother. “This is one of our favorite events that you guys put on.”

Ten-year-old Anna Cullerton was the captain of “The Minion,” the boat that garnered the  Lake Ellyn Queen title this year.

“We re-used last year’s boat,” said her father, Dan Cullerton. Last year’s Hungry Hippo boat finished second in the 2016 regatta.

The Minion featured a minion creature at the bow and a flaming rocket at the stern.

“Actually, my sister came up with the idea. We went through a lot of different ideas,” Anna said, graciously giving credit to 8-year-old sister Nora.

All boats raced in the regatta must be constructed of corrugated cardboard, glue, tape and paint and all crews must pass an official inspection on race day.

This year’s race day drew hundreds of spectators who set up chairs and blankets around the lake. In addition to the regatta, the event featured live minnow races, with proceeds going to the Glen Ellyn Park District scholarship fund, and concessions provided by the Glen Ellyn Fourth of July committee.

Interested in participating in the 25th Annual Lake Ellyn Cardboard Regatta on June 30, 2018? Registration is now open!