Recycled cardboard regatta: Whatever floats your boat
By Glenn Rolfe
Sussex County Post
A couple partially sank.
Several others took on water and limped to the finish.
And some finished virtually unscathed, in tip-top ship shape.
Blades Marina at Nanticoke River Marine Park was the venue Saturday for the inaugural Recycle Cardboard Boat Regatta - an event that meshed creative fun with environmental awareness.
“I thought it might break or have a leak, but it went pretty well,” said 15-year-old Estarion Sunborn, who paddled to victory twice with 12-year-old brother Josh to claim both categorical and overall Pride of the Fleet honors.
Their winning entry, christened The Molly Brown, was constructed with ship-building expertise provided by connections at Abbott’s Mill Nature Center.
“I was pretty surprised,” said Josh. “I thought with both our weights combined we’d sink a little more. But we were fine and it held up perfectly.”
The Sunborn brothers from Lewes attend Sussex Academy of Arts & Sciences and are novice boaters.
“We have a canoe at home so that’s probably where we got most of our technique from,” said Josh.
Nine entries took to the water in the event, held by the Delaware Nature Society's Abbott's Mill Nature Center in conjunction with DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship’s, the Nanticoke Watershed Alliance, Nanticoke River Sail & Power Squadron, Nanticoke River Yacht Club, the Nanticoke River Arts Council and the Nanticoke River Marina.
winners of the Titanic Award!
It was the next to last event in the Watershed Stewardship’s “Reclaim Our River” Nanticoke River series.
The mission, said Phil Miller of DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship, is “to bring water quality awareness to the area … and connect residents to the waterways.”
Mr. Miller paddled DNREC’s Blue Frog Bullfrog recycled cardboard craft to a no-leak finish.
“I think we did a pretty good job,” said Mr. Miller. “Besides a little bit of splash it stayed dry. I was surprised; I kind of thought I might get the Titanic Award.”
Nope, those contenders included the Aaron’s Ace Hardware entry, which won its category but took on water in the Pride of the Fleet finale, and the SS Deadline, a craft made in less than a day by Robbie Westhoff and his father Jim Westhoff of Greenwood.
An inadvertent knee bump to Deadline’s side apparently caused a "titanic" bruise. It took on water to the point that Robbie and his sister Delaney had to abandon ship.
Runner-up in the Pride of the Fleet race was The Maelstrom, a Viking-themed entry built to the blueprint of the Disney World ride by Jason Reale of Laurel. He and daughter Monica, 8, won the family division.
“The first hurdle was getting in the boat. I was just happy when I got in the boat and the thing didn’t fold in half,” said Mr. Reale, who credited daughter Monica for “setting the tempo. We had to work in tandem.”
Mr. Reale said it took nine straight evenings to build The Maelstrom, which won the Most Whimsical award.
“I am very tired of looking at cardboard at this point,” Mr. Reale said. “But I had a great time. I think the turnout was good and I look forward to next year’s (regatta).”
“I was kind of surprised by the turnout,” said Mr. Miller. “And a lot of local residents came out.”
The “Reclaim Our River” - Nanticoke Series is devoted to bringing monthly events, workshops and recreational activities to the Nanticoke Watershed. The series offers participants fun opportunities to connect with Delaware’s waterways and provides important information on water quality that can help in protecting aquatic resources.
With the recent signing of the new Chesapeake Bay Agreement, Delaware, along with five other states and the District of Columbia that fall in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed are taking action to help raise water quality awareness.
Frog alert
Jason Beale of the Delaware Nature Society said the goal is to raise environmental and water quality awareness to communities and residents in the Watershed, as well as “economic benefits” of a healthy river, in this case the Nanticoke.
“The Nanticoke is the cleanest tributary in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed,” said Mr. Beale, “but that doesn’t mean it is a healthy river.”
News Editor Glenn Rolfe can be reached at 629-5505 or [email protected].
[used with permission from Mr. Rolfe]
