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The Avengers boat capsizes as other vessels pass by.

The Cardboard Boat Regatta draws crowd to waterfront

WATKINS GLEN, June 16 -- Thousands of spectators, 71 cardboard boats, clear skies, warm weather and plenty of vendor food marked the 20th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta at the Seneca Harbor marina Saturday.

The Regatta was the highlight of Day 2 of the Watkins Glen Waterfront Festival. Day 1 -- held Friday evening in Seneca Harbor Park -- was marked by live musical performances, food, camaraderie and Harbor Lights. (See Features.)

The crowd Saturday lined the park's walkway and lawn, stretched along the full length of the pier and reached the length of the breakwall.

As always, the crowd cheered on the boat participants, who launched near the Village Marina restaurant two at a time.

The crowd also enjoyed, as always, those times when a craft capsized. However, almost all of the boats -- made of cardboard, lots of duct tape and paint -- made it through the course successfully, if in some cases very, very slowly.

Awards went to the following:

Fastest Elapsed Time Multi Hull, 2 or more people – Oversized Load
Fastest Kids Boat (Under 12) – Juicy Fruits
Fastest Teens Boat (13-18) – Heavy Chevy
Fastest Elapsed Time Single Hull-Multi Crew -- R&B Express AKA Osage
Fastest Elapsed Time Single Hull-Single Crew -- Shooting Star
Best Construction -- Oversized Load
Best Lookin’ Boat -- Sea Hogg
"Titanic" Sinking -- Avengers
Best Boat Name -- Winey Lucettes
Best Theme -- American Boys
Judges' Choice -- Slow-Pokes
Goody’s Headache Award – FSU
Schuyler County Chairman’s Cup – R&B Express AKA Osage
People's Choice – Freedom Ours to Defend

Photos in text:

Top: American Boys, captained by Zack Walton, moves along the final stretch toward the finish line.

Bottom: 'Murica makes its way toward the breakwall on the first leg of the race.

The crew of HMS Guidance, captained by Nancy Loughlin, carries the boat toward the water.

Left: Megan's Folly, captained by Megan Sutherland, heads toward the finish line. Right: The final boat to enter the water, Her Pride & Joy II, captained by Jairus Youngs.

A harbor deputy gives a tow to Glorious Gascon, captained by Garrett Gascon.

The Dragonslayers boat, captained by Joshua Desiderio, meets The Addams Family, captained by Brett Brubaker, just past the final turn.

The True Love schooner sails past regatta spectators sitting and standing on the breakwall.

A panoramic view taken from the pier, constructed as though the pier bends at right angles.

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And from photographer Doug Yeater:

Neversink III, captained by Taylor Rorie, gets blasted as it passes by a marina-berthed boat.

Some of the competing vessels were packed full of crew.

Access Midstream, captained by Billie DeMott, nears the final turn.

Some boats were not as seaworthy as others.