The skies were gray and the threat of rain was real, which would normally mean only diehards would show up for a regatta. But Sunday’s 16th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta in Manchester drew a huge crowd, squeezing in every heat before the weather could put a damper on one of the town’s most endearing traditions.
Spectators lined the inner harbor to cheer on a fleet of vessels constructed entirely of cardboard and duct tape. Some were impressively seaworthy. Others were, well, not. (And that, of course, is the fun of it all.)
In the end, Stayin’ Alive, captained by Adrian and Ian Argento, captured the overall title with a time of 46.75 seconds, continuing an impressive winning streak for the Argento family. Last year, Argento and Taylor Hwong took top honors aboard Yabba Dabba Don’t.
This year’s second-place adult finisher (57.4 seconds) was Mike Shaw’s Truth by the Sea.
The kids’ division delivered some formidable competition of its own. Watch My Six, captained by Parker Olson, took first place with a time of 58.28 seconds, followed by sisters Kayuri and Aashika Patel aboard Ships and Giggles (1:07.57). Third place went to Annika Stewart’s Swim for Your Life (1:36.90).
The Patel sisters are no strangers to the winners’ circle. Last year, they captured the kids’ title aboard Double Oar Nothing, continuing a family tradition of regatta participation that has become almost as reliable as the annual October race itself.
One of the day's most anticipated competitions was the ongoing rivalry between Manchester’s Police and Fire departments, which this year came with an official new prize: the inaugural “Responder Cup.” The Manchester Police Dept., captained by Sean Mullins aboard 999 1/2, claimed the trophy with a time of 1:51.86, reclaiming bragging rights after losing to the Fire Dept. last year.
The Fire Dept.’s entry, Sink A Medic, unfortunately lived up to its name. It failed to finish the course, earning the event’s appropriately named “Cat-Ass-Trophy.”
A Fleet of Winners—and Sinkers
Of course, speed is only part of the appeal of the Cardboard Boat Regatta, where creative design, inspired names and questionable engineering can be just as entertaining.
“Best Design” and “Crowd Favorite” awards both went to the Laughing Gull Cafe’s boat, The Gulls Redemption, captained by Morgan Laspesa, Eamonn Joyce and Julia Willwerth. The boat also proved more than just a pretty face, finishing in 1:07.65 and just behind the Patel sisters.
Other entries included A Better Boat, captained by Jamie Mathison (who appropriately overtook Chris Langathanianos’ boat, Has Been); No Scotland, No Party, captained by Lesley Denman; and In Cardboard We Trust, with Caitlin Hwong and Simone Argento.
Summer Hofeldt, whose parents Kim and Bob founded the regatta 17 years ago, teamed up with Jelani Alfano aboard the hilariously named Summah and the Guy She Spends Time With, finished in 1:32.33.
Meanwhile, Eric and Joshua Dokken crossed in 1:39.33 aboard Dock N Donuts. Brian Sollosy, another longtime organizer, completed the course aboard USS Constaption (sic) with a leisurely, 2:06.29 finish, while Star Rage, captained by Viggo Murphy, Oskar Harris and Jacob Pitzi, finished in 2:21.32.
And then there were the Hofeldts themselves. Bob Hofeldt’s Night Terror topped his three-vessel heat with a 2:56.01 finish. Kim Hofeldt brought Rock ’em Sock ’em Robots coming in second.
Not everyone made it.
Akshay Patel, helming the third boat in the Hofeldt heat, once again proved that an inability to remain afloat is no obstacle to becoming a race legend. His boat, Ship Faced, failed to finish and earned the coveted “Worst Boat Eva” award. Patel did, however, help his friend Bob Hofeldt by swimming behind Night Terror. (Watchers were unable to determine if this helped, or hindered Hofeldt in the heat.)
Other casualties were Wally the Green Monstah, captained by Trevor Laspesa; Water Weird, with John Carter and Miles Drape; and Zamboaty, captained by Becci Sollosy. All failed to finish. All had a blast.
The Cardboard Boat Regatta began 17 years ago when the Hofeldts and their friends, inspired by a similar race in New Hampshire, organize a friendly competition around Bob’s October birthday. That first race drew 10 boats. Today, it’s become one of Manchester’s most raucous, fun-spirited events of the year, with town departments, local businesses, families and a dedicated crew of volunteers helping make it happen.
After all, this is an event that proves the prospect of rains will not deter locals eager to see the wildness that comes when cardboard and duct tape meet ingenuity.
After all, freedom really is just another word for, “nothin’ left to lose.”
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