By Darren Johnson
Journal & Press
Hudson Crossing Park’s annual Cardboard Boat Race will now be a part of the Turning Point Festival day of activities this Saturday with the event going on from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. along the riverside in Schuylerville’s Fort Hardy Park.
The earlier part of the day is devoted to registration and boat-building while first launch is expected at 2 p.m. So, if you want to participate, show up early. If you just want to watch, you can go after lunchtime — or find a meal at the park.
If you’ve never been to one of these, it’s quite the spectacle, with a PA system and announcers and lots of suspense because many of the boats aren’t all that seaworthy. But there are awards even for sinking spectacularly.
Now in its 18th year, this boat race is titled “Great Explorations” with a theme celebrating “all who have – and will! – explore the mighty Hudson River and New York State Canal System.”
Participants and spectators can enjoy the festivities with food by the Wandering Food Dude as well as a bake sale to benefit Hudson Crossing Park, live music by the Zucchini Brothers, and lots of cardboard construction on site. Environmental education activities, canal trivia and photo opportunities will round out what is expected to be a fun-filled day for all.
Concurrently, the Friends of Fort Hardy Park Dog Days of summer festival will also be happening.
So stick around Schuylerville because the 2024 Turning Point Festival will continue to 4 p.m. and beyond with an eclectic offering. From local food vendors to live performances, the atmosphere will be, according to a press release, “electric with excitement.” The festival will wrap up with a fireworks display after dusk.
The Goods in this past Sunday’s Turning Point Parade.
Slow and Steady and Lots of Duck Tape
Regarding the Cardboard Boat Race, I recently sat down with the Good family – Silas,14, Isaac 12, and their mother, Kara, at the boat launch site in Fort Hardy Park -- and father Richard will be at the race. They are from Saratoga Springs.
The Goods have been competing in the contest for a decade – there was a break during the pandemic when the race didn’t run – and they often win, either outright or one of the contest’s fun awards, like the Titanic Award, where a prize is given to the most catastrophic sinking, or the Judges Bribes Award, where one can offer donations to Hudson Crossing Park to get a more favorable score.
But the Goods have also gotten some outright 1st Place honors for speed.
Sailors will also compete to see who wins 2nd and 3rd place awards for speed, Most Enthusiastic Crew, People’s Choice, Overall Best in Show and Most Sailors Left Afloat.
The Goods have taken or at least competed for all of these honors in the past decade.
Here is our conversation:
Darren: So the race is in its 18th year, and you’ve participated in 10? And have you ever won?
Silas: Yes, last year was the best. Our boat was way stronger than previous years.
Darren: And how much did you win by last year? A good deal?
Silas: Yes, I think we lapped some boats.
Darren: You also won the Titanic Award?
Kara: The idea on that last race is you put in as many sailors as you can. The goal being that if you sink it, you're just done with it, right? And then there's a big dumpster on site and you put your boat in the dumpster.
Darren: What’s the secret to creating a good boat?
Silas: Well, it's going over the top on structure, making it overly durable, and cardboard layers, and not really caring about speed.
We did a couple of years with a canoe design. We did really good two years with it. And then, in our third year, we got in on top of the side, and some water just flooded in. So getting in is a big part of the race.
Isaac: Also, if you put a lot of Duck Tape on it, then, because you always get water in it — like when you get in, because you splash it in — and then when you're paddling, you just get water in it, so you have to have lots of layers of cardboard on it.
And also to put Duck Tape in the inside, so that it doesn't soak down into the cardboard.
Silas: And have a design that forces water to the side of the boat.
Darren: I see you brought some models with you.
Silas (showing the models): This, we won two years with, and then the third year, we got in on the side, and it immediately sunk. But, to this boat, you have to be really careful getting in. This is the best. This is the best design. But it takes a long time to build.
Isaac: We spent like four hours.
Silas: A lot more.
Darren: How much Duck Tape can you use? Is there a limit?
Silas: No, there's not.
Kara: The prices are the limit.
Darren: So some people might just make a boat that's pretty much all Duck Tape?
Silas: Yeah, we use like $50, $60 worth of Duck Tape.
Kara: We used 16 rolls on one float, I think.
Darren: Think there will be a lot of entries this year?
Kara: Yes, but we're also really surprised that more people don't come and enter. It's just so much fun.
Silas: There's so many people here, but there are not so many boats.
Kara: There are curious people. But the boat entries are quite small.
Darren: How many people can go in a boat?
Silas: Anywhere from one to whatever you want.
Darren: You seem like an expert in this. Are you strong in STEM subjects in school?
Silas: I'm on the robotics team. I know CAD, computer design.
Darren: So that helps. Maybe you can make a more efficient boat.
Isaac: I mean the aerodynamics do add a little bit, but basically if you don't sink, and you're strong paddlers, you can win.
Silas: If you have like a flimsy, really aerodynamic boat, that's worse than having a stronger square boat.
Isaac: And also a big factor is some people, like they had a good strong boat, but then they made the sides like a foot and a half, two feet tall. So you can't paddle comfortably. And you can't get leverage on the paddle.
You want to hold the paddle with your base hand near the actual paddle. If you have to hold it near the top, you can't get not even close to as much leverage.
Silas: A lot of it is getting in though. And also how to get momentum when getting in.
Darren: What can you use besides cardboard and Duck Tape?
Isaac: You're allowed to use packing tape, certain paints that don't pollute the river.
Darren: So the key is having a seaworthy boat, and it’s pretty safe out there.
Kara: Well, because we have the fire department present. We have all these safety boats out here. They're wearing life vests. We feel like it's very safe; you want people to be comfortable.
Darren: You're on the cardboard boat race committee and all the planning that goes with it.
Kara: There's a lot of planning. Sponsors and planning are a big part of it.
Darren: What types of prizes can you win?
Silas: You go up in the pavilion and they have just different assorted stuff. T-shirts, water bottles, fishing poles, gift cards, fishing gear, a baseball glove. Whatever they can get donated.
Darren: Say someone isn't in the race. What can they do? What else is there to do at the event?
Kara: There's food. You can watch the races, enjoy the races, walking around and talking with people and looking at boats.
Darren: It sounds like this race has become a tradition for you. Best of luck in the races.
The Goods: Thank you.
There’s still time to enter the race. About 30 contestants are expected. Why not be one of them — for a good cause, too!
Individuals, families, groups, businesses, and school teams are all encouraged to compete. Racers may construct their boats ahead of time or on the morning of the event where materials will be available onsite for a nominal fee.
Admission is free for spectators. On-site registration for sailors and cardboard boat construction is open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., and the first race launches at 2 p.m. Rules, registration forms and hints to get started with boat building are available at www.hudsoncrossingpark.org. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Some more photos our paper took last year:
And that’s our newsletter for today. More tomorrow!