LAKEPORT — This Fourth of July marked the fifth annual Cardboard and Duct Tape Regatta put on by the Lakeport Yacht Club in Library Park.
The event boasted its biggest turnout, according to Yacht Club Director Larry Wiggins, with close to 20 custom-made boats participating. Unlike past competitions, few of the boats, which consisted of only duct tape and cardboard components, actually sunk. That wasn”t the only unusual aspect of this year”s races.
One group of eager competitors traveled from Redwood Valley to participate in the event. After their family agreed to sponsor them, Dillon Campbell, 22, Branden Campbell, 20, and Devin Campbell, 20, joined with friend Kai Lee Herbertson, 19, to build the biggest and most elaborate boat to ever be entered into the competition.
Their boat, which more closely resembled a dragon-headed Viking ship, towered above the four friends and was impressively long.
They immediately took the lead and dominated the adult division of the competition, crossing the finish line first by a large margin.
“I”m super happy, but I just wanted to have fun,” Herbertson said.
Other members of the winning circle included brothers Brenden and Preston Jones in the 12 and under category and 16-year-olds Wyatt Sells and Justin Johnson in the teenage category.
The teenage category sported a very close race. Sells said his favorite part was pulling ahead of all the other boats. Johnson said, “It felt amazing once we crossed the finish line. I didn”t expect everything to turn out so perfectly.”
Yacht Club Directors Ed Posda and Wiggins thanked sponsors Renee”s Caf?, Park Place, TNT on the Lake, Redwood Empire Auctioneering, Main St. Gallery and the Arts Counsel, as well as Ross Kauper for supplying and operating the cannon used at the start of the races.
Wiggins also thanked the members of the Yacht Club, all of which were present at the event.
“Without their help, we are in a world of hurt,” he said.
