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Sailors brave the high seas in homemade cardboard boats

Posted July 12, 2009 11:00 pm

By Gilbert R. Boucher II

Julia Bauschke, 14, and Sydney Schmidt, 8, in the Queen Bee battle another boat during the 9th Annual Lake Villa Cardboard Boat Race. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

It was the moment of truth for the Queen Bee. The time had come to see if the homemade boat was seaworthy, or in this case, lakeworthy.

Sydney Schmidt, Julia Bauschke and Shannon McMullin-Lewis, all of Lindenhurst, carried their cardboard creation into Cedar Lake. Preparing for Lake Villa's 9th Annual Cardboard Boat Race, they spent all morning cutting cardboard, applying masking tape, and spray painting the sides of the craft.

They placed the boat on the lake and it floated. Schmidt and Bauschke stepped in.

So far, so good.

McMullin-Lewis was the last to get in. Suddenly, the vessel capsized. The soaking boat makers came up laughing from the misadventure.

Lake Villa held the boat race as part of its annual Summer Celebration at Lehman Park last month. Twenty boats were entered in three divisions - youth, junior and adult.

The Pirates team from Cub Scout Pack 88 of Lake Villa won the youth division with a time of 2 minutes, 58 seconds. Team Hydro won the junior division with a time of 1 minute, 14 seconds. Allendale won the adult division with a time of 1 minute, 18 seconds.

"The idea is to have fun, and they did," said Lake Villa Township Supervisor Dan Venturi on the participants in the race.

"It is a fun community event. Most people are surprised that the cardboard boats float and make it through the race."

Nearly 100 spectators gathered to watch from the shore as the boats competed, two boats at a time, along the 100-yard course. Surprisingly, most boats completed the course. Some with help.

The Pink Pearl was a well-made cardboard ship painted pink with flowing sails by Summer Zwicke, Abbigail Mehnert and Kelly Kruelach.

"It was a really fun experience," laughed Mehnert. "I've never done this before. The boat stayed afloat and didn't tip over. Which is good. One thing, we didn't sink."

Lake County Republican interns Morgan Robinson, 17, left, Darrell Black, 21, and Bobby Zelm, 20, work on their cardboard boat entry before the start of the 9th Annual Lake Villa Cardboard Boat Race at Lehman Park. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Lisa Stoy of Lake Villa Cub Scout Pack 88 dresses as a pirate during the 9th Annual Lake Villa Cardboard Boat Race at Lehman Park. The rules require that the boats be made entirely of cardboard, masking tape and paint. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

Jennelle Kruelach, Little Miss Lake Villa Kelly Kruelach and Junior Miss Abbigail Mehnert try to steer their cardboard boat called The Pink Pearl along the racecourse during the 9th Annual Lake Villa Cardboard Boat Race at Lehman Park. Gilbert R. Boucher II | Staff Photographer

<div class="infoBox"> <h1>More Coverage</h1> <div class="infoBoxContent"> <div class="infoArea"> <h2>Video</h2> <ul class="video"> <li><a href="/multimedia/?category=9&type=video&item=373">Watch 'em go </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div>

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