Grayslake hosts cardboard boat regatta
"Miss Behave," with a new coat of red paint on her sturdy cardboard frame, took first place in Grayslake's Great Cardboard Boat Regatta Saturday at Jones Island Beach.
The Class II boat is not new to the winner's circle.
It took first two years ago in the inaugural regatta, as well as a win in the America's Cardboard Cup Regatta June 28 in Crystal Lake. She also earned the Vogue award for good looks Saturday.
A gift to new owner Gandi Falcon, "Miss Behave" swept around the 200-yard course at Jones Island Beach in 1 minute, 40 seconds, said Falcon's wife, Tracey, who pedaled her way to victory.
"It's so much fun. This is my second year competing," said the Aurora resident.
"Miss Behave" was among 24 cardboard crafts competing in Saturday's regatta. With the exception of "Miss Behave," all were Class I boats powered by oars and paddles and Class III boats built on site. Boats raced in heats of two, and those with the fastest overall time qualified for the semifinal and final heats.
Participants used yards and yards of duct tape and a lot of creative license to improve the seaworthiness of the cardboard crafts. Sometimes it worked; sometimes it didn't.
A hat that looked like an engine served as the inspiration for the Glaad Gang entry. Captained by 6-year-old Gabriel Beutel and manned by dad Dale Beutel, the dragster quickly sank in Gray's Lake Saturday, earning the "Titanic" award for the most spectacular sinking.
Inspired by an "engine" hat, Dale recycled paddleboat wheels from his entry in the inaugural event.
"It's a lot of fun, and we have a good time with this," said Dale's wife, Amber Beutel.
"This is just so much fun to watch," said Tammy Steinbeck, who watched the event with her husband Jim and sons: Ben, 9, Luke, 6, and Ty, 2. "Next year, Ben and Luke are thinking of making a boat."
Contestants in the races ran the gamut as far as age. Many were hometown favorites, while others traveled from neighboring suburbs and as far as Munson, Ind., to compete, said regatta coordinator Tracy Putkonen.
For the Grayslake council of the Knights of Columbus, it was a chance to celebrate 20 years with its entry, the Santa Maria. Mike Peterson, Tim Deck, Dan Kalata and Don Zmija of Hainesville manned the ship. Weighing about 400 pounds, the replica of Christopher Columbus' ship earned the Pride of the Regatta.
Other winners included:
Best-Dressed Team: M1 Sinker crewed by Jude and Shenandoah Krauss of Hawthorn Woods
Team Spirit Award: Peace Out crewed by Island Lake residents Adrianne and Tim Barkhurst, Jack and Pardess Mitchell, Wes and Stephanie Kelly and Darcy Abrams.
And in the Class I Division, Waki Waikiki was a winner, crewed by Grayslake resident Nancy Musselman and Gurnee resident Lori Hill, while Team Awesome won in the Class III Division with Reid Chapman of Hainesville at the helm, Putkonen said.