Crystal Lake Cardboard Cup Regatta fun to watch

"Good Ship Lollipop" looked innocent enough at first glance with its colorful candy decor.

But what fellow competitors and spectators at the America's Cardboard Cup Regatta didn't realize was that it was a battleship in disguise, equipped with water balloon launchers.

"We were just trying to make it silly as possible so the boaters will throw water balloons at us so we can fire on them," said its captain, Tim Miller of Crystal Lake.

The ship was a 25-foot long behemoth that measured 5 feet wide with 12-foot tall masts and a working helm so Miller could steer.

It was one of about 40 that competed Saturday in the 26th annual America's Cardboard Cup Regatta at Main Beach in Crystal Lake.

The event raises money for local charities. It had been postponed in late June due to high E. coli levels and looked in doubt earlier in the week but got the all-clear to race on Saturday.

Boats competed for speed in categories like paddle, mechanical and sail powered. But being fastest wasn't necessarily the goal of the day for everyone at the event.

There also were awards for most spectacular sinking, most enthusiastic crew, boats with a patriotic theme, most creative theme, most attractive, people's choice and ugliest boat.

Hoping to get points for creativity was Rich Louderbough of Crystal Lake and his crew manning a "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" themed-boat dubbed "The Nee." The group was decked out in full costume.

"We just have a ball," Louderbough said. "This is the most fun part interacting with the crowds and meeting people."

Fortunately their emphasis was on the social aspect since they struggled a bit with the sailing. "It's hard to ride with an Iron Maiden mask on," the announcer teased them.

The "SS Minnow" may not have inspired confidence either but the crew, dressed as the cast of "Gilligan's Island," was hoping for awards for most enthusiastic or people's choice.

"It's just a good time out here," said Skipper Wayne Alpert of Crystal Lake. "It's family fun. They come out and cheer you on."

When they hit the lake, Gilligan shot water at spectators who were watching from boats of the non-cardboard variety just outside the course.

"Shooting people for giggles or pumping water out of his boat we're not sure," the announcers joked.

While the elaborate designs attracted attention while on shore, it was some of the more unassuming watercrafts that turned out to be the fastest on the water.

Simple was the name of the game for the aptly named vessel "Boat" manned by the 4-H Club of Crystal Lake.

"The boat is simple so we just decided the name should be simple too," said Bridget Lagerhausen, 16.

Manning the small and sparsely decorated craft, Colin Lagerhausen 12, and AJ Polizzi, 13, paddled past their competitors to win the first heat of the day as teammates Laura Polizzi, 17, and Hannah Frank, 16, cheered them on.

If they didn't wind up with an award for their quick time, the group said they'd be fine with a trophy for the ugliest boat.

Unity Church of Crystal Lake's Uniteen group was steering clear of ugly Saturday. The group was stressing the power of imagination this year with a 'Where the Wild Things Are" theme. The teens crafted three large characters from the book to ride along with them and were hoping to rack up awards for their creativity as they did in the past for their giant toilet boat.

"It's more about the process of creating it that's so much fun," said Uniteen Coordinator Maria Wubs. "If it floats and doesn't fall apart - it's great."