Canine theme marks resident's 10th Glen Ellyn Cardboard Regatta

On most days, a group of six grown men wearing funny hats in a cardboard boat made to look like a dog sled on Lake Ellyn might cause more than a few calls to area authorities.

But on Saturday, Jim Craig and his canine companions expect to fit right in.

The 18th annual Glen Ellyn Cardboard Regatta will take over the lake for a day at the races, and, as always, the themes of the boats will be as much of an attraction as the thrill of watching them sink. The first race begins at noon at Lake Ellyn Park, 645 Lenox Road.

"It's a lot of fun and a great test of engineering," said Craig, 51, who will race for the 10th straight year. "I'm a fanatic. I'm an artist by trade, but I am also a wannabe engineer."

In the past, Craig has been at the helm of a F-15 fighter jet, a boat full of lumberjacks and even a boat made to resemble a Swiss Army knife.

In one race, he created a large dragon complete with dry ice and flexible tubing to simulate smoke coming out its snout.

With nine years under his belt, Craig said he could very easily create a boat that would win the race every year. In fact, he said, he has won about six times in his nine years and teaches a boatbuilding course for the park district. But he said the idea is to have as much fun as possible.

"You try to be fast but you don't sacrifice the creativity," Craig said.

With an established history, Glen Ellyn Park District Assistant Superintendent of Recreation Mary Defiglia said the event has built upon itself and she expects between 50 and 80 entries.

"You get the gamut from first-time boat builders who sink quickly to the guys that can race them three or four times in a day," she said.

For the first time, the boats will be divided into three classes - schooners, yachtsmen and legends - based on experience.

"It's become more than just putting cardboard together," Defiglia said. "Some of these boats are phenomenal."

The boats will not just be competing to see which is fastest. Prizes also be given, including awards recognizing team spirit and the most spectacular sinking.

For Craig, it all started when he and his wife were on a walk near the lake and saw what he called a big party going on. Since his first entry finished 15th, he has become a regular.

"It baits you," he said. "You get some experience and it baits you and you say 'I could have done it a little bit better.'"