Waterfront Festival & Cardboard Boat Regatta
- Cardboard Boat Registration
- Cardboard Boat Registration (PDF)
- Cardboard Boat Awards
- Cardboard Boat Building Rules and Tips
The 2011 Waterfront Festival took place Saturday, September 24, 2011. Next year's festival is Saturday, September 22, 2012.
View pictures of the festival here.
The 2011 Waterfront Festival took place from 12:00-5:00 PM along the Chester River in Historic Chestertown, Maryland's Eastern Shore. It included river cruises aboard the 46-foot RV Callinectes, sailing, kayaking, colorful cardboard boats, pony rides, good food, family fun, Scales & Tales, Fishmobile, Touch Tank, prehistoric fishing techniques and artifacts, watershed ecology exhibits, and live bluegrass music all afternoon. River cruises and activities in Wilmer Park were FREE and open to the public.
Fifth Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta
The cardboard boat race is a signature event of the Chestertown Waterfront Festival that runs from 12:00-5:00 PM on September 24, 2011. Activities included cruises aboard the 46-foot Callinectes, sailing, kayaking and canoeing on the Chester River, good food, family fun, exhibits on watershed ecology, pony rides, songs by Rebecca Pitre and bluegrass by Chester River Runoff in Wilmer Park. Events were organized by the Center for Environment & Society at Washington College, with sponsorship by Chesapeake Bank and Trust and the Van Dyke Family Foundation. Read the article by The Elm describing the events.
Here are the winners of the 2011 race:
- Cape Horn Award for 1st around the course: "Across the Universe" by the Archaeology Lab/Anthropology Club ($200 cash to Capt. Jamie Frees and crew)
- Captain Cook Award for 2nd best circumnavigator: "I-Float" by OIT ($100 cash to Capt. Brian Palmer and crew)
- Robert Peary Award for 3rd across the finish line: "Hop-To-It Again" ($75 cash to captains JoAnn & James Wood)
- People’s Choice Award for favorite boat: "Building Up Dreams" by WC Habitat for Humanity (Capt. Dave Wharton and crew) and "Across the Universe" — a $75 tie between the two boats
- Cutty Sark Award for best design & construction: "Across the Universe" ($50 gift card to Imperial Hotel)
- Kon-Tiki Award for best theme & costumes: "Building Up Dreams" ($50 gift card to Imperial Hotel)
- Linda Greenlaw Award for most team spirit: "WC Women's Crew" ($50 gift card to Against the Grain bakery to Capt. Kelsie Jensen and crew)
- Titanic Award for most spectacular sinking: "Chessie" by the Student Environmental Alliance $50 gift card to Against the Grain bakery to Capt. Amanda Pruzinsky and crew)
- Honorable Mention: “Flock for Life” (Capt. Sally Snover and crew)
- Honorable Mention: “Sea Biscuit” (captains Lynda “Redbeard” Whitley and Patty “Stinkbeard” Griffith)
- Honorable Mention: “Team 24” (Capt. J. Preston Hildebrand and crew)
2010 Waterfront Festival: September 25, 2010
View photos from the 2010 Waterfront Festival! Click here.
The fourth annual Waterfront Festival along the Chester River was Saturday, September 25th, from 12:00 noon to 4:00 PM in Wilmer Park. Sailing excursions, kayaking, river cruises and tours of the College's new 46-foot research vessel, Callinectes, were all free and open to the public.
Popular attractions from 2009 returned, including pony rides, the Horn Point Lab Touch Tank, Scales and Tales, Native American artifacts, and demonstrations of pre-historic fishing technology with Dr. Bill Schindler from Washington College. A competitive tug-o-war tournament, more games in the park, wooden boats and the Phillips Environmental Center "Fish Mobile" rounded out the entertainment. There was also a fish fry and funnel cake lady, home made ice cream, pit beef sandwiches and other concession stands. Prior to the festival, Sultana Projects offered a 10 AM paddling trip with Chris Cerino and a 11 AM sail aboard Sultana.
"The regatta is attracting a wider circle of boat builders," says festival coordinator JoAnn Fairchild. "People are getting craftier and more competitive" now that the race is open to residents of Kent & Queen Anne's counties. Initially the regatta was intended as a one-time only event in celebration of Washington College's 225 anniversary (in 2007), she notes, "but it was so popular that the Center for Environment & Society has sponsored it every year since."
2009 Waterfront Festival
Select a gallery to view photos.
Festival Comments
"Our mighty ship survived without a scratch or leak. James got a little wet from my splashing, but no water came through or over the hull. We were slow (6th place) but solid! The best part is that after the race a gentleman from Silver Spring asked if he could use the boat as the centerpiece of a canned food donation booth in an elementary school. He loaded it onto his boat trailer and the "Testing the Waters" now has a second life collecting food for the homeless. I must say though, completing the course isn't nearly as much fun as sinking. There's always next year!"
--Professor Kevin McKillop
2008 Waterfront Festival Gallery
The second annual Waterfront Festival along the Chester River featured bluegrass music, a kayak competition, tug-of-war tournament, the second annual cardboard boat regatta, and environmental exhibitors. Daring mariners braved the inclement weather and sailed on to a exciting day!
2007 Waterfront Festival Gallery
View photos from the first ever CES Waterfront Festival and Cardboard Boat Regatta!