Cardboard Boat Challenge only a week away

The Mermaid Festival/Cardboard Boat Challenge is only a week away, next Saturday, August 27, starting at 11:30 a.m. in the picturesque setting of Indian Beach. As everyone knows from watching the Cardboard Boat Challenge at Fiesta Day, this event is entertaining for participants and spectators alike as boats made from cardboard and duct tape race on the lake.

Pirates are invited to show up for the Mermaid Festival next Saturday, August 27, starting at 11:30 a.m. at Indian Beach. Sign up by August 23 to participate in the Cardboard Boat Challenge at no cost. The race begins at 11:30. Photo by Donna Kupke

All ages are welcome to enter the Cardboard Boat Challenge. The deadline to submit registration forms has been extended to Tuesday, August 23, at 5 p.m. in the Member Services Office. After that, there will be a $20 charge per vessel. (See rules at the end.) Awards will be given as follows:

1st Place in Race: $100 – sponsored by GNC of Lake Elsinore

Best Dressed Pirate Vessel: $50 – sponsored by Jan May, Realtor

Best Dressed Mermaid Vessel: $50 – sponsored by Sue Collins, Realtor

Judges Choice: $50 – sponsored by Cal Ski

The race is only the first in a lineup of activities planned for the Mermaid (and Pirate) Festival. With food vendors, merchants, music, competitions and kids craft area, the event will give guests the chance to enjoy activities in a park setting different from Sunset Beach or Holiday Harbor.

Children are invited to dress up for the Mini Mermaid Competition or the Mini Pirate Competition, both of which offer a prize of $25 donated by the Canyon Lake Woman’s Club.

For adults 17 and older there will be a Big Pirate Knobby Knees Competition (best dressed pirate). The $50 prize is sponsored by the Heart to Heart Foundation and hosted by Aprile McKinnon. Aprile is serving as the event’s master of ceremonies.

The Yacht Club is set to stage a Pirate Battle off shore from Indian Beach between famous buccaneers Captain Black Bob Templeton and Captain Long Shanks Chuck Lafferty.

In the kids’ area, the Family Matters Club will offer $5 wristbands, which comes with unlimited use of the jumpers/slide, game booths, prize table, crafts and tattoos.

Food vendors include Susie Q’s BBQ (specializing in tri-tip sandwiches, pulled pork and nachos) and Classic Tacos (specializing in homemade street tacos). The Woman’s Club will offer hot dogs and kid-friendly pirate and mermaid lunches (PBJ sandwich or hotdog and a drink).

Last year’s Mermaid Marketplace featured some 20 nautical and beach-themed vendors. Organizer Lyne Hall says there’s a little room left for merchandise vendors (not food) at this year’s event.  Some of the vendors include Mermaid Tails, essential oils, Tupperware, accessories, Thirty-one Gifts, Real Time Pain Relief, Uncle Sam’s Daughter, Rapid Transit, Twirlers Club, custom wine glasses, GNC Products for Life and more.

Lyne Hall’s famous “Mermaid Grotto” will provide the perfect backdrop for photo opportunities and competitions on the Indian Beach stage.

Cardboard Boat Challenge

Here are the rules:

• Boats must be constructed of corrugated cardboard and duct tape. Other materials are not allowed.
• Boats cannot be longer than 21 feet.
• To qualify for 1st place, they must remain afloat with everyone inside for the full race.
• Propulsion must be by arms, hands and/or paddles only.
• Coast Guard-Approved personal flotation devices must be worn by all participants in the race.

To become a vendor or sponsor, contact Lyne Hall at 310-210-7366 or ly967hal@gmail.com.