Ugly Ductlings members (from left) Daphne Burman, Beata Helland and Ken Ostergaard, put the finishing touches on their boat. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

Norma Schmuldt and Martha Hacker from Grayslake, decked out in yachting finery, waited patiently at Main Beach for America’s Cardboard Regatta to begin.

“We go to boating events all the time with our husbands,” said Schmuldt. “This is our first time here.”

“We’ve wanted to come before,” chimed in Hacker. “It seems like so much fun.”

June 18 marked the 32^nd Regatta held at Main Beach. Hopeful boaters ranged from the simple family entries to complex constructs.

Ugly Ductlings, whose motto is “we live by duct tape,” put the finishing touches on their boat at the park. Ken Ostergaard gave directions while his granddaughter Daphne Burman and Beata Helland followed through with the details.

Silver Tree Brew Crew’s Matt Chambers and Joe Riegle created a complex green and white sixpack, following on last year’s beer-bottle theme.

Corrugated trophy was on display at the event. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

To keep things political in our presidential election year, brother and sister team Luke Knutson, 13, and Jill Knutson, 10, represented the top presidential candidates, Trump and Clinton. Middle brother Max Knutson, 13, not to be outdone, donned a Sanders mask and costume. They named their entry, Cam-PAIN.

Entrants and awards fell into six categories: Paddle/Oar powered (one to 10 people), Mechanical Powered (peddle, etc.), sail powered, Kwiki Boat – $25 on race day (built on race day with provided special kit, paddle/oar powered), Kiddie Cup, ages 5-10 (paddle/oar powered, and Geezer Cup — Participants 50 years and older (paddle/oar powered.)

The boat hulls must be entirely of corrugated cardboard with nothing bonded to it. The hull construction material can be made of any type of corrugated paper, as well as major and minor supports for the hull. The cardboard cannot bonded to any other substance, but it can be waterproofed with a one-part substance, like varnish, shellac, polyurethane or some house paints. Tape can be used on seams but may not be used more than three (3) inches from a seam or edge.

Silver Tree Brew Crew’s Matt Chambers and Joe Riegle created a complex green and white sixpack, following on last year’s beer-bottle theme. (Photo by Adela Crandell Durkee/for Chronicle Media)

About 40 teams got the 200-yard competition underway, with hundreds of men, women, and children watching, in and around the water. Besides the Regatta, spectators enjoyed food, and fine weather at the beach. The local radio station, STAR 105.5 provided music suitable for beach ball bouncing. Although the Regatta is a race, spectators enjoyed watching the ships go down, as hopes and boats dissolved together.

Last year’s event raised more than $6,000 for local charities like Horizons for the Blind, Senior Care Volunteer Network, Habitat for Humanity, Crystal Lake Teen Center, and Turning Point. The money came from participants’ registration fees and spectators’ gate fees.