- May 3, 2024
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Many cardboard boats filled Rose Bay on Saturday during the 7th annual Cardboard Regatta at Hidden Treasures.
Race winner Adam Willett raises his oar in victory.
Havana Sun spokesperson Bridget Stavoy (left) and Hidden Treasures store owner Danielle Weber (right) pose in front of the store's Captain Morgan mural.
Race Russell readies for the regatta with his boat "Hawaiian Punch".
"Beach Bagel Cafe" sails out to sea during the rainy cardboard regatta on Saturday.
Hidden Treasure Tiki Bar and Grill store owner Danielle Weber looks forward to the cardboard regatta every year.
In its 7th installment, there was concern that rain would cancel the festivities, but seven brave teams rowed their do-it-yourself boats during a torrential downpour at around 2 p.m. on Saturday.
It was all worth it.
“This event has always been a huge success here,” Weber said. “It’s our seventh year doing it now and people just pour in. We’ve had as many as 13 teams come out with their own boats, and it’s a great time all around.”
The cardboard regatta’s rules are fairly simple. Build a boat made entirely out of cardboard, and be able to row it enough to not sink. Right out the gate, two boats suffered from some flawed engineering, but the majority of the field made it to the end.
Race winner Adam Willett was rowing in his boat titled “Hypersonic” which blew the field away by a solid 20 seconds.
Last year’s winner Race Russell didn’t participate this year due to the weather conditions, but he was confident going into the contest.
“I came down all the way from Maryland to defend my title,” Russell said. “It’s a great time to come down here and I’ve been out the last two years. There’s a really nice camaraderie between everyone that competes, but I think I feel good about winning it again.”
One of the most notable boats in the field was a massive structure meant to fit four grown men. With a gator head at the front and a Confederate flag flying from the back, anything goes at the regatta.
The names of the boats are also a highlight, with names like Hawaiian Punch, Paper Cut and 4 Shore, the creativity of the competition is as fun as the athletic aspects of it.
“I think the regatta itself is a popular enough event where people will come just for that event,” said Jim Shaynak, director of marketing for each of Hidden Treasures’ three locations. “But the place is very eclectic. The regulars talk it up as well. We also have great support from all of our sponsors and especially the Pawsibilities charity has been supporting us for awhile now and it’s a great partnership."
In addition to Pawsibilities, LA Fitness, Havana Sun, Boating Exchange and more sponsored the event.
Every patron in the restaurant had their eyes glued to the contest, so there’s no reason to think it will be going anywhere.
“There are good people here and it’s easy to sell a good product when the product is already there,” Shaynak said.
