Cardboard Boat Races set sail at Peconic River

Cardboard boats will set sail — or not — in the Peconic River on Saturday, Aug. 13 in Riverhead’s Cardboard Boat Races, a crowd-pleasing summer event in downtown Riverhead since 2010. The rain date is Saturday, Aug. 20.

Hosted by the Riverhead Business Improvement District and Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, the event offers races, games and activities for all. There are four races, each of which may take place in more than one heat, depending on the number of boats: Youth Regatta, Yacht Club Regatta, Outlaw and Pirate Race. Awards and prizes will be given to to the first place finishers in each race, as well as prizes for best spirit, Titanic sinking, best constructed and most creative.

Registration for the event will take place from 9 to 10:30 a.m., followed by games and activities, announcements of rules and instructions, and a welcome speech.

Races begin at 11 a.m. and the award ceremony will take place at the conclusion of the races.

All boats must be constructed only of cardboard, duct tape, water-based glue and latex paint. The boats must be under 33 feet and have a name on the boat. No mechanical propulsion, wood, metal, wax or sonic tubes.

Participants can use single-sided paddles of any material and must wear an approved personal floatation device, such as a life jacket, at all times.

For more information about the event, rules and directions, visit the downtown Riverhead website.