OCEAN GATE – It was such a hot day, it was nice to take a dip in the river – whether you wanted to or not.
For those like the winners of the adult level Cardboard Boat Race, Lady Luck, they did a death drop into the shallow water almost immediately after coming ashore.
Meanwhile, other contestants capsized in the first volley of waves. There’s a reason there has historically been a Titanic Award for the boat that “sinks the most spectacularly.”
The event is a mainstay that anchors Ocean Gate Day. Three age groups worth of racers took to the water, trying hard to overcome the initial current. They paddled boats made predominantly out of cardboard, held together by duct tape and dreams.
A variety of different designs were attempted. Some had a sharp bow to cut through the waves, while others were more like a catamaran. Or a box. There was at least one that was just a box.
Decorations were a highlight. The police department’s boat was painted like a cruiser. Another had a hammerhead shark head mounted on the front.
Brothers Colin and Brayden Shannon had a boat with two hulls. There was a lightning bolt on it “for the speed.”
They wanted to name it after the ship from “The Odyssey,” but it turns out that ship didn’t have a name so they called it “The SS Waterworld.” When The Berkeley Times informed them that this shares the name of a movie that famously bombed, the brothers said they would blame their potential loss on the name. As it turned out, the ship wasn’t strong enough to fight the waves of the raging Toms River. Perhaps they were correct that painting the symbol of Zeus on a boat going into Poseidon’s domain would end badly.
Colin Blake went in with a strategy: “We’ve got to move as fast as possible.”
He and his sister Evie were in the youth race in a ship they proudly wrapped in duct tape three times. “We did this all in one day.”
Scores of people cheered from the beach and from the Wildwood Avenue pier. The races took place at noon, in the middle of Ocean Gate Day where people shopped at vendors selling arts and crafts, toys, clothing, and collectibles. Food options included pizza, funnel cake, and more. Drinks, shaved ice, and ice cream helped people deal with the temperatures.
