Chad Stuemke, in the water guiding the FURYUS3, participated in the regatta as a student and now teaches industrial design at SIU. Photo provided. (Below) Photos by Yenitza Melgoza and SIU Carbondale.
April 08, 2026
SIU’s Great Cardboard Boat Regatta begins a new half-century of fun April 18
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Have you ever tried sailing a banana? Or perhaps floating on a canopy bed or giant guitar?
There’s just no telling what people will be paddling around Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Campus Lake April 18 when the Great Cardboard Boat regatta makes its 51st appearance. Make plans now to see for yourself.
The competition begins at 1 p.m. in the beach area near Becker Pavilion and it’s a family friendly affair. There’s still time to sign up to participate. Spectators are welcome at no cost. The event will also feature food trucks, bar and grill, vendors and more.
“The Cardboard Boat Regatta is one of those traditions that perfectly captures the spirit of Southern Illinois University Carbondale – creativity, community and a whole lot of fun,” said Brian Croft, the director of Sustainability and Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center who serves as one of the event organizers. “Celebrating the 51st year is incredibly special, not just because of the longevity, but because it continues to bring together students, families and the greater community in such a joyful and memorable way.”
The masters of ceremony for regatta No. 51 are Brandon Herman, star of the “Herman in the Morning” show on 95.1 STEVE FM radio, and Croft.
Everyone is welcome
Admission is free for the regatta with viewers encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets and claim their favorite vantage point to enjoy the spectacle. Race participation is open to all as well, competing either as individuals or in groups of up to 10 people.
It’s a supreme test of creativity, ingenuity and problem-solving skills with some imagination liberally added to the mix. The goal is simple: use sheets of corrugated cardboard to create a human-powered watercraft to successfully navigate a 300-yard long, U-shaped racecourse. Contestants can use glue, caulk, tape, staples or other similar materials to hold their watercraft together. A one-part waterproofing product such as latex paint is allowed as well, but no fiberglass or flex seal.
Racing takes place in several categories, giving all a chance to win:
Class I – Boats powered by canoe paddles, oars or kayak paddles.
Class II – Boats driven by paddle wheels, propellers, plungers or other novel forms of muscle-powered propulsion. Gas or electrical power is a no-no.
Class III – Instant boats, created that day on the spot and powered with provided paddles. The Instant boat kits are available for $20 on a first-come, first-served basis. Included are a 7-foot-by-8-foot sheet of cardboard, a sheet of plastic, a box knife, a nail and a roll of duct tape – all the essentials for crafting a last-minute boat.
Class IV – Kids’ boats, built to any of the standards for the other classes but crafted by youths age 12 or younger. They compete on a shorter course.
Class V – Teen boats for ages 13-17, competing on the full course. The race is a popular event for area schools and youth groups and they got their own division for the first time in 2025.
Scouting organizations, schools, youth groups, families, work groups and assorted teams of all kinds have pooled their energy to create regatta boats the last 50 years and will again in 2026. Alpha Chi Sigma and other SIU student groups will join as well.
“'I love working with educators and adult volunteers to get kids involved in boat building, said Mary Kinsel, the director of BioLaunch Instrumentation and the Mass Spectrometry Core and associate scientist for the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research, who serves as a regatta organizer.. “The kids learn new skills as they build cardboard boats and have fun racing them on Campus Lake.'
The top three finishers in each division, based on times, will earn prizes and bragging rights. There are also several special awards, including the coveted “Titanic Award,” presented in recognition of the most spectacular sinking. There are also honors for the best use of cardboard, the best team spirit, and for people’s choice.
Proud tradition
The Great Cardboard Boat Regatta is now a worldwide phenomenon, duplicated at universities and communities everywhere, but it all began rather inauspiciously at SIU long ago. In truth, cardboard boats first appeared in 1962 at Campus Lake, courtesy of then design department chair Davis Pratt. It seemed to be a one-and-done event. That is, until 12 years later when faculty member Richard Archer, unaware of his colleague’s challenge, hatched a cardboard boat race as a final exam for his freshman dimensional design class. He insisted that creating a successful boat design would aptly assess what his Salukis had learned.
About half of the boats sunk, but it mattered naught. A tradition was born and by 1976, the race was open to anyone, including other universities. W. Larry Busch, SIU art and design program emeritus acting chair/associate professor, hasn’t missed a regatta and for many years coordinated the event with Larry “Skip” Briggs, the emeritus professor in SIU’s School of Art and Design. Briggs also played a critical role in the growth of the regatta prior to his death in 2018. Busch loves to regale people with countless memories he holds dear from decades of regattas.
The national spotlight has shined on the regatta many times in a half-century, including appearances on CNN, Armed Forces Radio Network, Good Morning America (multiple times) and more. Contestants have come from as far away as Paris and New Zealand to test their ingenuity and in 1998, the race drew a record crowd estimated at 20,000, as well as a record 206 entries.
Regardless of the weather, the size of the crowd, or the number of entries, organizers say the regatta is a popular tradition that never goes out of style. For instance, while attending SIU, Chad Stuemke and some of his fellow Salukis created a classic car watercraft, the Plymouth Fury “FURYUS 3” and raced it in the regatta. Now, the 1995 art and design graduate is an assistant instructor in SIU’s School of Art and Design, teaching SIU’s designers of tomorrow.
“I took the foundations (AD-100B) class with Richard Archer because I had heard about the Great Cardboard Boat Regatta and wanted to be involved - and that class launched my design career,” Stuemke said. “The regatta was definitely a highlight of my time at SIU. ”Arch” and that class opened my eyes to the possibilities the design world had to offer. My time in that class and in the Blue Barracks exposed me to the Design Shop and ultimately to the Industrial Design program. Fast forward 30-ish years and you can find me teaching the program’s introductory classes and managing the Design Shop, sharing design with new students each year and thoroughly enjoying watching them get excited about design.”
Stuemke said he “absolutely” enjoyed participating in the regatta and that the experience “without a doubt” made a difference in his life. And, he’s looking forward to this fall, when he’ll have two kids attending SIU.
“Maybe we’ll make the regatta a family affair,” he said.
The boat designs through five decades have been as diverse as the human imagination. Dragons, a Volkswagen beetle, Viking ships, an army helicopter, a space capsule, the Lock Ness monster, and so much more have attempted to sail the lake. Creative and unique monikers for the watercraft have included Root Beer Float, SS Cherry π, The Leaky Sink, The Drowning Dolphin and indicators of timely news, such as “Expletive Deleted,” in reference to the Richard M. Nixon tapes released to the public with curse words omitted, and “Exxon Valdez” after the ship’s tragic oil spill.
Alpha Chi Sigma, SIU’s professional fraternity for men and women in chemical sciences, has organized the event since 2010 and Kinsel said the students have put a lot of time and energy into it.
“I am so proud of all the SIU students that volunteer their time to make the event run smoothly, from taking onsite registrations and collecting waivers to fitting the personal flotation devices and holding the boats steady in the water at the beach as participants load,” Kinsel said. “The SIU students are here early to set up and stay late to clean up. They have my everlasting gratitude.”
Check out the regatta’s Facebook page as well as SIU’s retrospective regatta video and photo gallery for photos, memories and more information from 50 years of fascinating tradition.
SIU celebrated the half-century anniversary of the regatta last year – 2020 and 2021 were skipped due to the pandemic – and this year Touch of Nature Outdoor Education Center and the SIU Alumni Association are joining forces this year with Alpha Chi Sigma and Recreational Sports and Services to ensure a fantastic event, organizers say.
Alumni are welcome to stop by the SIU Alumni Association tent at the regatta from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and enjoy refreshments and giveaways.
Register early and save, volunteers welcome
Sign up by April 10 to be guaranteed one free T-shirt with each registration. There’s a $5 discount for pre-registering, and organizers say it helps with event planning. Register online for Classes I, II, IV or V by Friday, April 10, and pay just $15.
All contestants must submit completed risk waivers as well; parents or guardians must sign for participants under age 18. Speed up the registration process by printing the form, completing it and bringing to the regatta. Registration, waivers, and additional information can be found here: https://ton.siu.edu/campus-programs/carbondale-boat-regatta.php. You can also register in advance by calling Touch of Nature at 618-453-1122.
Participants can use their own cardboard or purchase 7-by-8-foot sheets for $4 each – boats typically take four or five pieces – in Room 110A of the Neckers Building at SIU’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Science.
If you’re the last-minute type, don’t worry as participants can still register from 10 a.m. to noon the day of the event for $20.
Kayak paddles, oars and life jackets are furnished for race participants. Boat inspections are from 10 a.m. to noon.
Purchase additional shirts online through the registration link. A limited number of shirts will be available at the regatta.
For more details, including the complete rules, entry forms, updates and more, visit the regatta website or the Great Cardboard Boat Regatta Facebook page. Email ton@siu.edu or call 618-453-1188 with questions.