Dozens of kayakers took to the Hudson River on Thursday to test the seaworthiness of their homemade cardboard boats during the annual Cardboard Kayak Race. The event, which marked the opening ceremony for New York's City of Water Day, saw teams compete in a series of races celebrating the city's waterways and their increasing cleanliness.
Participants were given just two hours to transform sheets of cardboard into functional watercraft using only duct tape, scissors, and markers. The challenge resulted in a variety of designs, with some teams opting for extensive taping on the underbelly of their vessels, while others focused on reinforcing seams.
Manhattan Kayak emerged as the victor among the 23 competing teams. Their team, which included a kayak emblazoned with a shark graphic and covered in Saran wrap, successfully navigated the river currents to secure multiple wins in the tournament. "I feel amazing! I’ve been training every day, all day for this!" said Thomas Barber, a member of the winning team.
The competition featured a bracket-style tournament, where the winners of each heat advanced to face other victors until a champion was crowned. Despite the creative efforts, some vessels, including those from the city Economic Development Corporation and the "Fingers Crossed" team, sank shortly after entering the water. Other designs, such as the "Dam it We Float," "Crustacean Nation," and a Viking-inspired craft by the Downtown Boathouse, demonstrated greater durability and success in the races.
The event was hosted by Manhattan Kayak and Hudson River Park, highlighting the ongoing efforts to improve the health and accessibility of New York City's waterways. Participants expressed enthusiasm for the unique blend of engineering challenge and water celebration. "This was a really fun day of celebrating New York City waterways," said Stefani Jackenthal, a member of the winning Manhattan Kayak team.