MONROE, CT — Sebastian Barneby’s three children told him they wanted to compete in the third annual Wolfe Park Regatta, a series of races pitting homemade cardboard and duct tape boats against one another.
“They told me on Sunday night,” he recalled, but two boats had to be built for the age categories. “I said, ‘I could probably do that. When’s the race?’ Wednesday night. It was a ‘hold my beer moment.'”
Barneby’s family made Rapids, a boat for the 12-and-younger category. Sisters, Rowen, 11, and Saoirse Cummins, 6, would do the paddling. And they used three U-Haul wardrobe boxes to create the Sea Beast for brother, Tristan Barneby.
In short order, Barneby, a Realtor who had studied marine biology when he attended UC Santa Cruze, used his knowledge and love of boats to help design two winning entries.
In the final heat between the top finishers, the long, white Sea Beast knifed through the blue waters of the Wolfe Park Pool as Tristan’s paddling kept it on course and well ahead of the field.
The main reasons for Tristan’s win? “My boat and probably the strength of the paddle,” he said. “Also, you have to make sure water doesn’t get in — and it’s hydrodynamic.”
“Sponsons stabilize the boat Barneby said. “The entire hull is completely waterproof with the Gorilla tape.”
The Cummins sisters’ boat came in third overall.
The children’s mother, Erin, cheered them on, as well as their grandmother, Karla.
Jonathan Dodge, 9, his father Jeff Dodge and his partner, Bobby Woods, had a sturdy looking black boat with the name, Natalia 2 on the side in gold lettering. Jonathan came in second place Wednesday.
“It’s duct tape and a good paint job,” Jeff said before the races. He said his son, Jonathan, paddled a boat named Natalia last year, winning the first heat and coming in second place overall.
“The paddler is the most important thing,” Jeff said of winning a race. “Jonathan practiced his technique today.”
Boat building on display
“It’s something fun and different to do,” Parks and Recreation Director Missy Orosz said of the Regatta. “We always do it on the last Wednesday of June. There’s no electronics. It’s good, wholesome fun. It’s a free activity and a good way for parents and children to bond.”
Prizes include gift certificates encouraging participation in Monroe Parks and Recreation activities and programs, such as going camping, having a picnic, a pool membership and joining a basketball league.
Orosz went over the list of competitors and took photos of individuals and families with their boats before the races Wednesday evening.
“I love it,” Sebastian Barneby said of the Regatta. “I love to see all the different boats people make, the creativity.” Of his own children, he said, “it’s fun getting them into boats.”
Adrienne Stepkoski and her friend, Annie Scarano, made a sailboat in keeping with the theme of the animated Disney movie, “Moana.” Stepkoski, who served as captain, took things a bit further, dressing up as the title character, complete with a skirt and a wig of long, thick black hair with a flower in it.
Jack Cassidy, 10, wearing a black Chicago Bulls jersey, and Carter Stepkoski, 12, wearing a blue Golden State Warriors jersey, built a boat with an NBA basketball theme. It was adorned with cutouts of star players and had basketball hoops at each end.
Sisters, Isabella and Quetzalli Carranza, both nine, built The Titanic with their father, Juan. In their second heat, the girls frantically paddled near the finish line, when their boat lived up to its name, tipping over and dumping them into the water with a splash.
It was all in good fun. The sisters were giggling as they climbed out of the water.
Connor Foley, 8, captained the S.S. Foley, a small, square vessel for one.
The Bolts, a small black boat with yellow lightning bolts on the sides, was captained by siblings, Griffin, 8, and Hailey Avallon, 7. Their parents, Ally and Mike, cheered them on.
The Muneeswaran family arrived later with two boats, The Artist and Sailing to Victory.
The day ended with a fun heat before the awards ceremony.
“It’s down and back,” Orosz told the participants. “It’s all about pride right now. Just finish the race. If you fall, get back up!”
Sea Monster & Rapids Under Construction
All respectful comments with the commenter’s first and last name are welcome.
