16 teams competed, won various awards

There were plenty of captains, plenty of cardboard and, plenty of spectators on hand for the 26th Annual Taft Public Library Great Cardboard Boat Race held in July.

Sixteen homemade boats took to Lake Nipmuc for five races, while more than 300 spectators gathered along the shore (and in pontoon boats near the finish line) to cheer on the competitors. 

In the One-Person Craft division, Mark McNaughton took first place aboard Yellow Submarine. Memphis Drake came in second with Piggyback Ride, followed by Melly Drake and Mellicorn in third.

The Two-Person Craft competition was won by Eva Golden and Lilly McNaughton in Princess Pirates. Dona Neely and Aiden Ford took second place with Beak and Buccaneer, while Adam Rebello and Dylan Rebello finished third aboard The Wayfinder.

The Three or More-Person Craft division saw Willa Montag, Weston Montag and Ian Butler take first place with Lost to Fall Damage. Trevor Byrne, Mack Byrne and Molly Byrne finished second in Mack’s Hero Headquarters, while Cam Montoya, Zack Montoya and Emi Montoya took third with Sink to Lobby.

The Family Craft division was captured by the Flannery family. Sondra, Bella, Olivia, Julia and Gemma Flannery paddled Gone Fishin’ into first place. Second place went to Unsinkable Luau, crewed by Willa McBee, Elisa McBee, Laina McBee, Cayla McBee and Pam Kuhs; while third place went to Narwhal and Jelly with Travis, Meaghan, Memphis, Melly and Murphy Drake at the helm.

In the Group Challenge, the Mendon-Upton Cub Scouts proved that teamwork can go a long way. World Cubs 2026, crewed by Fin Histen, Freya Histen, Bodie Gates, Aditya Shenvi, Benji Welch, Jacob Stover, Ava Horner, Emily Horner and Mark McNaughton, took first place. And the Mendon Senior Center crew of Peg Nogueira, Paul Bouchard, Karen Mills and Kathy Hunt paddled The Cat in the Hat to second place.

Judges issue special awards

This year’s panel of judges included State Rep. Brian Murray, Mendon Assistant Town Administrator Jen O’Neill, Mendon Assistant Town Clerk Rory Crisfield, Mendon Fire Chief Jason Bangma, and Jack MacLellan of the Mendon Board of Health.

The Pride of Mendon Award for most creative design went to World Cubs 2026, while Unsinkable Luau took home the Captain’s Choice Award for most attractive boat.

The Flannery family and Gone Fishin’ earned the Esprit de Corps Award for being the most spirited and organized team.

The Perseverance Award, which honors the competitors who never gave up, went to Black Pearl, crewed by Emily Horner, Ava Horner, Julie Horner and Jim Horner.

The Titanic Award, for the most spectacular sinking, went to (coincidentally) Sink to Lobby.  

The Surprise Award, for the boat that surprisingly floated, went to Mack’s Hero Headquarters, crewed by Trevor Byrne, Mack Byrne and Molly Byrne.

And the Flower Power Award, which best represents the library’s summer reading theme - Plant a Seed…Read!,” went to the Mendon Senior Center crew of Peg Nogueira, Paul Bouchard, Karen Mills and Kathy Hunt for The Cat in the Hat. 

State Rep. Brian Murray said, in a Facebook post after the event, “It was great weather and a great crowd as we all watched some very well-designed boats with enthusiastic crews navigate the shores of Lake Nipmuc at the Town Beach. Congratulations and thanks go to Library Director Andrew Jenrich, his staff, volunteers and Trustees of the Taft Public Library for their hard work in organizing this event and making sure that it continues as a Mendon tradition.” 

To see and hear a portion of this year’s race, visit https://bit.ly/MendonCardboardBoatRace2026.