Get Ready for the 20th Annual WiLd CaRd-board Boat Races!
20th Annual
Wild Card-board Boat Races
Saturday, August 8, 2026
On-site boat building begins at 9am, first race kicks off at 1pm!
Some of our favorite themes from previous years:
Pirates on the Hudson • Great Explorations • Cosmic Cardboard
Fire on the Water • Birds of a Feather • Mission: Possible
Rock the Boat • Fairies on the Ferries • Bridge Building
Beacons & Barges of the World’s Canals • Whatever Floats Your Boat
Let’s Celebrate 20 Years of Cardboard Boat Races!
Get ready for a splashing good time at the 20th Annual Wild Card-board Boat Races Festival:
2026 marks the 20th anniversary of Hudson Crossing Park’s Cardboard Boat Races, so to celebrate this amazing milestone we’re making this year’s races a Wild Card! Build your boat based on ANY past theme to participate in the 2026 themed race! Join us at Fort Hardy Park Beach in Schuylerville for a day filled with excitement and laughter as sailors of all ages compete in the ultimate cardboard challenges.
Witness the incredible ingenuity as participants construct boats entirely out of cardboard or 100% recycled materials and race them across the Hudson River. It's a test of creativity, engineering skills, and sheer determination!
Whether you're a participant or a spectator, this event promises fun for everyone. Cheer on your favorite boats as they navigate their cardboard and recycled vessels across the river, hoping to reach the finish line without sinking!
Bring your family and friends along for a day of adventure and discovery. Explore the park, enjoy delicious food from local vendors, and soak up the lively atmosphere. Don't forget to bring your sunscreen and a towel, as you just might get wet if you decide to challenge friends, family, co-workers - you name it! - to compete for one the coveted boat race awards: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for speed, the Titanic Award, Most Enthusiastic Crew, Judges Bribe Award (“Bribes” are considered donations to Hudson Crossing Park), People’s Choice, Overall Best in Show, and Most Sailors Left Afloat!
Save Time the Day of the Races! Download and fill out your paperwork to bring with you!!
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Save Time the Day of the Races! Download and fill out your paperwork to bring with you!! 〰️
Registration fees will be collected “at the door” on race day,
but you can fill our your forms now!
(Please note that an additional $10/sailor fee will be due the day of
for insurance for all participants. )
Print out copies of your registration and liability release and bring them the day of the races.
ALL COMPLETED PAPERWORK MUST BE HANDED IN AT THE REGISTRATION TABLE THE DAY OF THE RACES.
If you have questions don’t worry - volunteers will be on hand to help you through the process and/or register you in person if necessary.
Basic Rules for Racing
Be SAFE and have FUN!
Participants must be 7 years old or up to set sail alone.
All sailors MUST wear Coast-Guard approved personal floatation devices. PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR OWN!
Registration release forms must be signed by participant, parent, or legal guardian over the age of 18.
No sharp objects on board vessels.
Any boat deemed unsafe to others (or to the river) will be disqualified.
Paint, if used, must be dry before launching. Water based paint only - no oil based.
Boats may be pre-built or built on-site. All boats will compete within the appropriate class.
The “cabin” of the boat (where the crew sits) may not be enclosed above shoulder height.
Boats, boat parts, and debris must be completely removed from the river and park.
Crews must take recyclable boats with them. Cardboard boats may be left on-site for removal by Hudson Crossing Park volunteers. Please place in appropriate designated area.
Boat Classes
2026 Themed Race – Wild Card!
Open to any boat (both pre-built and built on-site, cardboard and recycled)Prebuilt Cardboard - Open to all ages, must have been pre-built
Pre-Built 100% Recycled - Open to all ages, must be made from 100% recycled materials and must have been pre-built
Corporate Challenge - Any boat (pre-built or built on-site) sponsored by a business or organization
Sam’s Race - A kid’s paddle open to 7-12 year olds in any cardboard boat (both pre-built and built on-site)
Built On-Site Cardboard - Open to all ages, must be built on-site
Built On-Site 100% Recycled - Open to all ages, must be made from 100% recycled materials and built on-site
Most Sailors Left Afloat - Any boat built at any time
Registration Levels
Individual & Family: $35 per sailor ($100 Maximum Per Boat, plus additional insurance fees)
Small Business/Non-Profit: $150/Boat plus additional insurance fees
Corporate: $200/Boat plus insurance fees
Acceptable Materials for Boats Entered in the Cardboard Classes:
Cardboard Boat Okay Materials.
Plastic or wooden brooms.
Flat canoe paddles (no double/kayak or scoop paddles.
Only corrugated cardboard in any amount.
Caulk and or glue.
Duct or paper tape in any amount.
Latex based paint.
NOT Okay Materials.
No materials that will pollute the river.
No staples.
No sharp objects.
No laminated, waxed, oiled, or peeled surfaces.
No sono-tube.
No foam, plastic, or rubber.
No oil based paints
Acceptable Materials for Boats Entered in the 100% Recycled Classes:
Almost anything goes - as long as it’s not dangerous or polluting! Materials cannot have been part of a real boat or floatation toy/device in any previous form. You CAN use soda bottles, milk jugs, plastic sleds, plastic swimming pools...use your imagination! And of course, you must recycle your boat and all materials once the race is over!
Where to Begin?
Believe it or not, there are lots of online resources for building a cardboard boat that will stay afloat!
We highly suggest you spend some time googling ideas to see what others have tried…and sometimes failed…to keep above water. Then you can:
1. Decide what class you’d like to enter. It can be one or more - you decide!
2. Gather your supplies - or, if you’re going to build the day of the races, show up early and snag the best cardboard! Appliance and “big box” stores (pun intended) are often more than willing to give you their scrap corrugated cardboard. We also suggest that you have plenty of duck/packing tape to seal your boat with. Check the Official Rules and Regulations packet (click the button above) or scroll down for what materials are acceptable in the Cardboard Boat Classes.
3. Unleash your inner designer! Draw up the best boat you can imagine and start building!
