WINONA LAKE – Twenty-eight cardboard boats participated in the regatta race during Saturday’s Canal Days in Winona Lake.
Of those 28 boats, six teams were made up of 17 Edgewood Middle School students, who were coached by EMS teachers Abbi Richcreek and Alexi Demopoulos. Of the six boats, four of them finished the race, while two of them - Big Brain Boys and the Millennium Falcon - sank.
The Big Brain Boys, with team members Brodie Biggs, Jacob Warren and Lukas Tio (not in the boat), sank before launch. The Millennium Falcon, with team members Ben Corson, Ian Overman and Kendrick Bennett (not in the boat) sank later on.
The Edgewood students’ boats participated in two races. Duct Tape Boat, formerly known as The Weird Dragon, participated in one race against Winona Sea Witch and Caution: Wet Floor. The other five boats: Big Brain Boys, the Millennium Falcon, JoJo Bowt, Anpha-tank and Envision 3D Printing & Lazer all competed against each other.
Richcreek said that’s how Fellowship Missions organized the competition and she liked that idea because most of the kids could go together.
She also talked about the sinking of two of the boats. Hopefully, the students who did have their boat sink reflect on their process and get better the next time they do it.
“When you have failure, you learn from your failure and you get better. So hopefully, they’ll come out and again,” she said.
The regatta race serves as a fundraiser for Fellowship Missions and Saturday’s event was the seventh year for the race.

    The SS Sandy and the Warriors start off their race during Saturday’s Canal Days. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union
  

Eric Lane, executive director of Fellowship Missions, said the race started with four boats in its first year and had 23 boats last year.
“I think it’s just a fun event to rally the community around and support what’s going on through Fellowship Missions because the community is a huge part of Fellowship Missions and it’s fun. I mean, look around, everybody is having a good time,” he said.
He thinks the race is going to continue to grow because everyone is going to see how people are having a good time and it’s a fundraiser for a good cause.
“This area is just amazing. All the resources down here. It’s a great family area. And that’s what this is. I mean, you don’t see one age group. You see every age group out here. You see the kids with their Paw Patrol stuff and their parents and families here, their grandparents rooting them on. It’s a community thing. It’s not really one demographic or group that’s involved. Everyone is,” Lane said.
The money raised during the race will go toward programs at Fellowship Missions, such as its recovery programs. People were able to donate during Saturday’s events by buying tickets to vote for the Best in Show during the race. People were also able to give straight donations to Fellowship Missions.

    Sea Patrol and The Meg get situated before the launch of their race at Saturday’s Canal Days. Photo by Jackie Gorski, Times-Union
  

The boats with the best time were Whistlin’ Tractor, with team members Ace Richcreek and Brycen Wallace, at 3:49, kids category; Winona Sea Witch, with team members Jackson and Max Pena, at 4:22, youth category; Flotation Situation, with team members Ellis Hernandez and Deborah Kerr, at 5:17, adult category; and G & G’s Hauling & Excavating’s SS Sandy, with team members Joel and Jay Groninger, at 3:35, corporate category. The SS Sandy won overall fastest time.
The Millenium Falcon, with team members Corson, Overman and Bennett, won the Titanic Award. The award is for the best boat that sinks.
The Best in Show Award went to Winona Sea Witch with 307 votes.