This year’s boat races spectators saw 23 boats hit the water, the largest field in recent memory. Much of the credit went to Bart and Austin Tracy of Lasbury Tracy Real Estate, who built 14 cardboard shells for young participants. That gave first-time sailors a jump-start, needing only to waterproof and decorate their boats before setting sail. Judging by a few sinking vessels, not everyone took the waterproofing advice seriously, which made for plenty of laughs.

Winners by category

• Under 9: Englewood Dot, Englewood Fishing Club; raced by Axell Enderley, 9, and Jacob McGinn, 9.
• Ages 10–16: Englewood Dot, Englewood Fishing Club; raced by Jake McClain, 14, and Jordan Fletcher, 12.
• Over 16: Sea Dog, Port Charlotte High School Electrathon Club; raced by Luiz Silva Pinto, 17, and Jesse Porter, 17.
• Captain’s Choice: Blood Sharks; raced by Owen Silberstrom, 11, Erik Strahan, 12, and Bryson Singleton, 11.
  

Organizers said the event’s success was also thanks to the many local sponsors: Englewood Chamber of Commerce, Englewood Sailing Association, Tracy Lasbury Realty, Jubilee Center at St. David’s Episcopal Church, Venice Sea Scouts, Stumpy’s Free Ride golf cart shuttle, musician Dale Shumate, photographer John Bass IV, and food trucks Shaz Shack and Outside the Lunchbox.

The cardboard boat races remain a highlight of Pioneer Days, a community festival that has brought residents and visitors together for nearly seven decades.

The post Englewood Pioneer Days Cardboard Boat Race Winners appeared first on Englewood Review.

The Englewood Sailing Association, along with Lasbury Tracy Realty, is sponsoring the event, offering free cardboard boats to those who want to decorate and enter them in the races. The boats, crafted by renowned local builders Austin and Bart Tracy, veterans of Pioneer Day racing for decades, will be available for a refundable $25 deposit. The deposit will be returned on race day, Saturday, Aug. 30, when participants bring their boats back to race.

Austin and his dad Bart, will construct 10–15 cardboard boat shells that will hold 2 to 4 kids, depending on their size. These will be made of raw cardboard that families can take home, waterproof, and customize to make it their own. If there are not enough boats to go around, a raffle will be held to determine who receives one. However, Bart and Austin will do their best to ensure that each team of kids is allocated a boat.

Racers can take their boats home after pickup to paint, decorate, and customize before returning the following Saturday for the competition. The August 30 races begin at 10 a.m. at the Sailing Center and will feature music, food trucks, pirates, prizes, and community festivities. Spectators are encouraged to bring folding chairs and plenty of spirit.

Race registration is available through the Englewood Chamber of Commerce website. Overflow parking will be located four blocks away at Orange Avenue and Green Street.

For more information and to register for the race, visit englewoodchamber.com/pioneer.

The post Free Cardboard Boats Offered for Pioneer Days Races appeared first on Englewood Review.