June 26, 2018
Chris Gerbasi
For anyone whose lifelong nautical dream is to compete in a cardboard boat race, the Lake County Rowing Association has the perfect event.
The association is looking for people who want to build a boat and “sail” in the first annual Clermont Cardboard Classic boat race Aug. 4 at Waterfront Park in Clermont. The event will include races for all age levels, prizes, food trucks, vendors, a beer garden, a splash pad, and a free concert featuring the band Switch Back to the Eighties.
Boats can be built by adults and children, groups, businesses, nonprofit organizations, schools, and more. Photos and videos with ideas for designs are available at facebook.com/clermontcardboardclassic/ and rowlcra.org/ccc, which also outlines registration, rules, entry fees, and the event schedule. Proceeds go to the Lake County Rowing Association youth program, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Members of the rowing association will be on hand at the First Friday Food Truck event Aug. 3 in downtown Clermont with some of the boat entries to promote the event and conduct some of the voting.