BLADES — The third annual Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta will cast off Aug. 6 at the Nanticoke River Public Marine Park.

The Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta is open to anyone who can build a boat from recycled cardboard and paddle it approximately 200 yards to the regatta finish line. First-place awards will be given for winners of races in four different categories: individual, family, clubs and businesses, and non-profits and government organizations.

Boats may be any size, shape or design, but must be made of recycled cardboard. They may (and should) be painted with multiple coats of any one-part polyurethane or enamel paint.

Special awards will be given for “Best Constructed Boat,” “Best Decorated Boat,” “Best Team Effort” and “Most Whimsical Boat.” Also, spectators will be asked to pick a “People’s Choice” award winner, while a special “Titanic Award” will be given for the best and “Most Dramatic Sinking!”

Decorations may be removed after judging, prior to the race start.

The regatta is presented by the Delaware Nature Society’s Abbott’s Mill Nature Center, in conjunction with DNREC’s Division of Watershed Stewardship’s Reclaim Our River Program, the town of Blades and the Nanticoke River Sail & Power Squadron.

The park is at 26 N. Market St. Sign-in and registration begin at noon, with judging of boats’ appearances at 1 p.m. and races starting at 2.

Participants can register the day of the event, but are encouraged to start building their boats as well as registering early for a discounted fee of $20. Registration fee the week of the event, July 31-Aug. 6, will be $30. Participants are encouraged to challenge others to race in the cardboard regatta and can do so by choosing the challenge option during registration to ensure both parties will be in the same race.

Along with the regatta, there will be music, grilled and baked foods as well as snacks and beverages for sale from the Mount Olivet Church.

The Reclaim Our River welcomes event sponsors with proceeds going toward event costs, river restoration and water quality education. Sponsorships begin at $50.

Information, rules, flier and an event entry form are available at Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta, or by contacting Matt Babbitt at matt@delnature.org or (302) 422-0847, ext.102.

A video from the past two years of the Recycled Cardboard Boat Regatta can be found at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDqFDY7eQWU.