An Epic Cardboard Boat Regatta Is the Newest Tradition in Salem

Move over Halloween, there’s a new tradition in Salem.

The Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta started in 2023, and after seeing the videos from this year, it’s a tradition that I hope extends to the SouthCoast.

Get our free mobile app

The Introduction of the Cardboard Boat Regatta

The Salem Maritime National Historic Site was the first National Historic Site in the United States. It consists of nine acres of land and twelve historic structures along the waterfront and interprets over 600 years of New England’s maritime history.

“In 2023, we boldly added our exploits to that cherished history with the Great Salem Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta,” said the National Park Service.

While upholding historic integrity is a main focus for Salem, the cardboard regatta was created solely to bring some fun to the waterfront.

To kick off this year's Salem Maritime Festival, friends and families headed to Derby Beach to witness greatness.

READ MORE: Have You Seen This Fall River Car Boat?

The Great Salem Maritime Carboard Boat Regatta 2024

A series of heats consisting of cardboard boats took to the water, resulting in impressive victories and hilarious failures.

Participants were tasked with creating boats out of only cardboard. It could be any thickness, but could not be bonded to any other materials and could not be pretreated, waxed, or coated. Joints and seams could only be sealed by duct tape or paper tape, and could not be wrapped in any fashion.

The official rules of the contest encouraged decorated vessels and required at least two people in each vessel.

With limited supplies and full creative control, you wouldn’t believe what these vessels looked like.

Consider this my official petition to bring the Maritime Cardboard Boat Regatta to the SouthCoast. The only decision to be made now is which harbor to use.