Just when you thought summer in Santa Monica couldn’t get any more delightfully unhinged, along comes the 13th Annual Cardboard Yacht Regatta at the Annenberg Community Beach House on June 14th—a gloriously soggy showdown where duct tape dreams are built, raced, and often spectacularly sunk.
Yes, this is real. No, the boats are not waterproof. And that’s kind of the point.
On June 14, families, friends, and rogue maritime engineers will gather poolside to test their cardboard creations in the ultimate race across the Beach House Pool. The rules? Simple(ish): your yacht must be made of corrugated cardboard, held together with duct tape, powered by human effort (read: frantic paddling), and crewed by two brave souls willing to risk a mid-pool collapse in the name of summer fun.
It’s part art show, part engineering experiment, part comedy of nautical errors. And it’s a local tradition that somehow captures everything wonderful about summer with kids: messy, creative, unpredictable, and—if you’re lucky—slightly buoyant.
The day kicks off at 9 a.m. with a display of the boats in the Beach House Courtyard (a great time to take photos while they’re still dry), followed by races starting at 11 a.m. Spectators can vote in People’s Choice categories like “Most Likely to Sink,” “Best Use of Theme,” and “Most Spirited,” because when your boat doesn’t make it across the pool, you deserve at least a cardboard trophy for style.
And make no mistake—this isn’t just a kid thing. Plenty of grownups get in on the action, whether for the engineering challenge or the sheer joy of watching their carefully crafted vessel disintegrate in public. Think of it as summer camp meets MythBusters.
Important fine print: pre-registration is required if you want to race your yacht (find details on the Annenberg Beach House website or call 310-458-4904). Boats must meet the event’s materials guidelines—so maybe leave the duct-taped pool noodles at home. And if you’re just coming to watch? Bring sunscreen, snacks, and a readiness to cheer (or gently roast) your favorite boats from the sidelines.
In a town that does beach days really well, the Cardboard Yacht Regatta stands out—not because it’s glamorous, but because it’s gloriously goofy, proudly handmade, and soaked in community spirit. See you by the pool.
Get more info and sign up here.
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