BELFAST — Not to be outdone by their more serious rowing counterparts, participants in this year's Cardboard Boat competition Aug. 16 battled intermittent showers and uncooperative creations to bring in a joyful, if not dry, completion.

The rules for participants are simple: the entire boat must be created using corrugated cardboard. Any thickness is permitted as long as it's corrugated. Single-part, water-soluble glue is allowed between cardboard layers, but that is the only type of adhesive allowed.

Duct-tape is permitted on the joints of the rower's creation, but only for seams and joints, and not as a water-proofing measure. Typical paddles are allowed.

Perhaps the most important rule for the event is the one featured first, which states: FUN is the number one goal.

While not all the water-craft proved sea-worthy, the rowers guiding them all showed the spirit of true captains.

There were 13 boats in this year's competition, including: Blue Nose 3, The Norse Nightmare, The Chamber, Bruce, S.S.B.C.P.P., Barque Ohoy, Valhalla, Boat Shoe, Like a Rock 2.0, Angry Dragon, Yellow Submarine, Rollies & U.S.S. and Rollies 2 S.S. Rollies.

Almost as varied as the entries themselves were the prize categories, which included People's Choice and awards for the most Team Spirit.

The 2014 award for Team Spirit went to none other than the late-joining Rollies gang, which enjoyed vocal encouragement from team supporters on shore, even when the first of two Rollies' entries sunk soon after abandoning shore.

"Turn around and pretend you're ahead of them!," yelled one man to teammates who wore smiles despite their sopping attire.

Other awards included the People's Choice award, which went to the Waldo County YMCA's shark boat. The Angry Dragon won an award for being the Pride of the Fleet and Champion, and Barque Ohoy took home the Submarine Award.

The results of the races, which were held in two heats, included a First Place win for Searsport High School's Yellow Submarine in the Youth Division. First Place for a non-profit entrant went to the YMCA's shark, while Dorothy Havey & the Chamber of Commerce won first-place in the family category with their boat Chamber Pot. The Vanderhoof family won second place in the family category with their boat Norsemen Nightmare.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com