The Rotary Club of Cape Coral is holding its annual Cape Coral Cardboard Boat Regatta this weekend at Four Freedoms Park.
Jim Perry, chairman of the event, said the number of boats registered for the event grew after a local Boy Scout troop entered nine boats recently.
“We are up to 38 boats,” he said. “We are really excited.”
Perry said they are thrilled about the community involvement they have received for the event.
The boat races will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday. The 50/50 raffle winners and award ceremonies will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday as well.
For the first time, the Rotary Club extended the Cape Coral Cardboard Boat Regatta to include the SunCoast DockDogs event.
Perry said owners of the dock dogs throw either a Frisbee or a ball for the dogs as they jump off the dock. They are judged on how far or how high they jump off the dock.
Anyone can bring their dogs to participate in dock dog 101 for a $15 donation.
The SunCoast DockDogs competition will be held Friday and Saturday with the finals beginning at 10 a.m. on Sunday.
Last year the event attracted almost 8,000 spectators for the weekend festivities. The event helps the club raise money for the various projects it does for the community.
The Nauti-Skippers Boat Club put on the first race in 1994 with only members of the club participating. The following year the Merry Mariners challenged the Nauti-Skippers to see who could build the fastest boats. The race then opened up to any boat clubs located in the area during the third year.
In 2004, the Rotary Club took over the event and opened it up to businesses, schools, youth groups, groups of friends and non-profit organizations who wanted to design a cardboard boat and participate in the race.
The event is very unique, Rotary Club President Timothy Hauck said, which is what makes it so special.
Four Freedoms Park is located at 4818 Tarpon Court.