Seafair gets under way with nautical moo-neuvers

Have you noticed your neighbors drinking a lot of milk lately? Perhaps their recycling bin isn't full of plastic jugs and paper cartons as usual? Could be they're participating in Saturday's Milk Carton Derby -- the official kickoff to the annual Seafair festivities.

COMING UP

SEAFAIR MILK CARTON DERBY

WHEN: Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

WHERE: Southwest shore of Green Lake

COST: Free; $5 donation encouraged for halftime show

INFORMATION: www.seafair.com

Nearly 100 boats carrying fearless mariners will sacrifice their dignity for a little fun on Green Lake. Life jackets are required, because not every milk carton boat is seaworthy.

The Nichol family is hitting the lake for its first Milk Carton Derby.

"We know about construction because the kids are always building things out of Legos, and we know how to canoe," Elizabeth Cross Nichol explains. "I'm going for stability, but my husband is going for speed."

The family has never seen the derby, but saw a story on it in a local magazine and decided to give it a try.

"Dolphin Dance" is a catamaran designed to hold about 600 pounds -- that's two adults, two children and the weight of the boat itself. For that, the Nichol family needs 350 milk cartons. Earlier this week, they had only 240, so mom was thinking they needed to either redesign or start guzzling the moo juice.

Other boats registered to compete are "Soy Wars," built out of soy milk cartons, the "Bovine Belle," paddle-wheel boats and a pirate ship. They're all competing for more than $10,000 in prizes, including concert tickets to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, a $500 Starbucks card, and four round-trip tickets to any Southwest Airlines destination.

A prize also will be awarded to the boat making the best use of Gabby, spokesdog for the storytelling game Baffle Gab.

Boats compete in five classes. The racing category is for any boat whose design and intent is for speed, including sculls, kayaks, surfboards and racing-type catamarans. Military boats must have at least one crew member who is active-duty military. Commercial is for boats with a company name, logo or slogan.

The open category is for any style other than racing, military or commercial, for which design, not speed, is the primary purpose. Prizes for the open class are awarded in three categories: child (ages 8-13), adult (14 and up), and family (kids up to 13 accompanied by at least one adult).

The showboat category is for boats that only participate in the Parade of Boats. The craft with the most imaginative design and creative use of milk cartons will win the showboat award.

New this year is the Children's Lunchtime Show from noon to 1 p.m., featuring the Valentines Performing Pigs. These hogs dance, jump in the air, play catch, slam-dunk basketballs and even roll across a stage on scooters and skateboards.

Spectators also can pet the pigs, get their faces painted, catch a magic show by George the Magician, watch the dragon boat races, listen to the Dock Side Barbershop Quartet, and meet the Seafair pirates and clowns.

In the Children's ReCreate Zone, kids can construct miniature milk carton boats.

The Seattle SeaGals will be there, and local hydroplane legend Chip Hanauer -- who knows a thing or two about boats -- will sign autographs 1-2 p.m., as will current driver Jeff Bernard, 11 a.m.-noon.

Milk Carton Derby rules -- yes, there are rules -- state that boats must use only 1-quart, half-gallon or gallon milk cartons or jugs, and must be human-powered -- no motors of any kind.

Always thinking about safety and seaworthiness, Elizabeth Nichol hot glued all the cartons, and then the kids -- 6-year-old Nathaniel and 5-year-old Mallory -- duct taped them together. They've also put chicken wire along the bottom in case any cartons fall off. The family -- including dad, Graham -- will take the boat to Green Lake in two pieces, and then screw them together.

"We'll either sink or swim," Elizabeth says with a laugh. "We're always up for an adventure. It's been a hoot."

More headlines and info from Green Lake.