ORANGE BEACH – For the fourth year in a row, the Orange Beach City Schools Gifted Program held its annual Cardboard Boat Regatta, which served as a hands-on, unique challenge for the elementary students.

At the Bear Point Community Beach, the parking lot was overflowing with cars parked in surrounding driveways and side streets. The beach was packed with parents, friends, families and neighbors all eagerly watching the race.

Alyssa Cherney, communications specialist for Orange Beach City Schools, said the gifted program students created their vessels using only cardboard, paint, tape and glue. The students raced to a point, located a few feet into the canal, and back to the shore creating an "unforgettable and fun competition."

One parent told Gulf Coast Media that some of the students have been working on their boats since the beginning of the year. Some students worked in teams of two and others captained their ship solo. All students seemed to have a fun time paddling through the waves with their cardboard paddles.

Prizes were given to the first-place winners from different grade levels with some special prizes for a variety of categories, Cherney said, such as Most Creative Theme and Costume, Best Boat Design, Best Paddle Design and "the coveted" Most Dramatic Sink Award.