Sail away (at your own risk) during Duck Tape Regatta

The annual Duck Tape Regatta takes place Saturday to raise money for Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters.

Participants receive a roll of duct tape, a pound of screws, and some plywood and lumber. From those meager materials and with four hours' time, they construct a boat. Then, they race their do-it-yourself yachts in Willoughby Bay.

Entry fees raise money for the hospital - even more crucial this year, according to the promoters, because of state funding cuts and reductions in Medicaid funding. CHKD hopes to raise $35,000 this year. Since 2004, the event has brought in $125,000 to help provide care to children.

We at Pulse imagined how we might do in such a competition - but as sheets of plywood were a bit unwieldy to bring to the office, we created our flotation devices from popsicle sticks, duct tape and a little glue (plus the occasional creative addition). Witness the results at left. Judge for yourself whether we sank or swam. And then head out this weekend to set sail on a craft of your own devising, in the name of good fun and a good cause.