Winning, or just competing in, the Build-a-Boat Race, requires a boatload of talent — creative thinking, engineering, design, naval architecture, carpentry, courage, strength, endurance, teamwork, sense of humor, copywriting, among them.

Each team builds their boat on Saturday with materials donated by EBS and Sikaflex. And races it on Sunday in front of a wild crowd. And if you don’t sink or swim, you’re in the running for a trophy.

Ram 1500 V8 Magnum, above, powered by Brendan Carey and Ryan Splaine, of Lincolnville, won first place. Boy, were they fast!

Three Guys and a Saw, above, powered by Jeff Emery and Cameron Morgan, from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Abbie Burgess, placed second.

In-and-Out-Rigger, powered by Glen, Glen and Max Ruesswick, won the Best Design Award.

Nikkos, above, powered by Gordon and Aiden Darwin won the People’s Choice Award.

Banana Dore, powered by Dave and Nicholas Johnson from Camden.

Here are pics from last year.

And as it turns out, the crates themselves aren’t racing. They’re packed with seaweed and strung across the harbor. The goal is to scamper across as many as you can before falling into the soup — not easy for most.

Except, that is, for Cedar Andrus, the master lobster crate racer, who lives in Camden.

Last year he scored 2500 (!!!) crates. But he’s off his stride a bit this year, as he ‘only’ scored 1,061. Wow!

But watch out next year, as Bailey Darling was close behind at 1,046.

The competition is open to all ages, but only two brave adults participated, and only scampered across 11 crates.

This was only one of several really fun events last weekend at the Windjammer Weekend in Camden. Will post more soon.