FRANKLIN—What happens when you mix water and cardboard? Fun.

Even though they ended up in the water, and thus won the Titanic Award, Jylian Peterson, 16, and her father, Darryl, had a good time.

“It was really fun to just be involved in everything,” Jylian said. “Even falling in the water was kind of fun.

“It was cold. But once you got out of the water, it was really cold.”

At the end of the day, she said sinking was a good experience.

“Our boat being basically like the Titanic was my favorite part,” Jylian said with a smile. “We’ll be back next year, with SS Poochie the Sequel, and we are going to win.”

This year, first place was awarded to Dean Russell and his son Alex, 13, who participates in the robotics program.

“We came in third place last year,” Alex said. “But I had a feeling that we were going to win this year.”

Dean said he wasn’t really worried about winning, it was just about the experience with his son.

“It was just about having fun really, and doing something different,” he said. “It was something we could do together, and we really got our technique down this year.

With a smile, he said to Alex, “You would not listen last year.”

“No! It was you who would not listen,” Alex was quick to retort.

Dean said that there was potential for drama, as his family attends First Baptist Church, and the church also had a boat, the SS Sharon, which ended up winning the Spirit Award.

“People were asking what we would do if we had been pitted against them,” he said. “I was afraid of that.”

But he was quick to say that they would not have “waved the white flag.”

Cindy Mitrovic, 14, was on the third-place team, the Joe’s Pizza Palace boat, with Robotics Coach Elizabeth Burgess.

“It was a really good time,” Mitrovic said. “We hope to have even more people out next year.”

There was also some drama related to this boat, as Burgess turned on Mitrovic as they were docking for the final time, splashing her with water from the oar.

“I was questioning why I got in that boat with her,” she said with a smile when asked about the mutiny. “I was thinking about how to sink the boat without getting wet myself.”

Burgess didn’t comment on the mutiny, but as the organizer she did say the event had gone well.

“I think it went great,” she said. “Everyone seemed to be having fun. Even the people who ended up in the water — they came out smiling.”

Donald Wintersteen, 14, and Dan Preston were in the Bessy II, which ended up winning Most Patriotic.

“It was awesome,” said Wintersteen. “It was a lot of fun, even though our boat fell apart.”

When asked if he had a good time, Preston simply said, “Hell, yeah!

“Just the fact that my boat made it there and back was good,” he continued. “It was a new boat, and I didn’t have time to do everything I wanted to do to make it seaworthy.”

Preston said he’d be back with the Bessy III next year, and it’d be thicker and more seaworthy.

Josh Johnson, 13, and Ryan Godwin also ended up in the water, but it was during time trials.

“I was wondering how cold the water was, and if the boat would be OK,” said Johnson, the second he realized that the boat was going to flip over. “It was cold, but fun. And kind of refreshing.”

Johnson said the current kind of made it tough to keep one’s balance.

Team 2 Q-Tips ended up placing second, and that boat was captained by Whitney Burgess and Kelly Lukens.

Kyle Johnson, who is a mentor of the program, said that with seven boats, it’s the best turnout they have had.

“It actually went really well,” he said. “We had the most boats sinking this year, too, and everyone seemed to enjoy that.”

Kyle said it was good for the program to have events like this.

“It’s an engineering challenge to put these boats together out of cardboard and paint and make them float,” he said. “The kids are involved in building these boats, and they are really learning. That’s what we need. It’s something they can’t learn in school.”

Liz Burgess said she appreciated everyone who came out.

“We have a very supportive community,” she said. “I appreciate everyone who showed up. I also heard a lot of comments from people saying they are going to participate next year.

“I really hope to see everyone out there for the next Robo Regatta.”