OWC Blog - blog.macsales.com

Tag-Archive for » Crystal Lake «

Does your Saturday include a lunar eclipse and floating on cardboard?

Friday, June 25th, 2010 | Author: OWC Michael

Well, many of us here at OWC will be getting up pretty early this weekend for some atypical events.

First off, it is well-known that Other World Computing has an affinity towards all things outer space related and tomorrow morning there will be a lunar eclipse visible to most residents of the United States. Here at the corporate headquarters in Woodstock, IL, we should see the start of  the eclipse at 5:17 a.m., and it is expected to last about three hours. Our condolences to our New England area friends as the moon will set there just prior to the eclipse starting.  Check the above link for visibility in your area.

Then, it’s off to our neighboring town of Crystal Lake where, for the fourth year in a row, Other World Computing will be competing in America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta. This annual event features participants from all over the globe gathering to race across the lake in vessels made entirely from cardboard. Proceeds from the event are donated to several local charities. If you are in the area, feel free to come and cheer us on at Crystal Lake Main Beach in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

For this year’s race, we’ll be entering three separate vessels in hopes of bringing home a few trophies. With the good karma of the lunar eclipse to start the day, we feel there are other worldly forces smiling upon us. And of course, fueling us throughout all these activities is the best tasting coffee in the universe at Java Planet Coffee & Internet Cafe.

UPDATE: The Cardboard Cup Regatta was rescheduled for July 17th due to many beaches in the area being closed due to high E. coli counts.

One Comment
Category: OWC Unplugged, Random Thoughts & Topics
Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Classic Car Show To Rev Up Woodstock, IL June 9th

Monday, May 24th, 2010 | Author: OWC Mary
beep beep!

GlobeMan loves fast machines... whether they be computers or cars!

Earlier this spring there was a rumor revin’ up that there might be a weekly Cruise Night coming to Woodstock soon.

I love the idea because since the local town over, Crystal Lake, stopped theirs a year or so ago, there isn’t a cruise night within an hours drive.

And who wants to drive an hour away to be able to enjoy their own car or mingle with others who have a passion for for the same things?

The best part about this rumor is that it’s partly true…its first night of possibly many more is being hosted by a great coffee, tea, and smoothie place right off of Rte. 14.

Yep, Java Planet Coffee and Internet Cafe is hosting a classic car show Tuesday, June 9, from 6PM to 9PM.

So all those passer-by’s on busy Rte 14 will get some dessert in the form of eye candy before pulling in to – as OWC Grant puts it, “drink then drool”.

I greatly enjoy bringing my toys to the annual car show held on the historic Woodstock square every August, but if this other local show at Java Planet turns into a weekly Cruise Night, that will really provide a more regular way for me and other enthusiasts to enjoy our hobby.

Another benefit is that it won’t be in the historic square, so no one has to be concerned about bothering in-town residents or others that don’t appreciate car shows.

What do you think...would you come to this weekly cruise night or are you more about being square on the square once a year?

  • Love to come, but not in the area. (56%, 10 Votes)
  • I'll be there. (28%, 5 Votes)
  • I'll be square. (16%, 3 Votes)

Total Voters: 18

Loading ... Loading ...
One Comment
Category: Random Thoughts & Topics
Tags: , , , , , ,

OWC takes awards in America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta

Saturday, July 11th, 2009 | Author: OWC Michael

Every year, America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta holds it’s annual event at the Crystal Lake Main Beach in Crystal Lake, Illinois. This event was originally created by members of the Crystal Lake Yacht Club to provide people with a fun day and to enjoy Crystal Lake. Every year the Regatta hosts more than 180 cardboard boats and over 5,000 spectators. Over the years, this event has grown and is now considered by people worldwide as the championship of Cardboard boat racing. Participants have come from all over the Chicago region and as far away as Germany, Australia, and New Zealand.

Best of all, the proceeds from America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta benefit a wide variety of local charities.

This year for the event’s 25th Anniversary, the Other World Computing team of businesses OWC.net, Two Tails Market & Eatery and Java Planet entered a joint effort vessel for the third straight year. Additionally, the combined financial contributions of the businesses earned a Gold Level sponsorship of the event itself.

OWC participants in the event included:

Captain : Ryan O’Connor
Boat Coxswain: Amanda Tabor
Rowing Team:
  • Brian Bielick
  • Brian Bellman
  • Josh Buhr
  • Brittany Finn
  • Horacio Villa
  • Joseph Alemann
  • Russell Wilson
  • Ryan Kanak
  • Bill Friel
  • Colleen Cullerton
  • Chelsea MacNamara

Shore Patrol:  Kayleen Ivers, Kevin Ivers, Eileen Milard, Laura Park

Cap’n Ryan O’Connor had this to say after the event: “What a great day we all had Saturday. Our crew and support staff are to be commended for their professionalism in representing OWC, Two Tails, and Java Planet with a high level of enthusiasm and involvement with the event. It was great to see so many OWC, Two Tails, and Java Planet team-members come out to support what was really fun and exciting day at the races.”

To top it all off, we took home two trophies:

  • 2nd place Most Enthusiastic Crew
  • 3rd Place overall in the race itself
The S.S. Eileen, complete with rigging, sails, a crow’s nest, and our own mascot in the crow’s nest (a stuffed monkey the crew “appropriated” from our accounting department); was certainly the largest vessel entered in the event. The 20 foot boat was so tall it was brushing tree tops and phone wires as it was proceeded in a slow parade, down back roads to the event. Upon its maiden entry to the water, the boat was christened with a bottle of Diet Coke.
For the first race, Star 105.5, the local radio station covering the event, played Dexy’s Midnight Runners’ “Come on Eileen” in homage to the name of the boat. Other notable entries were the VW Bus from Scooby Doo and a 20-foot long flying wedge guitar-shaped boat, complete with two crew members fully outfitted as band members from KISS.
Our boat was so well built it survived the whole day intact. Other entries that weren’t as seaworthy ended up in the dumpsters provided by the race organizers.
Comment on this post.
Category: OWC Unplugged
Tags: , , , ,

We Be Buildin’ Boat for the Cardboard Cup

Thursday, June 4th, 2009 | Author: OWC NewsFeed


We strive to provide excellent products and customer service at OWC, but we’re not about all work and no play! We’re committed to supporting the environment, the community, and employee mental health in a variety of ways. Some companies choose team building outings with mock exercises to build an enjoyable and productive corporate culture. We build our teams and culture around fun and unusual activities that provide creative and competitive outlets.

Fun with Cardboard

OWC boat and crew 2006

2006 marked our first entry into America’s Cardboard Cup Regatta. This annual national championship Cardboard racing event floats along a 200 yard course in Crystal Lake, Illinois, although similar races are held in many states. This year’s race celebrates its 25th year on June 27th and expects to host almost 200 various themed floating (hopefully!) entrants. Any group may enter, and the totally reasonable entry fee ($20.00) make it a great family, neighborhood, and corporate activity.

A Little History

According to Internet sources, cardboard boats made their first appearance on the lakes on America in 1962. An enterprising physics student in a Senior Design Department Class at the Southern Illinois University designed and built a 20lb, eight-foot boat. Davis Partt’s boat easily discharged its goal of traveling 100 feet without sinking. You can peruse the original assignment problem and design notes from the Cardboard Boats Design Department Southern Illinois University 1962 online.

Today, simple one-man box-boats have morphed into a variety of flotilla-worthy fashion, including pirate ships, trains, and animals. Requirements for a cardboard boat include corrugated cardboard, the ever useful duct tape, glue, and drywall tape. Banned substances include epoxy, fiberglass, metal, and pre-waxed cardboard. The Discovery Channel has a mildly funny video showing a mishap with a variety of boats.

Captain Ryan’s Building Crew

2008 OWC Cardboard Cup Entry

OWC's 2008 Cardboard Cup entry

OWC staff volunteers started building a 10-person human-powered vessel in April under the competent direction of our Warehouse Operations Manager, Ryan O’Connor. The hardworking volunteer crew works weekends to meet the June deadline.  Last year’s OWC entry, pictured here, qualified for the finals, but a bad storm sacrificed the event.

Builders can choose from three classes of boats, including Paddle and Oar, Paddle and other people power, and Sail. OWC plans to use kayak paddles to move its sleek entry through the waters. We have a secret to our waterproofing that definitely meets the official rules. We always do things by the book, just like how we run the business.

Now, we don’t want to give away our boat building prowess secrets, but we’ll let you have a sneak peak at our floating gem today. More photos coming after the race, along with trophy silliness, and the event itself!

Grant, Brian, and Mike Work on 2009 Boat

Grant, Brian, and Mike working on the hull

OWC 2009 Boat Takes Shape

OWC's 2009 boat takes shape

This post has 5 comments.
Category: OWC Unplugged
Tags: , ,