Jennifer Ryan helps her kids spray the cardboard boats at this year's Cardboard Boat Regatta. Photo by John Whalen

Ahh, the joy of the last days of summer. Boat "Nuke Nuke'em," paddled by Paul Garcia, is awarded the spray of giggling childrens' water guns as he crosses the finish line at this year's Cardboard Boat Regatta. Photo by John Whalen

Huckelberry Finn would have been proud of the builders of this sea worthy craft. John Edwards manages to maintain an even keel after a bit of ballast shifting.
Photo by John Whalen

Santa (Tom Gentry) and his crew (left to right: Josie Drury and Amiee Gentry) slide across the water in "The Miracle." Photo by John Whalen

Paddles and elbows at the start of one of the many races at this year's Cardboard Boat Regatta. Photo by John Whalen

A crane is used to drape a tarp over the Auxiliary Machinery Room module for John Warner (SSN785) in preparation for shipment to Electric Boat. Photo by Chris Oxley

Left to right: Jordan Overbey, James Dillard and Riley Sayers loosen a turnbuckle securing a Virginia-class submarine unit delivered on the Sea Shuttle. Photo by Chris Oxley

Tangled up in blue, the distance between cranes at Dry Dock 12 is compressed in this telephoto shot. Photo by Chris Oxley

Delivery trucks from the Transportation Department are lined up in the North Yard ready for a day of deliveries. Photo by Ricky Thompson

A worker makes his way up a maze of scaffolding. Photo by Ricky Thompson

A sea of support stands make geometric patterns. Photo by Ricky Thompson

Left to right: Lynn Palmer and Joseph Bruce loosen turnbuckles securing a Virginia-class submarine unit delivered on the Sea Shuttle. Photo by Chris Oxley

The view from the bottom of the leg of a crane. Photo by Ricky Thompson

As the rain clouds loom, a North Yard crane boom rises above in the last ray of the early morning sun light. Photo by Ricky Thompson

Building construction has begun at the new Apprentice School site in downtown Newport News. Photo by Chris Oxley

Rashawn Sims crosses the goal line to score for The Apprentice School in the game against Muhlenberg College. Photo by John Whalen

The Muhlenberg College punter watches as Marlon Lane, defensive back for The Apprentice School, scoops the ball from the tip of his cleats. Photo by John Whalen

Apprentice School players scramble to recover a fumbled ball in the game against Muhlenberg College. Photo by John Whalen

The Builders mascot fires footballs into the stands for The Apprentice School fans. Photo by John Whalen