Dozens of sand artists take part Sept. 9 in the 39th annual sandcastle contest on Rehoboth Beach, sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach-Dewey Beach Chamber of Commerce. Robert Hamm of Lewisburg, Pa., has one of the most detailed sandcastles in the contest. Excalibur is among the judges’ top 10 favorites. Andy West, managing editor of the Delaware State News in Dover, is in the beginning stages of his prize-winning sand creation. The Sound FX team is busy early and is among the first to finish their sand art off-road truck, Jeepin’ on the Beach. The team is the judges’ favorite in the business division. Marc Schaffer of Swedesboro, N.J., who only recently started sand sculpting, wins a prize for his intricate creation, a tribute to his daughter’s stuffed animals. Robert Hamm of Lewisburg, Pa., works on his prize-winning sand creation amid the towers of his castle. Many people stopped throughout the day and added their touches to the community sandcastle. Darrell O’ Connor, who lives in Dewey Beach on the weekends, gives some pointers to Sofia Long of Bear as they work on the community sandcastle. The Sound FX Off Road team has plenty of sand artists on hand to complete a large truck. They are the judges’ top pick in the business division. Andy West, who is an annual competitor and winner in the contest, uses a straw as he sculpts the Sandman, another prize winner. Eric Bollinger and Glenda Roberts of Frankford are just getting started on a large sandcastle city. Marc Schaffer of Swedesboro, N.J., applies some fine touches to his prize-winning sand art. The father and daughter team of Phil and Natalie Byers of Carlisle, Pa., use small tools to craft the top of their sandcastle. Father and daughter Mike and Eva Palmer of Fenwick Island are busy creating a large sand turtle near the Rehoboth Beach surf. Her creation is the people’s choice winner in the children’s division. Brendan Schaffer, who works at the Cape May Nature Center, finishes up a large sand petal as part of his prize-winning monarch migration creation. Brendan Schaffer, who works at the Cape May Nature Center, applies the finishing touches on his prize-winning sand art he calls majestic monarch migration. Larry Murray, a firefighter from Catonsville, Md., works on a prize-winning sand sculpture in memory of firefighters who perished during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001. Winning the prize for the best shirts, friends Dave Bobal, left, and Larry Watkins of Seaside Heights, N.J., start sculpting Scooby Doo and The Mystery Machine Bus. They are also the people’s choice winners. Larry Murray, a firefighter from Catonsville, Md., creates sand art in memory of the 343 New York City firefighters who perished on Sept. 11, 2001. Paul Kauffman and daughter Hadley, 3, work on the prize-winning Sound FX sand sculpture of an off-road truck. The Sound FX off-road sand truck looks like it’s ready to take off. The sand art won top honors in the business division. Sandcastle towers rise above Rehoboth Beach, at least until the tide comes in to wash them away. Shells add a nice touch to a UFO sculpted out of sand. It takes a team effort to create this UFO sand sculpture. Taking part are (l-r) Anneliese Van Arsdale, James Colwell, Michael McElroy and Alison Baker. Lynn Williams of Ellendale adds finishing touches to her sand art of Gumby. Not far away is Heather Williams carving out Pokey. They are among the judges’ top 10 favorites. A large crowd takes in the sand creations during the 39th annual sandcastle contest.