Cardboard Boat Regatta 2011

Calling all Blough’s, in name and at heart. Time to start thinking about your 2011 cardboard boat! This year’s boat regatta will be Sunday, July 3rd. Boat building will start mid-morning with the races taking place after lunch. I want to see a good turn out this year so start getting your teams together. If you haven’t participated in the past, this is your year! As always, your team will receive a boat building kit and additional supplies can be purchased from the boat shop. All proceeds from the boat shop go towards funding the next year’s regatta.

Rules

For those of you who are new to the Blough Cardboard Boat race, here are the basics. You will be given a boat building kit. It will include Cardboard, Plastic, Duct Tape, a Utility Knife and the use of plastic paddles. With these materials you will need to construct a boat that is big enough to hold you and your team members in a trip around the raft. As for the rules, we’ve tried to have them in the past and, well, the rules are never followed. Main rule is to have fun. After that the team to get their boat from the starting point, around the raft and back in the quickest time is the 1st place winner. All other award categories (see below) are left to the discretion of the judges (Chris and Melissa).

Award Categories

• 1st Place: This goes to the team who completes the race in the fastest time.
• Titanic Award: Goes to the boat that sinks in the grandest fashion.
• Best Theme: This goes to the boat and team that has the most flare.
• Most Unique Design: Time to reinvent the boat people! This award goes to the team that shows the most ingenuity in their boat design.
• Spirit Award: This goes to the most enthusiastic team of the year.

Boat Building Hints

Plan out your boat before you make any cuts

Don’t make your walls too high, remember you have to paddle.

The longer a boat is the faster it will go the wider a boat is the easier it is to maneuver.

When wrapping your boat in plastic remember that your feet might be wet when you get in the boat. Plan accordingly.

Be Creative!