Cardboard Box Regatta

Ready, Set, Sail!

The Aquatics Program is cranking up the fun with a cardboard box regatta just for you. We’re racing across the waters of Benyaurd Indoor Pool, so get your boats ready!  This adrenalin-pumping, family-friendly competition will channel your inner captain and craft-y boat building skills. Will your boat sink or swim? “Arrrgh!” that’s up to you to decide! Buried below is a treasure trove of do’s and don’ts to help you build a pool-worthy vessel. Get creative and have fun building. 

Eligibility: Active Duty Military, DoD Civilians, Retirees and Family Members

Event Guidelines:

1. Races will run in heats and begin at approximately 12 p.m. Prior to racing, all boats must be inspected. Event sign-in is from 11 - 11:30 a.m.
2. Teams may be comprised of 1 or 2 participants 6 years of age or older. Teams must start and finish each race with all crew members intact. No additional building or racing help is allowed.
3. Participants must wear a United States Coast Guard (USCG) Personal Flotation Device (PFD). 
4. Race organizers will determine the winners of the following categories:

• Fastest Boat 
• Best Design
• Most Dramatic Sinking “Titanic” 

1. The distance of each race will be 1 width of the pool.
2. This race consists of multiple rounds, with up to 4 teams racing at a time. The number of teams is determined by the number of registered teams.

Competition Rules

1. Having fun is mandatory!
2. Safety: The safety of participants, spectators, staff, and competitions are the number one priority and should be treated as such for all races. It is mandatory for all competitors to wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD) while racing. 
3. Boat design do’s and don’ts:

Do’s

• Boats and paddles must be made prior to the race.
• Boats must be propelled using cardboard paddles.
• Paddles must meet the same construction requirements as boats.
• Boats must be made of cardboard and secured with duct tape, packing tape, hot glue, rope and/or string only.
• Painted boats are not allowed. However, markers and pens are permitted.
• Boat design is left to the builders. Let your imagination take over; make your boat look like a race car, flying saucer, dragon, etc. if the decoration does not aid in the floatation.
• Boats must have completely enclosed side walls so that no part of your lower body is outside the boat.
• Boat passenger areas must not be enclosed above the occupant’s shoulders. This can interfere with escaping should the vessel begin to sink. 
• Race must begin and end with the crew intact.

Don’ts

• The use of fiberglass, sonotube, liners, tarps or coated cardboard is not permitted.
• Cardboard cannot be sealed with any sealants, wax, resin, vinyl coating, silicon or caulking compounds.
• Boats may not exceed 7 feet long by 3 feet wide. 
• Teams are not allowed to patch or alter their boat between races.
• The discovery of illegal construction materials at either the pre race or post race inspection will result in immediate disqualification. 

4. Conduct: It is the competitor’s responsibility to act in a sportsman like fashion, always avoid collisions and obey the rules and safety guidelines. Overly aggressive contact and/or un-sportsmen like conduct will not be tolerated. Such behavior will result in disqualification at the sole discretion of event organizers. Examples include but are not limited to:
   1. Purposely obstructing or interfering with another competitor
   2. Causing damage or bodily harm to another competitor
   3. Use of profane language toward any person or competitor
5. Registration is required.