Cardboard Boat Regatta 2022

 

Another Carbondale tradition! 

This is the first year that Zac and I have gone to the Cardboard Boat Regatta at SIU's Campus Lake... and we had a great time. I'll share photos as well as some notes for myself as to what worked, what didn't work, and what I want to remember for next year.

To sit by the finish line, go down the little path by the 

We had a fantastic view.  Note to self:  bring camping chairs (to sit in), a cotton quilt (to lie down on), and sunscreen as well as water and snacks.  The lying down is because sometimes it takes a while to get a boat out of the water, or to get the next round of contestants into their safety gear and get their boats into the water.  They are not allowed to put on their own PFDs; they must be strapped in by a qualified volunteer.  Also, when people are rowing against a strong wind, as they were on Saturday, or a boat is very hard to control or is moving very slowly, the heats can take a long time.

One group -- the lone entry in the Mechanical Power category -- even got their boat physically stuck on an aspect of the course!

It took a while but they got it free.  And it was a super-cool boat!

The rest of the boats were Human Power.  

(When I told Zac, that's the last of the Human Power category he nodded and said knowingly, "Oh, next comes the robots."  Wow.  This generation!)

The contestants in the Children category only went around the first green buoy and then back to the beach. 

The contestants in the Adult category went around both green buoys and went under the finish line.  The whole thing took an hour and a half.

Of course, there were safety experts out on the water the whole time as well.

We were excited to cheer for Project Viking Long Boat since Zac had a friend on that team.  It was great fun to clap and cheer and encourage them on.

Boats do fall apart.  This one split in two and the front part kept on going!

And some boats don't even make it off the shore.

Some of the sinkings are slow and some are rather spectacular.  We watched several people paddling determinedly who were up to their shoulders in water.  Then there are the boats that tip, flip, or shred themselves to bits.

This boat lost one person... then a second.  When the second one climbed back on, that section of the boat thoroughly ripped.

It was very exciting.  We hadn't had another boat sink so close to us (which is definitely the downside of being by the finish line).

They had a great time sinking though!

Carterville High School had a spectacular entry that won both its heats.

We were surprised to find that lot of boats do make it!  

We loved the details and iridescent paint on this entry.

Because we happened to be sitting by the spot where they took the boats out, we caught up with that blue and purple boat and Zac went over and asked if he could touch it. 

We were admiring her and asking all kind of questions about her construction.  Then, when we turned to walk away, all of a sudden they lifted her up and chucked her in the dumpster.  

I didn't know that people throw away boats that made it to the finish line!  

I suppose there's something to be said for starting over next year with a brand-new design, but I would have taken her home for the kids to play on if I had known she was headed for the trash.  Next year I will be sure to have the bed of my truck empty for any boats we can scavenge for pretend play.