Cardboard boat race

A cardboard boat race, sometimes known as a boat regatta, is a common school-spirit competition for students of high school and college age.

US Navy personnel paddling cardboard boats in Guantanamo Bay

Some participants of the annual cardboard boat race on Suicide Sunday 2011 at the University of Cambridge.

The earliest documented cardboard boat regatta was the result of a design problem created by Richard Archer at Southern Illinois University in 1974.[1]

A typical competition format allows competitors a fixed build time, using only a predetermined number of corrugated fiberboard sheets, glue, adding machine tape, and paint. Duct tape is also often a key ingredient.[2] Once completed, teams must race their boats across a shallow pond, river, or swimming pool using similarly constructed oars. The boats will almost always flood, sink, or shred under the weight, mostly owing to the difficulties of waterproofing cardboard.

In Rainy River, Ontario, races are held each year with simple rules. Purist Classes- Team registration includes a supply of all materials picked up at the same time to build your boat. Contestants must build the boats and compete the same day. Open classes- can be constructed prior to Race Day using cardboard, duct tape and additional adhesive components of the contestants choosing. Suitably themed and costumed participants are encouraged to enter their creations in the RailRoad Daze Parade. [3]