An Annual Reminder of the Boat Rules and Regulations

 For everyone's FUN & SAFETY!

The Rules of the Race:

1. Each team must identify a captain.

2. Teams can be an individual or of unlimited size but the boat must have at least one person paddling it (doesn't have to be the captain).

3. Boat must be made of cardboard (See list of BOAT REGULATIONS below) and propelled by a human paddler.

4. There will be safety boats for each boat along the course for any sinkers.

5. Everyone on boat must wear a PFD (life jacket - don't worry, we have plenty!).

6. Paddlers can use a real paddles - (we have those too!)

7. Each boat must be paddled out around a buoy and back ~ 100yds in Manchester's Inner Harbor.

8. The race will be conducted in timed heats.

To win, paddlers must navigate the race course (around the buoy and back) while having all paddlers in the boat during the entire race. Best time wins.

Boat Regulations

1. Boat must be made of cardboard. Any thickness of corrugated cardboard is permitted, including waxed cardboard, carpet tubes, and cardboard barrels. (Sorry no sonotubes.)

2. Any tape may be used. Duct tape highly recommended. (Gorilla tape is pretty amazing as is the tape at Ocean State Job Lot -it's cheap & works amazingly well.) Tape may only be used on seams, joints or patches.

Do not wrap the hull in tape, plastic, shrink wrap, etc. You get the gist by now, right?! CARDBOARD. A 10 second penalty will be imposed on boats that exceed tape on seams, joints, or patches.

3. Any kind of paint is allowed.

4. No restriction is placed on decorative materials, as long as they do not aid in the flotation or propulsion of the boat and do not create a fire or safety hazard.

6. The boat, or a flag on boat, must display the team or boat name.

7. Each boat must pass technical inspection by all captains before race.