Staying Afloat

Students tested their engineering skills — and their ability to stay afloat — during the 20th annual cardboard boat regatta, held recently on a “cool cloudy day,” according to organizer and teacher Brett Block.

The annual event, held on Wednesday, May 20, featured handmade cardboard boats, themed costumes and a series of races on the water as students competed for awards ranging from overall survivor to best sink.

“Fun was had by all,” Block said. “There were many new designs this year and we had a lovely lunch at the Glass Shop after the festivities.”

Taking top honors for best costume and overall survivor were captains Drew Templeton and Ryne Boren with their boat, the USS Butt Hull. The design featured “two tube struts” and successfully completed multiple rounds of racing, including a sudden-death showdown against another top finisher, according to Block.

“The vessel sported a figurehead mermaid Barbie strapped to the front of the ship,” Block said, calling it a nod to another successful boat in the past.

The winners were presented with a silver sword and a weathered ship helm trophy by “Mayor in Training” Jaezyn Arbuckle, who assisted with the regatta alongside Chloe “Gingerlicious” Peperak in a kayak used to help manage boats on the water.

Second place in the survivor race went to Addilee Gill and Alex Kamplain aboard The Night’s Fury, a dragon-inspired boat modeled after Toothless from “How to Train Your Dragon.” Block noted the team donated a “glorious and sharp Monster Sword” to the winner’s circle following the competition.

A close third-place finish went to Luke Stuck and his tugboat-themed vessel, Soggy Diaper.

“Luke’s canopy and ship wheel were fantastic additions to his seacraft except when he tried to see, row, or steer,” Block joked.

The award for best sink went to Brody Whitaker and Sydney Landsaw, whose boat, Pier Pressure, “sank rapidly,” according to Block.

“It was a lot of pressure to leave the pier, apparently,” Block said.

Other participants included Blakelee Shanks with Hull Lotta Boaty, Wyatt Robers with Wy Naut and Hunter Goodwin with a Minecraft-inspired craft called Techno Blade.

Kylee Cox and Ava Shelkey also earned praise for their whale shark-inspired design, The Cat Shark, which overcame expectations after being voted “most likely to sink.”

“It caved in, but that only seemed to make the ship stronger,” Block shared.