There are famous races such as the Tour de France, NASCAR, Kentucky Derby, and more. But one of the more entertaining is the cardboard canoe race put on by the Red Arrow Robotics team. They held their fourth annual competition on Saturday, July 15.
The Rules
Unlike the pages and pages of rules the robotics team receives to prepare for competition each year, the guidelines for the cardboard canoe race are simple. Build a craft with only the use of cardboard and duct tape or packing tape.
Competition categories were single, two person, and a team of four or more. A boat could be used in more than one race as long as the appropriate number of riders were being transported (or the appropriate number of riders were transporting the boat). Having fun and laughing were unwritten rules and easily followed by those who participated.
Floating buoys made of pop bottles (soda for those of you from other parts of the country) were placed offshore along Pebble Beach at Stoney Lakeside Park. Single competitors would have to leave shore, paddle around one buoy, and return to land. Boats manned by two people would have to head out and pass by two buoys before returning to the start/finish line. Four or more person competitors would have to go around three buoys.
Pre-race shenanigans included Cameron, this year’s safety expert in a canoe, being tipped over by his grandfather. Cameron’s past years experience building crafts which went down in style lead to his position of rescuer in the event anyone needed help. He also served as cardboard picker upper should any vessels meet an untimely demise. Providing support to those waiting to race he provided predictions such as referring to one craft as a “human cardboard taco”.
All competitors wore personal floatation devices as a safety measure. One competitor also wore goggles!
The Solo Race
First up were those who entered in the single person race. Three entries in this division lined up. Tyler, Mason, and Ryan posed with their creations prior to lining up along shore. Tyler’s boat with tall walls and a homemade paddle looked as solid as a cardboard boat could be. Mason’s entry looked more like a thick cardboard surfboard with little use of tape. Finally Ryan also had a boat with tall walls which looked seaworthy. With cardboard taped to his hands as a means of propulsion he was ready.
Contestants could sit in or on their boats just in the water prior to being pushed away from land. Mason decided to stay dry and go for a push and jump tactic at the start. He was nervous about taking on water prior to the start. Both Tyler and Ryan sat in their boats and were pushed out when the race began.
Mason and Tyler took the early lead. Ryan’s weight made it hard for him to become buoyant. Eventually he got off the bottom of the lake and scooped water in an attempt to catch the leaders. Tyler continued to steadily paddle. As they approached the buoy Tyler was in the lead followed closely by Mason with Ryan nearby in third place. Would Tyler hold the lead? Would Mason’s boat stay afloat? Could Ryan get a win from behind?
Rounding the buoy and heading for home Tyler maintained the lead. Mason seemed to get hung up trying to navigate the turn. Ryan decided to take the outside line and pass Mason. Tyler returned to shore taking first place with ease. Ryan was able to just edge out Mason and take second. Third place Mason, amazed his creation made it through the entire race, was also able to cross the finish line.
The Two Person Race
The second race of the day was to be a bit more challenging. Two people were required to sit on a boat and two buoys had to be passed so the course was a bit longer. None of this stopped the enthusiasm of the competitors.
Once again three boats were entered for this round. Ryan returned with his brother Nathan. Would two people fit in the craft and would it hold up after having completed one race? Mason ditched his single person boat and teamed up with Steven. Their boat was completely covered with duct tape. Would this help keep them above the surface of the water? Last but not least were Brendan and Joel. Their entry looked similar to that of Mason and Steven but the inside was not covered in duct tape. Would this be a key difference in the race?
Mason and Steven along with Brendan and Joel had to determine where to sit on their boats. They looked more like rafts but would they have the strength to hold two people? Should they position themselves front and back? In opposite corners? Both in either the front or the back? The teams lined up and entered the water. They’d be given a push from someone on land to begin the race. Mason and Steven took the front and opposite back corner configuration while Brendan and Joel sat next to each other in the middle of their boat.
From the first push all three teams ran into problems. Ryan and Nathan were stuck on the bottom having difficulty pushing themselves further into the water, their boat already submerged. Mason and Steven were able to take an early lead but were quickly taking on water as well. They had a bucket and bailed water was thrown over. But liquid was rushing in too fast for it to be of any assistance. Brendan and Joel were also taking on water, although they hadn’t been able to get off the ground. The two opted for getting out of their boat to drag it further into the water. It would seem as though Cameron’s “human cardboard taco” was accurate. Two teams were unable to keep their crafts from folding up.
As two teams dealt with collapsing boats Ryan and Nathan were able to push away from land. The two were moving around the course with their boat beneath the surface of the water. But they were both still appeared to be in it. Aided by their life vests they were able to traverse the course in first place. But the other two teams were not far behind.
Brendan and Joel, after the roughest start of the three teams, were in second place. Unable to sit atop their boat they chose swim with their “cardboard taco” beneath them. They were both still in contact with their entry and could continue to race. Similarly Mason and Steven had to abandon their hopes of sitting inside their boat. They decided to swim in front of their completely covered in duct tape creation and pull it along behind them. Have you ever tried to move wet cardboard around on land or in the water?
As they rounded the second buoy and headed for shore Ryan and Nathan capsized. Quickly changing their tactic the two held on to their boat and swam with it under them. They would make it to shore as the clear winner and be able to see who would take second and third. Slow and steady Brendan and Joel eventually made it to shore. Their entry had seen better days as pieces of it were left floating in a trail behind them. In third place, the idea of completely covering their boat in duct tape may have resulted in too heavy an object to pull through the water, Mason and Steven still managed to make it back to shore to complete the race.
Lacking volunteers and boats there were not enough of either to have a four or more person race. This didn’t stop Brendan, Joel, Mason, and Steven from taking out the completely duct taped boat for a sure to win, one entry lap. The four held on to the craft, which had seen better days, and swam with it under them. Some watching on shore determined the group would have an easier time if they had put their PDFs under the boat to help it float. But filled with determination the quartet completed the course and claimed victory.
Closing Ceremony
After the completion of all the races team mentor Chad Philo thanked spectators for coming and competitors for participating. Tyler received the highest bragging rights not only coming in first place but by having the best made craft of the day. The 13 years attends Lowell Middle School. She heard about the event through the team’s Facebook event. The design of her vessel came after thinking about a sailboat and how the body of it is designed. Tyler says, “I had a great time and look forward to competing next year!”
That’s right. If you missed this year’s races you’ll have another chance next year. In the meantime check out the Lowell Red Arrows Robotics Team. Learn about what they do and how they compete. Volunteer with the group if you have similar interests. You don’t have to have a child on the team to be an adult guide. Those who are in middle school are invited to help the high school team because they do not have a club of their own. If you’d like to see more photos from the event visit our Flickr Album.
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