St. Mary’s College held their 12th annual Cardboard Boat Race this past Saturday, September 16. It was also family weekend at the college, so several parents were there to assist with the construction of boats.
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| The Bay Net Photos by Mandy Echoff |
The students were issued 16 pieces of wood three rolls of duct tape, a few large pieces of cardboard, and a large sheet of plastic… From these sparse staples they had several hours in which to construct a boat that that would have to withstand Saturday’s rain, the weight of the students, and a course set up through the water of the St. Mary’s River.
On Saturday there were two preliminary races for the 20 teams and their boats, from each of which the top five (cardboard) boaters were selected to compete in the final.
Some of the boats were well-constructed, but some capsized before ever leaving the start line. Experience and intellect were no guarantee of success in this unorthodox regatta – the faculty boat stayed afloat only briefly.
Prizes were awarded to the three teams who performed best in the race. The cash prizes of $500, $300, and $200 were supplied by the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Foundation.