Building Bridges between East and West through Education and Cultural Exchange
Album: Regina Plywood Boat Race – 1
The Annual Plywood Cup is a humorous race using boats built by teams of four. It has entertained city people as they celebrate Canada’s Birthday on July 1st each year.
This is Part 1 of 2 parts where the different teams use exactly the same building materials and construction tools to first built some kind of boat, and then later to compete with others as they paddle across the small lake and back again. (Go to part 2 or return to article.)
Click on the first image to start the slide show.
In Wascana Park and on the grounds of our capital building (our Legislature), we have an annual event that is a lot of fun.
The “Plywood Cup” is a team race… first, to build a boat… second, to race it across our small lake.
Each team of four has a sponsor. Sheppard Braun and Muma is a local law office.
Each team has 90 minutes to use the supplied materials to build themselves a boat.
Two sheets of plywood and some tools and other building materials are all that can be used.
While the boats are being assembled, a team member will attempt to get donations from the onlookers. Yes, this is also a fund-raising event.
Fundraising this year was for an organization that attempts to promote reading as a community (as well as an educational) goal.
Some of the teams, here the Casino Pirates, choose a theme… and dress-up to add to the fun.
Every team of four may must have at least one guy and one gal.
Teams come with designs for their boats, then cut and assemble within the 90 minute time limit.
Nails are supplied, as well as “duct tape” (which can be used to seal the cracks to prevent water entering the boat).
Most boats had flat bottoms, but this one was rather unique in design.
The thinner sheet of plywood can be easily bent to form, in this case, to give the shape of a more typical boat.
After completing the building process, two team members will be selected to row the boat across the lake, then back again.
Normally, only one will row each way… but in this case maybe the designed could allow for two to paddle together.
This team has three gals and one guy (who appears to be given most of the hard work to do!!).
But, he gets a bit of help from one of his team-mates, for sure.
Three guys and one gal on this team. Will they build a better boat?
Watch this team carefully. The black gal with the duct tape will be seen again.
