Institution news
As the opening event at Plymouth’s Ocean City Festival, this year the race had two distinct competitions: a new, junior pre-build category; and a team-build on the day. There were 11 primary school ‘pre-build’ teams and 29 ‘build on the day’ teams, totalling nearly 250 participants.
It was hosted by the Plymouth and Devon School Sailing Association (PDSSA) on Plymouth’s Commercial Wharf.
Using only cardboard and sticky tape the teams had to build a craft large enough for two people, and then to paddle it over 100m from commercial wharf slipway to the finish at the Mayflower steps on the Barbican – avoiding the submerged VW Beetle. Around 3,000 spectators and supporters shared in the emotion of the teams, with tense silence for the starting gun and cheers of support when the sailors either completed the course - or sank!
Teams from Wonder Workshops and Sea Dream Education went out to primary schools to deliver a two-day programme. Children learnt how a boat floats, and enjoyed a practical workshop to create their own cardboard boats ready for competition. Henry Stephens MEng AMIMechE is a graduate mechanical engineer at Babcock International Group, based in Devonport, and is Chair of the Institution's Devon and Cornwall committee.
Henry said: “This excellent outreach programme added great depth to the overall STEM objectives of the Cardboard Boat Race. We are looking forward to doubling the pre-build participation next year.”
Babcock International Group and City College Plymouth also held STEM activities over the course of the event. Babcock ran a workshop showing children how to build a self-propelled submarine using just a plastic drink bottle, a couple of paperclips and an elastic band; while City College Plymouth demonstrated how to make a scale model boat powered by a floating robotic ball to manoeuvre a vessel around a course.
Henry added: “We were honoured to host Second Sea Lord, Vice Admiral Jonathan Woodcock OBE, as our VIP guest for the whole day. Vice Admiral Woodcock’s position as the highest ranked mechanical engineer the Royal Navy has ever had, and the fact that he also a member of the Institution, added great value to the event and the committee were extremely grateful for his support.”
In addition, two local MPs attended the event: Oliver Colvile, MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport (who judged the fancy dress and best sinking) and Johnny Mercer, MP for Plymouth Moor View.
Henry Stephens said: “The event has been an amazing success, thanks to the tenacity of the teams involved and all the hard work put in by our volunteers and PDSSA. It’s exciting to be able to inspire the next generation of engineers.”
Results of the Plymouth Cardboard Boat Race 2016:
Pre-builds
1st – Landulph Primary School, 3:52mins
2nd – Horribridge Primary School, 6:12mins
On-the-day builds
1st – 1st Elburton Scouts, 6:00mins
2nd – PDSSA Pirates, 6:12 mins
Prizes
Best sinking – Luck Ducty
Fancy dress – 106 Days till Christmas
Most innovative design – Boaty McBoatface
The Devon and Cornwall area committee would like to thank the kind sponsors for their donations of equipment and support. Without their very generous support, this event would have not been possible:
Plymouth Devon Schools Sailing Association (PDSSA) for providing safety boat support and all safety equipment
DS Smith Packing for donating all of the cardboard sheets used for the build-on-the-day and pre-build categories
Centrica for donating all the cardboard tube used for building the boats and the lanyards used to present the medals to all participants.
Babcock for donating all the tape and various other equipment to enable the teams to build their boats, along with 40 volunteers to help run the event.
Wood Group for supplying the scaffold stage which provided a focal point for the event.