IU Outdoor Pool to host Cardboard Boat Regatta

Junior Emi Ruble, the council's events director, said teams will submit boats made out of only cardboard and duct tape, and two members from each team will paddle their boat in a race across the IU Outdoor Pool. The event is free, and spectators can listen to two live bands and enjoy free food from Buffa Louies,' Chipotle and Bucceteo's Smiling Teeth at the event.\n"It's a lot of fun," Ruble said. "Obviously, most fail miserably; it's fun to see the boats sinking."\nThe council's president, senior Brett Headley, said anybody in the community could make a team by paying $20 to register. Trophies go to the three fastest boats and the three most creative boats. A judging panel, made up of campus and Bloomington "celebrities," will determine the creativity winners.\nJunior Sean Moran, vice president of the council, has attended the regatta for the past three years. \nHe said last year's first place winner was also one of the most creative boats. The team used cardboard tubes similar to those used to package golf clubs to create a boat that looked like an airplane with water skis. The cardboard tubes held the cockpit above the water.\nLast year's race included five preliminary heats plus a final heat in which the winners from each heat competed. Some boats made it through the first heat but failed in the final heat because of water damage. The "airplane" seemed to do fine, Moran said.\nThis year the council's boat resembles a watermelon, he said. Teams decorate the boats by using colored duct tape.\nMoran said between 300 and 500 people normally come, which makes the pool area pretty crowded. \n"You get to meet a lot of people," he said. "A lot of friends come out to show support."\nSophomore Whitney Phillips has helped make two boats. The race is an assignment for her X204 Business Communications class that is designed to teach students about teamwork. Phillips is working on her second boat with her business fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi pledge class.\n"It's a great opportunity to work together and be creative," she said. "I hope my boat doesn't sink"