Cardboard boats compete in 12th annual regatta

A catamaran, a red Corvette and a dragon, all constructed from cardboard, plunged into the IU Outdoor Pool on Friday afternoon for the 12th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta.

Sigma Alpha Pi and the National Society of Leadership and Success organized this year’s event to raise money for scholarships for incoming IU students, said junior Jacob Kuczmanski,  NSLS community service chairman.

The races required teams of two racers to paddle down the length of the pool in boats made only of cardboard and duct tape.

“We’re judging based on creativity and speed,” said head judge Asghar Gharakhani.
Sixteen teams competed in the races, including competitors from the IU Student Foundation, Air Force ROTC and Bloomington High School North Environmental Club.

“A lot of people go for style, but it’s really about sleekness,” sophomore IUSF member Will Goelzer said. “Duct tape on the inside is crucial.”

The IU Physics Club competed with its boat, Wavefunction.

“This will be the most propulsion Physics Club has ever seen,” sophomore Physics Club member Zach Jones said. “Theoretically, we’ve already won.” The Physics Club won its heat and placed fourth overall.

At the end of the races, the Counsilman Center Indiana Swim Team dominated. Their Counsilman Flyer airplane design took first place for creativity, and their Somalian Pirates boat and won first place overall.

— Stephen Kroll