Join us May 5th, 2019 @ 3pm for the 2019 Rain Gutter Regatta.

Location: Scout Hut or Due West Church Pavilion

Time: May 5th, 2019. 3pm

What to Bring: A Snack, Water, and Your own DIY BOAT

This is a racing event that is the sailboat equivalent of the pinewood derby. Within the basic design rules, Scouts are free to paint and decorate their sailboats as they choose. Modifications for speed include the placement of the keel and the size, rudder, shape, and location of the sail. A catamaran is an exceptionally fast design!!

The boats are raced in a standard rain gutter or an inflatable version that is ten feet long, placed on a table or saw horses, and filled to the top with water. The boats are propelled by blowing on the sail, either directly or through a drinking straw; the boat cannot be touched with hands or the straw. The first boat to reach the end of the gutter is the winner. The overall winner is determined by an elimination system.

Make Your  Own Boat

Some regatta kits are available on Amazon, or you can pick one up online/in-store at the Cumberland Area Atlanta Scout Store. Feel free to make your own boat from a juice box, milk carton, corks and rubber bands, etc.

Boat Crafts for Kids: Click here for more ideas to DIY your boat

Amazon Regatta Kit: click here to purchase a kit

Official Raingutter Regatta Racing Rules

Two scouts will race against each other at a time. Each boat must start with the back of the boat touching the end of the rain gutter; the scout should hold it there with one hand. When the starter says go, the kids will propel the boats by blowing on the sail with a drinking straw.

THE SCOUT MAY NOT ADVANCE THE BOAT WITH HIS HAND or PHYSICAL STRAW AT ANY TIME. If one does so, he/she will be given a warning and the race rerun if that child wins. If a boat gets broken or sinks during a race, the results stand.

DIY a Cork Pirate Ship. Click for directions from Red Ted Art.

 

Raingutter Regatta boat Construction Rules

The rules for the Raingutter Regatta are simple. Scouts should build boats from official BSA Raingutter Regatta Trimaran kits or by creating a boat of their own creation. They may be decorated in any manner they choose! Get creative, but make sure it’s not too heavy!

• The boat must be newly built for the current Cub Scouting year. As much as practical, the boat should be substantially built by the Scout with parental supervision.
• NO motors allowed. Only wind sails will power the boats.
• Additional parts (visual enhancements) such as Lego Man Drivers or Life Saver rings,  decals, paint, and glue are permitted.
• The finished boat length must be no longer than 7.5″.
• The mast may not be higher than 7” from the deck.
• The sail may not be in contact with any part of the boat except the mast.

DIY a Juice Box Boat. Click for directions from HandsOnAsWeGrow.com.

Make a Recycled Boat. Click for directions from Applegreen Cottage.

Pool Noodle Boat. Click for directions from TheChirpingMoms