Avery Point Cardboard Boat Race

#CardboardBoatRace

The Avery Point Cardboard Boat Race (est. 2010) celebrates academic achievement and the spirit of competitiveness in this day-long event. Annually held at UConn Avery Point, Students, Instructors, Faculty, and UConn ECE Staff gather to learn and compete since 2014. UConn ECE's involvement has grown from just 76 participants, with 6 boats from 6 high schools in our first year to 375 participants, with 26 boats from 15 high schools in 2019.

In the morning, Students attend various presentations given by Faculty and Staff. After lunch, Students and Staff compete in different heats for a spot in the championship race—and for the coveted Championship Cardboard Boat Race trophy. Students apply their UConn ECE Course learning to design and craft boats—using only cardboard and duct tape. Creativity in design is enthusiastically welcomed. UConn Faculty and Staff also compete in heats.

Rules & Information

Location

UConn Avery Point Campus
1084 Shennecossett Rd, Groton, CT 06340
Campus Map

Eastern Point Beach
1 Beach Pond Rd, Groton, CT 06340

Arriving by bus

Buses will drop off all boats at Eastern Point Beach, students at the Library on the UConn Avery Point Campus, and return to Eastern Point Beach to park for the day. Bus drivers are welcome to join us for the event.

Arriving by personal vehicle

You may park at Eastern Point Beach.

Materials & Boat Requirements

  • Boats must be made of CARDBOARD and DUCT TAPE ONLY.
    • Acceptable cardboard: cardboard, corrugated cardboard, carpet tubes, cardboard blocks, waxed cardboard.
  • Duct tape is the only fastening material allowed
    • The hull may be wrapped in duct tape.
  • Boats must have sides that are at least 6 inches high.
    • NO surfboard style boats are allowed.  Boats must have sides that permit the crew to remain fully in the vessel (without dangling extremities).
    • The crew compartment CANNOT be enclosed so as to interfere with escape.
  • Design is left to builder(s). Let your imagination take over.
  • Boats can be decorated with paint, but paint cannot be on the bottom 6 inches of the boat sides.
    • This means, if your boat sides are only 6 inches high, the sides cannot have any paint on them.
  • Decorations are allowed and encouraged provided they are not used as structural or flotation elements.
  • NO wood, plastic, rubber, inflatable devices, Styrofoam, fiberglass, or plastic, etc.
  • NO caulking compounds, two-part/mixed adhesives, glues or epoxy mixtures, or coatings are allowed.
  • NO electrical, gasoline, benzene, propane or other chemical or electrical propulsion systems are permitted.

If the above requirements are not adhered to or any prohibited items are used in the construction of the boat, the boat will be disqualified. Disqualification can happen during either the pre- or post-race inspection. Judges decide on the interpretation of the rules.

Race Rules

  • Teams are required to bring their own personal flotation devices (PFDs). PFDs are required for all students in a boat.
  • Teams are required to bring paddles. Kayak paddles are allowed.
  • Participants must be currently enrolled UConn Early College Experience Students.
    • There is no limit to the number of crew members.
  • Each participating high school is limited to the entry of 3 student boats. Additional boats can be built for Instructors to race in the Instructor Race if desired.
  • Teams should include a Vessel Identification Flag. Flags should not be bigger than 2’ x 3’ and can be made of materials other than cardboard and duct tape if desired. Those not made of cardboard and duct tape must be removed from the vessel before it races.
  • Crew costumes are encouraged.
  • Boats must be propelled by the use of hands and/or paddles.
  • During competition, the crew must be IN the boat, not towing it, or holding it between their legs, swimming, or allowing the life jacket to provide the flotation of the vessel.
  • Only the crew racing the boat and one helper are allowed at the water’s edge at race time.
    • The team helper is there to assist their crew off the shore at the start of the race. Team helpers may only go knee deep in the water and cannot assist the boat to complete the race.
  • The winning boat’s bow must cross the finish line first.
  • NO pets can occupy a boat during competition.
  • Throwing water on another boat is reason for disqualification, unless said water comes from the incidental splash of a paddle or other propulsive devise.
  • Participants are expected to maintain the dignity of a yachtsmen.
  • Sunken or discarded boats must be disposed of in designated trash receptacle.

This is a fun, team-building event! Any behavior deemed to be detrimental to the event or other participants will result in team disqualification.

Pictures will be taken throughout the day, a waiver should be included in the high school permission slip.

2024 schedule

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2024

September 20, 2024

Heat 1 Trophies

  1. The Narwheel- Bethel High School
  2. Fish N’ Chips- Ledyard High School
  3. ROB (Recycled Olympic [village] Bed)- Daniel Hand High School

Heat 2 Trophies

  1. Gold Medal Cruiser- The Morgan School
  2. Banana Keel- Ellington High School
  3. Seiugis- Bethel High School

Heat 3 Trophies

  1. The Floating Scotsman- Ellington High School
  2. LeBoat James- Manchester High School
  3. Steeple Chasers- East Granby High School

Heat 4 Trophies

  1. Usain Boat- Daniel Hand High School
  2. Socra-Seas (SS)- Bethel High School
  3. Poseidon’s Champion- The Morgan School

 

Championship Race- Receiving the Championship Cardboard Trophy!

  • Usain Boat- Daniel Hand High School

Best Visual Design Award

  • Row v Wave- Daniel Hand High School

Best Boat Name Award e

  • Socra-Seas (SS)- Bethel High School

Interdisciplinary Collaboration Award

  • Daniel Hand High School

People’s Choice Award

  • Trident’s Point- University High School

 

2023

October 3, 2023

Heat 1 Trophies

  1. Waterford High School- Blue & White Skipper
  2. BRASTEC- ANG Haddock
  3. Ellington High School- The Great Knight Shark

Heat 2 Trophies

  1. The Morgan School- M.S.S. Dog Pound
  2. Waterford High School- Lancer Battle Bus
  3. The Sound School- Usain Boat

Heat 3 Trophies

  1. Valley Regional High School- USS Pags
  2. Waterford High School- S.S. Samuelson
  3. The Sound School- Row v. Wave

Heat 4 Trophies

  1. East Granby High School- The Templor Transporter
  2. Ellington High School- The Dark Knight
  3. Waterford High School- WH-yeS!

Championship Race (Receiving the cardboard trophy)

  • The Morgan School- M.S.S. Dog Pound

Best Visual

  • The Morgan School- M.S.S. Dog Pound

Best Boat Name

  • The Sound School- Usain Boat

    Interdisciplinary Collaboration Award

    • East Granby High School- The Templor Transporter

    People’s Choice Award

    • University High School of Science & Engineering- The Raging Rooster

    2022

    September 23, 2022

    Heat 1 Trophies

    1. BRASTEC Dottie
    2. Ellington HS Quaker Boats
    3. UHS Odyssey

    Heat 2 Trophies

    1. Waterford Average Joes
    2. The Morgan School Miracle on Water
    3. BRASTEC Sturgeon

    Heat 3 Trophies

    1. The Morgan School USS Independence
    2. Shelton High School Salamis
    3. Ledyard HS Ugly Ductling

    Championship Race (Receiving the cardboard trophy)

    • The Morgan School USS Independence
    • To note: the underdog, Ledyard HS Ugly Ductling had the lowest completion time during the heats, but came in second!

    Best Visual

    • Ledyard HS Ugly Ductling

    Best Boat Name

    • Waterford High School Titanic Undoordog (Jack would have fit!)

    People’s Choice Award

    • The Morgan School Miracle on Water

    2020 & 2021 events were cancelled due to COVID-19

    2020 & 2021 events were cancelled due to COVID-19

    2019 Winners

    Heat 1

    1st place – Oar-istotle, Ellington High School
    2nd place – Hutton's Arkm Glastonbury High School
    3rd place – Dirty Oar, Ellington High School
    Best Boat Design – Vasa, Norwich Free Academy
    Spirit Award – Noah's Ark, Waterford High School

    Heat 2

    1st place – Westbrook Turtle II, Westbrook High School
    2nd place – Mayflower, Ledyard High School
    3rd place – The Mary and John, 1630, The Masters School
    Best Boat Design – The Mary and John, 1630, The Masters School
    Spirit Award – Mayflower, Ledyard High School

    Heat 3

    Heat 1 – Exxon Valdez, Waterford High School
    Heat 2 – The Black Pearl, University High School
    Heat 3 – U.S.S. Wildcat, Wilby High School
    Best Boat Design – Exxon Valdez, Waterford High School
    Spirit Award – Jolly Roger Penrose the (Pi)rate, Emmett O'Brien Technical High School

    Championship Race

    1st place – Westbrook Turtle II, Westbrook High School
    2nd place – Mayflower, Ledyard High School
    3rd place – Exxon Valdez, Waterford High School

     

    2018 Winners

    Heat 1

    1st place – B.O.A.T. (Buoyancy Operated Aquatic Transport), Science & Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut
    2nd place – Manchester, Manchester High School
    3rd place – Elastic Girl, Enfield High School

    Heat 2

    1st place – Batmo Boat, Westbrook High School
    2nd place – USSA, Ledyard High School
    3rd place – Trojan Horse, Lyman Memorial High School

    Heat 3

    1st place – HMS Ligo, Emmett O'Brien Technical High School
    2nd place – Reverse Bathtub, Enfield High School
    3rd place – The Splash, Ellington High School

    Championship Race

    1st place – Batmo Boat, Westbrook High School
    2nd place – The Boat, Science and Tech High School
    3rd place – HMS Ligo, Emmett O’Brien High School

    Best in Presentation

    Heat 1 – MS Helen, The Morgan School
    Heat 2 – USSA, Ledyard High School
    Heat 3 – USS Buoyancy, Norwich Free Academy

    People’s Choice Award

    Moana’s Whip, Waterford High School

    University of Connecticut Early College Experience (UConn ECE) Concurrent Enrollment - ECE Students at the Race drop off University of Connecticut Early College Experience (UConn ECE) Concurrent Enrollment - ECE Students at the Brandford House University of Connecticut Early College Experience (UConn ECE) Concurrent Enrollment - Students at the Cardboard Pre-Race event University of Connecticut Early College Experience (UConn ECE) Concurrent Enrollment - ECE Students boat racing