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.
- 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.
2023 schedule
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Open in new tab 2023
October 3, 2023
Heat 1 Trophies
- Waterford High School- Blue & White Skipper
- BRASTEC- ANG Haddock
- Ellington High School- The Great Knight Shark
Heat 2 Trophies
- The Morgan School- M.S.S. Dog Pound
- Waterford High School- Lancer Battle Bus
- The Sound School- Usain Boat
Heat 3 Trophies
- Valley Regional High School- USS Pags
- Waterford High School- S.S. Samuelson
- The Sound School- Row v. Wave
Heat 4 Trophies
- East Granby High School- The Templor Transporter
- Ellington High School- The Dark Knight
- 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
- BRASTEC Dottie
- Ellington HS Quaker Boats
- UHS Odyssey
Heat 2 Trophies
- Waterford Average Joes
- The Morgan School Miracle on Water
- BRASTEC Sturgeon
Heat 3 Trophies
- The Morgan School USS Independence
- Shelton High School Salamis
- 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
