Date:
Saturday, July 27, 2019 (rain date: Sunday, July 28, 2019)
Where:
Sundancers Restaurant, 116 Main Street, Rte 28, West Dennis, MA
Time:
9:00 AM racers registration
10:00 AM crowds look at boats
11:00 AM, and they're off! Let the racing begin!
Special thanks to:
- All Our Fine Harbormasters
- Cape Cod Sail & Power Squadron
- Merlin Copy Service
- Howlin' Don Howell, Master of Ceremonies
- Michael Rylander, for His Tireless Behind the Scenes Support
- Ed and Diane, and the Beautiful Folks at Sundancers
Rules
Design is only limited by your imagination and the materials listed below.
- Cardboard: Corrugated Cardboard or Carpet Tubing. No Waxed or Treated Cardboard (Simple Test: If It Falls Apart at the Mere Mention of Water, That's the Stuff You Want).
- Duct Tape or Packing Tape
- Glue: Only One Part. No Two-Part Epoxies. What Works Well: Construction Adhesive, Contact Cement and Elmer's Glue.
- Caulking; Silicone Works Well
- Paint; Latex Works Excellent. No Two-Part Paints, Rubberized or Oil-Based, as Oil-Based Will Dissolve Cardboard Before It Dries.
Not allowed: anything other than listed above. No wood, metal, plastic, sona tubes, waxed cardboard, or foam.
The Viking race committee will check all entrants and prevent the hull with the dreaded ice pick probe test.
Propulsion: (what makes the boat move around in the water) paddles, oars, etc. No sails, motors, paddlewheels, poles, ropes, or help from anyone outside of the crew on the entered boat.
Crew: each boat must hold at least a team of two (unit must be human. Positive ID required). Staff must be in the vessel, no pushing or swimming alongside the boat.
- All Crew Must Be Registered and Signed in Before Judging at 10:00 AM.
- The Most Massive Guest Crew Must Be Registered and Signed in by 10:00 AM; the Number of Staff Registered Will Be the Number of the Force Used by the Judges to Qualify the Team for the Largest Crew Award.
- All Participants Must Wear Coast Guard-Approved Life Preservers.
- All Participants Must Wear Sneakers or Appropriate Water Shoes.
- No Boat Is Allowed to Have a Closed Cockpit or Canopy or Any Obstruction That Would Impede the Vessel's Free Should It Sink.
Removal of any boats that may by chance meet their demise will be removed in its entirety by its crew and pit team and may be helped by any bystanders who may take pity upon them. The underwater craft must be removed from water and premises at the end of the race.
Actual racecourse to be determined race day. Expect to round a few markers.
All entrants are more than welcome (encouraged) to write a 20 to 30-second ad introducing their business, group, or organization that will be read with great enthusiasm by emcee Captain "Howlin' Don" Howell just before the racer starts his heat and will be re-read at the end of the racers heat.
Schedule for Race Day
9:00 - 9:30 AM - check-in and staging of all entrants. All skippers and crews must sign in and sign a liability waiver. Those under age 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver. All those signed in are eligible for awards and fabulous prizes.
9:30 - meet the emcee, Captain "Howlin' Don" Howell. You are welcome to come up and introduce yourself and shake hands with this living legend who some consider the emcee of emcees.
9:45 AM - Captains Meeting - by Sundancers deck
10:00 AM - Public Viewing of all boats and meet the crews Judging - our panel of world-renowned, internationally recognized, board, certified (the only ones who would volunteer) judges will be inspecting and making notes on the following categories:
- Best Design
- Most Outrageous
- Best Team Spirit (i.e., costumes of crew and pit crew and overall excitement)
- Most Artistic
- Best Boat Name
- Largest Crew
11:00 AM - And They're Off! Let the Races Begin! All the racers will be racing against the clock for Best Time. If time permits, any racer that survives the first round may challenge another boat to a match where they can run against the clock or side by side where Pirate Rules will apply.
12:45 - 1:00 PM- Award Presentation
#1 The Viking Cup (fastest time). Also to be presented will be the perpetual award and defended the next year, the infamous Rubber Duckie Trophy (obviously, if you win this, you are trying way too hard). Second and Third place awards, First place award for the crew under age 14. Andrea Doria award for Most Spectacular Sinking; if you are going down, do it in style. Enthusiasm wins. Largest Crew Award (step up to the challenge). And all 10:00 am judged awards will be presented. All entrants who have signed in will receive participation appreciation certificates suitable for framing.
Thank you for coming and taking part in this Experience of a Lifetime (which is held every year).
Check out Cardboard Boat photos of past races!
Complete the Cardboard Boat Registration form to be a part of the experience of a lifetime!