Building Bridges between East and West through Education and Cultural Exchange
Album: Regina Plywood Boat Race – 2
The Annual Plywood Cup is a humorous race using boats built by teams of four. It has entertained city people as they celebrate Canada’s Birthday on July 1st each year.
This is Part 2 of 2 parts where the different teams use exactly the same building materials and construction tools to first built some kind of boat, and then later to compete with others as they paddle across the small lake and back again. (Return to article.)
Click on the first image to start the slide show.
In preparation for the race, the boats are placed in the water, and some last minute advice is given to the team member.
When the gun sounds, the racers are off… paddling furiously.
Ahh… a collision occurs just short-way into the race.
The first boat, here, seems to be in big trouble. He could risk capsizing.
He appears here to have survived the collision, and all the boats are now making progress.
To the other side of me, other boats are also in the water. Today we had about 20 boats in total.
The oppostie side of the lake is only about 300 metres. A second team member may take over the paddling for the return trip.
One poor guy is much slower than the others. Hmmm… may be he has a leak in his boat.
The boat seems to be sinking lower and lower in the water, but he keeps paddling…
… until he starts sinking!! Meanwhile, other paddlers are reaching the far side of the lake and preparing to return.
Our paddler has a life vest strapped on, so he will survive!! The plywood boat will also float.
Hmmm… Should someone come and rescue him? But, the Canadian flag continues to fly!!
He decides to try one more time… to the delight of the crowds who try to cheer him on.
We have a few hundred onlookers lining the lakeshore today.
The return point for the race is at the end of this line of spectators.
Two boats, here, are leading the race back to the finish line.
Yes, the paddler is the black girl we noticed previously. She must have done a good job with her duct tape.
Other paddlers are coming along behind, also with successful boats.
But our gal is clearly going to be the winner.
Yes… #18 is has performed best. A good boat design, and excellent paddling.
At the end of the race, the boats are simply dumped into the dumpster!! A bit of a pity, after all the hard work.
The winning boat is there also. “See you at the end” it said.
