Institution news
Always eager, it seems, to take on a challenge, the Bath and Bristol Young Members Committee held its inaugural version of the Cardboard Boat Race this summer. Eight teams created vessels designed and built to be seaworthy long enough to travel 250 metres, with names like The Unsinkables, Soggy Bottoms and Ship Happens.
The Committee was delighted to work with the Young Shipwrights project, which is run annually by the charity My Future My Choice, to encourage young people to explore engineering when planning their future.
The race attracted the attention of over 4000 onlookers across the harbour, who eagerly watched to see which of the cardboard and tape constructed vessels, each carrying two people, would complete the 250 metre dash to the other side.
Eight boats, made by members of the Institution in advance of the day, entered the water; within seconds two of them were stricken and the crew thrown overboard! Four boats finished the race intact but there was only one clear winner, a team called the Double Daves. However, the winning canoe sank on the victory lap.
The event was featured on the local evening news, which celebrated the day’s success, noting that the maritime festival had attracted 250,000 visitors. http://www.itv.com/news/west/update/2013-07-27/saturday-at-the-harbour-festival-full-report/
The Committee’s Facebook page also shows plenty of photos and comments about the race.
Earlier in the day more than one hundred small yachts, made by children aged seven to 11, were launched, which had been built with the support of business sponsors and volunteers, including Institution members.
Patrick O’Hanrahan, Vice Chair of the Young Members Committee and one of the organisers, said: “The event was a tremendous success: hopefully we’ll be able to hold an even better one next year.” Participants commented that there was excellent team spirit between all competitors.
Hugh Thomas, Director of My Future My Choice, added: “The Institution has been a great boost to the Young Shipwrights project, by sponsoring workshops, supplying volunteers and finally providing a fantastic event to inspire children to think of engineering as a future career.”
