29th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta
9 am to 4 pm
Saturday, April 21, 2018
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
The Cardboard Boat Regatta is one of four fundraising events throughout the year that support environmental education at River Legacy Living Science Center & River Legacy Parks.
Champions Lynn Hale Elementary shared this awesome video from our 29th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta! Check it out and be sure to join us in 2019 for our 30th Regatta! A Big Congratulations to the Lynn Hale team!
Check out Photos from our 2018 Cardboard Boat Regatta!
A huge thanks to all of our sponsors, boat crews, volunteers and attendees for braving the cold and rain for a FUN 29th annual Cardboard Boat Regatta! We are already looking forward to next year!
The Cardboard Boat Regatta challenges amateur boat builders – youth and adult – to design, build and navigate boats made entirely of corrugated cardboard. The crafty cardboard creations then sail (or sink!) in Hurricane Harbor’s Wave Pool as they compete for a variety of trophies. Spectators have just as much fun cheering on the courageous crews and soaking up the event-day activities. In addition to hosting this fabulous event for us, Six Flags Hurricane Harbor opens a few select rides, such as the Tornado, Tsunami Surge, Typhoon Twister and Hook’s Lagoon.
- Download a Boat Building Manual to take you step by step through the process.
- Regatta Race & Safety Rules
Boat Entries (Designed & built before event day)
- Boaters must be 8 years old
- Crews can consist of 1 to 10 members
- These boat entries can also include our Class II mechanical boats, which use muscle-powered propulsion systems (propellers, paddle wheels, sails) and steering systems (rudders) that do not need to be made of cardboard.
- Winning boats awarded trophies that include Fastest Finish; Best of Show; Rah, Rah; & Titanic for most spectacular sinking
Build on Site Boats
Don’t have time to build a boat before race day? Sign up on event day for Class III Build on Site to construct a Guppy (2-person) boat in just two hours. You and your crew will receive:
- 3 pieces of cardboard
- 2 rolls of duct tape (only allowed on Build on Site boats)
- 2 sheets of plastic
- box cutter
- pencil
- yard stick
- A trophy is awarded to the fastest finish
- Check out a time-lapsed Build-on-Site Video
Boat Kits – NEW!
Thanks to our generous sponsor, Harris Packaging, participants can pre-purchase a pre-cut boat kit that all you have to do is assemble, paint and decorate to make it your own theme! Boat kits can be designed for 4 to 6 crew members.
- Cost is $100
- Limited supply of 10 kits available, on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Boat kits can be picked up from Harris Packaging by appointment on Saturdays.
- Order your boat kits on the entry forms, or contact Kristi Payne via e-mail or 817.860.6752, ext. 107.
High School Challenge
All high schools that enter a boat in one or more categories in the Cardboard Boat Regatta are automatically entered in the High School Challenge!
- Paint your boat in your school colors
- Make the mascot the captain of your ship
- Show your school spirit to win the Rah!Rah! Award!
- Win the High School Challenge Trophy!
Game Area
Grab your friends, family or crewmates and add a little extra competition to the day! Passes can be purchased on event day to enjoy playing these available sports in our NEW Game Area:
- Horseshoes
- Spikeball
- Ladderball
- Cornhole
- No trophies – just the fun of winning (and of course your own personal bragging rights!)
Children’s Area
- Enjoy some splash time at Hook’s Lagoon
- Hula Hoop contests
- Bubble Play
- Mini-Boat Regatta
- For children ages 4 to 12
- $5 entry fee
- Race a small pinewood sailboat along a rain gutter by blowing into the sail.
- Pinewood sailboat kits can be purchased at Acorns Gift Shop inside River Legacy Living Science Center and built and decorated before event day.
- Download a Mini-Boat Regatta Entry Form Here
- Win fabulous prizes!
- Sail adopted rubber whales down the Lazy River and if yours is plucked from the finish line – you win!
- 1 Whale for $5 or 5 Whales for $20!
- You do not need to be present to win & the more whales you sail the better your chances of WINNING!
Hurricane Harbor rides
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor is still closed for the season, but graciously host our event and open a few rides for our guests enjoyment:
- Tornado
- Tsunami Surge
- Typhoon Twister
- Ride passes for unlimited spins on the available above rides can be purchased for $10
- Hook’s Lagoon is included in the price of admission
2018 Entry Forms
- General Entry Form
- School Entry Form
- 2018 Registration Waiver – Download and return the waiver to participate in all events.
- Public school participants (elementary-high school) can receive 5 FREE sheets of cardboard for their entry. Download the map and times and dates for cardboard pickup. Cardboard will only be available on the dates listed.
- Pizza Pre-Order Form – Schools & Groups can feed their hungry crew by pre-ordering pizzas for just $9 to be picked up at a Concession Area at Regatta. Deadline to order pizzas is Thursday, April 12. (Please note: No outside food or coolers are allowed inside Hurricane Harbor).
Please consider all event fees a donation to River Legacy Foundation in case of event cancellation due to inclement weather. No refunds will be provided.
To consider a Corporate Sponsorship of Cardboard Boat Regatta, contact Fund Development Coordinator Becky Nussbaum at 817.860.6752, ext. 120. For more information about event activities and registration, contact Marketing Coordinator Kristi Payne at 817.860.6752, ext. 107. For information about volunteering at Cardboard Boat Regatta, contact Volunteer Manager Sherrie Ripple at 817.860.6752, ext. 109.
Thank you for supporting our 2018 Cardboard Boat Regatta Sponsors!