Raingutter Regatta

What: 2023 Pack 95 Raingutter Regatta

When:

Where:

Important Note

The most important thing about the Raingutter Regatta is for it to be fun for the Scouts. Each year, Cub Scouts come up with great boat designs. Building a Regatta Boat with your Scout is a great way teach him how to safely use hand tools and is a fun project. There will be awards for the creative and fun designs, as well as for the fastest boats. However, having fun and teaching good sportsmanship are the most important parts of the Raingutter Regatta. If you have fun, you’ve already won! We will also be having a separate “sibling" and "Adult” class, so the whole family is encouraged to participate.

Rules

The rules for the Raingutter Regatta are fairly simple. All scouts will build boats from the official BSA Trimaran Regatta kit supplied by the pack. Please follow the assembly directions in the kit.

Construction rules:

The boat must be newly built for the current Cub Scouting year. As much as practical, the boat should be substantially built by the Scout with parental supervision.
Boats must be made from the official BSA Raingutter Regatta Trimaran Boat Kit. All parts (2 outriggers, polymer hull, mast, sail and 4 screws) provided in the kit must be used in the boat construction.
Decorations and additional parts, decals, paint, and glue are permitted as long as the boat stays within size requirements. Only boats with dried paint, decorations, glue (adhesives) will be allowed to compete.
Outriggers/Hull: The Outriggers must be no longer than 7" or shorter than 6 1⁄2". The finished boat must be 3- 1/4" (the width of the hull) to 3-1/2” wide. The outriggers must be solid and not split into multiple parts and must be evenly placed.
The mast may not be higher than 7” from the deck, or shorter than 6” from the deck. The boat requires no keel or rudder and none may be added.
Sail: Must use the sail provided in the kit. It may be trimmed, but cannot be enlarged, and may be decorated. The sail may only be attached to the mast by glue (this is highly recommended), no mechanical fasteners will be allowed and the sail may not be attached to any part of the boat except the mast. Cup sails are permitted but must be attached to the mast and not the hull.
The mast hole is molded into the top of the plastic hull and is the only placement allowed for the mast. No deviations will be allowed and no modifications to the hole are allowed. The mast MUST BE perpendicular (90 degrees) to the hull, angling the mast in any direction is not allowed.
Modifications above the waterline for creative or decorative purposes are allowed as long as they do not alter sail performance (only exceptions are cup sails). Details such as figures, decals and paint are permissible as long as these details are securely glued or fastened to the boat. The scouts are encouraged to decorate their boat, as this adds to the experience.

Race Rules:

Two scouts will race against each other at a time. We will have two Raingutters, so 4 racers at a time are possible.
Each boat must start with the back of the boat touching the end of the rain gutter; the scout must hold it there with one hand.
When the starter says go, the scouts will propel the boats by blowing on the sail. No straws allowed.
The scout may use his hand only to upright his boat or to remove an impediment (i.e. if the boat is stuck on the gutter).
THE SCOUT MAY NOT ADVANCE THE BOAT WITH HIS HAND (or any part of their body or clothing) AT ANY TIME. If a scout does so, he will be given a warning and the race rerun if that scout wins.
If a boat gets broken during a race, the scout will be given a chance to repair (time permitting) and the race rerun.

Race Format:

Races will be run using a double-elimination bracket.
Races will run by den - e.g., Bears racing Bears.
The top 3 from each Den will then race in a double-elimination Pack bracket.
Awards will be given for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each Den as well as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place for the Pack.
There will a Best-In-Show award based on popular vote.

Fun Awards Categories

We will be presenting the following design awards at this year’s Raingutter Regatta:

DESIGN “SHOW” AWARDS

Best Scout ThemeMost Creative

There will be prizes for show and prizes for “go.” In addition to the design awards, Scouts will also win awards for placing in the top three for the Pack. Medals will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners in the Pack. The Raingutter Regatta racing software does a double elimination bracket style to determine the champion.

I addition to Scouts we will have a Sibling-only race (must be under 15 years old to enter) and an Adult race. In the Sibling race, all cars must conform to all rules as the Scout race. These are only for fun!