Raingutter Regatta

Raingutter Regatta

1. Overview - “Just what is a Raingutter Regatta?”

The Raingutter Regatta is a boat race that is designed to be a parent-child project. Please feel free to give guidance and minimal assistance to your Scout as he builds his Raingutter Regatta boat, appropriate to his age. This is a chance for your Cub to be part of a team (them and you), and to enjoy the spirit of friendly competition with his peers. These “Official Raingutter Regatta Rules” are written to help you keep it simple and fun for your child, and to know what to expect when it comes time to race your boat.

A special note to all parents and scouts: Together, please read the concluding article (Section 6) on sportsmanship. While everyone will be trying to win, it's always a good idea to start out by remembering the Cub Scout Motto, "Do Your Best," and some of the basic ideas behind good sportsmanship.

2. Ground Rules for Participation –“Who can race?”

The leadership of Pack 246 always tries to keep our activities family oriented, so not only can the scouts have fun, but their brothers and sisters can too. Here are our participation guidelines:

  • The race is open to all Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts registered to Pack 246, as well as to their siblings

  • Each scout or sibling may enter only one boat in the competition. They should have a significant level of participation in building their boat (designing, sanding, gluing, painting, decorating, etc.).

  • The boat must have been built during the current program year (the school year in which the Regatta is held). Boats that have competed in a previous regatta are not permitted. Only the official BSA boat kit “Raingutter Regatta Racing Trimaran Kit” may be used.

3. Boat Specifications – “Are there boat building rules?”

To ensure that the race is as fair as possible, all boats must be the BSA Raingutter Regatta Racing Trimaran Kit. On every boat, all parts provided in the kit must be used in the boat construction, with the exception of stickers. Also, no other form of propulsion besides the sail is allowed. Here are some additional boat construction details to be aware of:

  • Hull/Outriggers: The Outriggers must be no longer than 7" or shorter than 6 ½". The finished boat must be 3-1/4" wide, which is the dimension of the molded hull. The outriggers must be solid and not split into multiple parts and must be evenly placed. The outriggers should be cut on the leading edge as shown in the enclosed instructions. One may not be placed ahead of the other.

  • Mast: Height limit is 6” to 7" (maximum) from deck to top. Masts may not be extended, but may be decorated. 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.

  • Sail: Supplied in kit, may be trimmed but not enlarged or added to (except for decorations). The sail cannot be glued to the boat, but should be attached to the mast to keep it from spinning around.

  • Decorations/Additions: Objects such as sailors, cannons, etc. may be added. All such decorations must be firmly fastened to the boat, and may not be placed in such a manner as to exceed the boat dimensions. Bowsprits (large spars projecting forward from the stem) are not allowed, as they extend the overall length of the boat, providing an unfair advantage. Numbering is not required.

  • Basically, the Trimaran Boat should look like the Trimaran Boat displayed on the box. The boat requires no keel or rudder and none may be added.

4. Boat Assembly Guidance – “How can I build a ‘winning’ boat?”

The following assembly guidelines (tips) are provided to help you get the best performance from your boat. They are not meant to be restrictive. (See 3. “Boat Specifications” above for requirements.)

  • Shaping the boat: Do not round the sides of the hull. (A less rounded hull is more stable than a more rounded hull.) Any gouges can be repaired with spackle or latex caulk (sandable).

  • Mast: Install the mast by gluing it in the preformed hole in the boat body. Be sure to check mast height (see section 3. above)

  • Sail: Position the sail on the mast. About 3/4" from the top of the mast, either glue the sail to it, or attach securely with tape. Attach bottom of sail in a similar manner. The bottom edge of the sail needs to be about 1/2 inch above the deck of the boat. If the sail is too low, the corners rub against the gutter or dip in the water. If the sail is too high, the boat is top heavy and tends to tip over. A well secured sail makes the boat easier to handle in the water.

  • Painting/Decorations: The sailboat body should be painted at least 24 hours before racing to allow sufficient time to dry. You may want to use Krylon spray paint --it dries to a sandable finish in about one minute on the balsa wood hulls. Do not use water soluble paints. Stickers, decals, and other objects may also be added to customize your boat. See section 7. Rewards and Recognition for appearance award categories. Use your imagination!

5. Inspection and Registration – “What must I do to enter my boat?”

Before the race begins, all participating “Captains” must check-in with their boats. Here are the pre-race check-in details:

  • Before a boat may compete in the regatta, it is subject to a technical inspection, to verify that it meets the prescribed specifications (see 3. Boat Specifications above for details). If a problem is noted, the Captain may be asked to correct it before the boat is registered.

  • When the boat passes inspection, it is then registered along with the boat Captain’s name (the scout’s or sibling’s name).

  • Typically, check-in of boats begins from 45 minutes to half-an-hour before race time. Registration cutoff will be 15 before race time. Boats that have not registered by the cutoff deadline will not race, so plan to arrive early enough to get your boat registered.

6. Sportsmanship – “How should I act?”

Two things the Raingutter Regatta requires each participant to learn are 1) the craft skills necessary to build a boat and 2) the rules that must be followed. Even more important, though, is how we act and behave while participating in the Raingutter Regatta or any other group activity. This is called sportsmanship.

The first thing to remember about sportsmanship is that everyone's skills are a little different. Your craft skills may be just developing, while someone else may be more experienced. Parents have different skill levels, too. Whether or not you feel that you have good boat-building or racing skills, remember, you and your friends are individuals first and racers second. This idea is often called having respect for others.

The second thing to remember is to follow the rules. Without rules, there would be no RaingutterRegatta. You will never know if you are really good at doing something unless you follow the rules. This is often called being honest.

The third thing to remember about good sportsmanship is that there are winners and losers in every competition. You accept this when you choose to compete. There may be times when you win and feel happy, and times when you lose and feel unhappy. Being a winner is easy, and losing is sometimes hard. If you win, you must not brag or gloat. If you lose, you must not feel jealous or bitter. To be a good sportsman, you must be able to say, "I did my best" and be satisfied with the results. You must also be able to appreciate and feel happy for someone else when he runs a good race or builds a neat boat.