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Raingutter Regatta Rules

 

The Raingutter Regatta is a boat race that is designed to be a parent-scout project.  Please feel free to give guidance and minimal assistance to your Scout as he/she builds their Raingutter Regatta boat, appropriate to their age.  This is a chance for your scout to be part of a team the scout and you), and to enjoy the spirit of friendly competition with their 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.

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Ground Rules for Participation – “Who can race?”

 

The leadership of Pack 305 always tries to keep our activities family oriented.  Here are our participation guidelines:

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  1. The race is open to all Lion Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts registered to Pack 305

  2. Each scout 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.).

  3. 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. We gave out boat kits at the Holiday Potluck.  Boat kits are also available from your Den Leader.

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Boat Specifications – “Are there boat building rules?”

 

Boats must made from the BSA Raingutter Regatta kits.

 

  1. The boat must be no longer than 7 inches in length, nor shorter than 6 1/2 inches in length.

  2. The boat must be no wider than 3 3/8 inches–any wider and it may not fit in the gutter, or get hung up on the sides and go slow.

  3. No keel or rudder may be attached to the boat.

  4. You may use the sail and mast that are included with a kit. The mast for the sail must be no higher than 6 1/2 inches from the deck to the top of the mast. The sail may not extend above the top of the mast, and it should not extend wider than the width of the boat.

  5. Decorations/Additions:  Objects such as sailors, pirates, 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 as listed above. Your racing number will be added during registration so do not add the numbers from the kit.

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Competition – “How will the race be run?”

 

Every race has to have rules, and ours is no exception.  Here’s what to expect:

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  1. Once all boats are registered, the competition will be run by den order.  This is a time trail event, so each scout will race at least three times.  Best time wins!  Scouts will be racing with other scouts from their same den for five Rank Awards.  Medals will be awarded in each Rank for First Place. (ie. First Place Lion Den, First Place Tiger Den, etc.) 

  2. Each race heat will involve two equal lengths of raingutter (approximately 10-feet long) filled with water.

  3. The race heat begins once the official starter has placed the competing boats against the back wall of the gutter and commands the scouts to “GO!”

  4. On the starter’s command, the scouts will blow into the sail of their boat in order to advance them through the water.  The boat can only be propelled by blowing into the sail by the scouts mouth or through a straw.  Once the race has started, the scout CANNOT touch his boat with his hands, except to right a capsized boat.

  5. Pushing the boat forward is NOT allowed while righting a capsized or stuck boat by hand, nor is pushing by a scout’s face, lips, hat, nose or other body part that touches the boat.  Pushing may disqualify the scout during that race heat.  Any disputed heat may be rerun at the discretion of the judges.

  6. At registration each scout will have received a 3x5 card to record their times.  After every scout has raced three times the den leaders will collect all the cards and determine their den’s winner.  In the unlikely event of a tie, there will be a run off.

  7. If a boat is damaged during a race (boat loses its mast, sail, or an outrigger) and can be repaired in a reasonable amount of time (a few minutes), the race may be run again at the discretion of the judges.  Any non-functional decorations that fall off during competition will not be reattached during racing.

  8. Any unsportsmanlike conduct by any participant or spectator may be grounds for expulsion from the competition and/or the race area.

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Rewards and Recognition – “What can I take home?”

 

The most important values in Raingutter Regatta competition are parent/scout participation, good sportsmanship and learning how to follow rules.  The Pack Committee is responsible for recognizing and encouraging these qualities in addition to traditional racing awards.  Here are the tangible awards that you may receive:

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  1. Medals will be awarded to the first place finishers in each rank.

  2. Every participating Scout who does not receive a trophy will receive a Raingutter Regatta participation medal.

  3. Boats from all ranks are eligible to be selected for the appearance (static) award.  Judges will reward a creativity and workmanship award.

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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.

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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.

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

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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 they runs a good race or builds a neat boat.

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Good Luck,

Cubmaster Jim

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