The smallest boat won.

The Seahawk, with educational technician Caitlin Shepherd and student Marc Bayaco rowing the most durable ship, defeated six other competitors in the third annual running of the “Cardboard Cup” in the pool at Boothbay Region YMCA on Thursday, Sept. 26. 

The Cardboard Cup is a competition among the students in Chip Schwehm’s marine technology class at Boothbay Region High School. The students spent about seven classes learning about boatbuilding and constructing their cardboard boats.

“We use the project to teach hull terminology (port, starboard, aft, gunwale, quarter knee, bulkhead, transom, batten, fore deck, etc.) and the structural design of boat hulls,” said Schwehm in an email. “The project also serves as an introduction to lofting (profile, half breadth, body plan). Along the way, they learn how to calculate design waterlines. There is also a lot of problem solving and teamwork as they learn what it involves taking two-dimensional material and creating a three-dimensional, often curved boat.”

Schwehm said the materials are bought through the school budget and that the students get the following to construct their boats: up to five sheets of 4-foot by 8-foot cardboard; one roll of duct tape; and a tube of construction adhesive.

“Before building the boats, they also drew their boats at 1/4 scale, made a 1/4 scale model, then made a full scale drawing of their final design,” said Schwehm.

The competition started out slow as three of the seven ships didn’t complete the course, which was two lengths of the pool. The first ship going down to defeat was Wet Willy, with Mike Hollowell and Grant Swope. It toppled over about 20 feet after the start. Its heat competitor, Hydroflask, with Zachary Brewer and Ashton McLellan, made it one length but after it turned, the ship sank like a rock.

The next heat was perhaps the most hilarious. The Seahawk went up against Dripping Wet, with two six-foot sailors, Nick Morley and Hunter Crocker. It was a fairly close race until after the turn. During their effort to catch The Seahawk on the return run, Morley’s end of the boat started sinking. “Row, Hunter, row!” yelled Morley as he slowly sank. Crocker did his best but the boat eventually went under.

“She just wasn’t seaworthy,” said Morley after the race.

The championship run, following other heats, pitted The Seahawk against Wet ’n Wild, with another pair of six-foot sailors, Glory Blethen and Ben Pearce. The Seahawk led most of the race and cruised to the finish line ahead of Wet ’n Wild by about 30 feet.

Other boats in the competition included Oh, Oh! and Still-a-Float.

“Having the opportunity to work building, experimenting, solving mathematical equations, and general problem solving fosters the teamwork that this is all about,” said Shepherd. “Chip is an amazing teacher. This incredibly important industrial arts program at BRHS wouldn’t be what it is without him at the helm. Also, a huge thank you to the Y for letting our small fleet invade their waters. The way this community supports and enriches our students’ educational experience is truly special.”