All hands were on deck last Friday, as the Alexandra Eagles’ Cardboard Boat Racing team hit the open waters of the YMCA pool.

The team was originally due to complete in the annual Skills Ontario Cardboard Boat Race scheduled for February 6 in Port Elgin. When that event was cancelled due to inclement weather, it left the Eagles marooned with no place to race. Luckily, the Eagles were not landlubbers for long, as a short sail down the block to the Y allowed them to hit the high seas with ease.

The Eagles raced two vessels – the ‘Red Racer’ and the ‘S.S. Sleepyboy’.

It was full speed ahead for Captain Andrew Timmons and First Mate David Perry, who were able to sail the Red Racer to complete a length of the pool in 40.44 seconds, with a return trip of 1:39:45. The Red Racer was also able to hold three team members before capsizing.

While the maiden voyage of the Red Racer was a success, the same couldn’t be said for the S.S. Sleepyboy. The crew of Supreme Admiral Mackenzie Young and Cabin Boy Michael Liscio had to batten down the hatches and abandon ship as their vessel made an early trip to Davey Jones’ locker.

The Alexandra Eagles’ Boat Team would like to acknowledge the support of Skills Ontario and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program in providing materials and guidelines for the boats, as well as their organization of the original event.

More information about cardboard boat racing events is available at www.skillsontario.com/competitions/cbr

source: media release, Alexandra Community School