‘Maritime Journal’ boat scoops Seawork race prize
Seawork International’s inaugural 4th of July celebrations have been hailed a resounding success, with ‘Maritime Journal’ taking the overall Fastest Boat prize sponsored by Shox in the cardboard boat race.
The celebrations consisted of a live band, sponsored by Barton Marine, American-themed food and the main event; a regatta for boats under 7ft long made from only cardboard and parcel tape, sponsored by Ophardt Maritim. It also, importantly, provided an industry networking opportunity with a more laid back atmosphere than many others.
With over 700 tickets sold in advance and more on the day, despite the fact that next year’s Seawork does not fall on the 4th of July, the cardboard boat regatta is an event that Seawork is already considering running again.
The Maritime Journal boat was built by members of Mercator Media staff to a design vision and under project management by MJ’s Editor, Jake Frith. It used an experimental double diagonal construction of some 65 five inch cardboard strips laid up on a male mould consisting of the front 7 feet of a fibreglass rowing boat extracted from the Editor’s garden. The build took approximately 40 person hours and over 1.5 kilometres of parcel tape to complete.
Maritime Journal’s Speedwell, (all boats had an American theme) completed the short course in 40.43 seconds, paddled by Jake and MJ sales department’s Dave Perratt. It was most closely followed by the MoD’s CSS Boats’ Batman themed vessel which completed the course in 57.02 and won the ‘Best Boat’ award sponsored by Ophardt Maritim. CQuip’s USS Marvel came through in 1m17s for a well-deserved third place.
In the prize for the best bedecked boat, sponsored by Barton Marine, Landau Marine won with a giant hotdog complete with papier mache mustard, called the Landog, which while undoubtedly striking in appearance, struggled in the directional stability department and was sadly unable to complete the course within the time cut-off period of 10 minutes.
Of the numerous sinkings and capsizes, Avon Protection’s Space Shuttle was deemed to be most spectacular, earning its builders the coveted ‘Soggy Bottom’ award.
Safety cover was kindly provided by the Atlantic Pacific lifeboat charity with assistance from Landau Marine’s Seabob Rescue operator.
