The cub scouts held a Rain Gutter Regatta this year. This was the first regatta I've ever attended. Chad said he'd never done one when he was in cub scouts. Daniel just missed being a cub by 3 months. Darn.
Anyway, Nathan sanded and painted a little boat and anticipated the event. The weather was a little warm, so it was a good night to be outside and playing with water!
There are a few differences between a Rain Gutter Regatta and a Pinewood Derby. The biggest difference was the lack of regulations. There weren't any serious requirements to building the boats. No one weighed or measured or qualified the boys' individual boats. Some of them even had sails made from paper instead of the sail that came with the kit. They had a rule that you couldn't touch the boat, but when they got stuck, someone usually reached in and freed the vessel for the sailor. They did give first, second and third place, but I don't think that really represented the boats very well because the races weren't really monitored all that closely. (I don't know if these differences are specific to our pack, or if the regattas really are more just laid-back.)
Another difference in a regatta vs. a derby is that the boys have to do the work! Gravity and a little skill in building a sleek race car are what make or break a winner. In a regatta, a strong set of lungs is what really counts! Unfortunately for Nathan, while he has a strong personality, he doesn't have much in the way of blowing strength. He huffed and puffed out his cheeks with a steady determination. I don't know how much
he filled his lungs to do that, though!
Anyway, Nathan sanded and painted a little boat and anticipated the event. The weather was a little warm, so it was a good night to be outside and playing with water!
There are a few differences between a Rain Gutter Regatta and a Pinewood Derby. The biggest difference was the lack of regulations. There weren't any serious requirements to building the boats. No one weighed or measured or qualified the boys' individual boats. Some of them even had sails made from paper instead of the sail that came with the kit. They had a rule that you couldn't touch the boat, but when they got stuck, someone usually reached in and freed the vessel for the sailor. They did give first, second and third place, but I don't think that really represented the boats very well because the races weren't really monitored all that closely. (I don't know if these differences are specific to our pack, or if the regattas really are more just laid-back.)
Another difference in a regatta vs. a derby is that the boys have to do the work! Gravity and a little skill in building a sleek race car are what make or break a winner. In a regatta, a strong set of lungs is what really counts! Unfortunately for Nathan, while he has a strong personality, he doesn't have much in the way of blowing strength. He huffed and puffed out his cheeks with a steady determination. I don't know how much
he filled his lungs to do that, though!
And he usually wasn't very happy about it. Of course, a younger (7 yrs.) boy had come up to him before the races started and told him that his boat wasn't very good and he wasn't going to win. That made him feel bad and he admitted that he didn't like that kid very much. I felt the same! Some people should teach their kids better manners so my kids don't have to feel so bad!
But Nathan did win sometimes and Chad caught one of those moments in motion.
(By the way, this movie wouldn't load in Internet Explorer, but only took 10 minutes or so in Google Chrome. Glad to have options!)
And while the real sailors competed, there was a splash pool for the tiny sailors to keep busy in. They even had little boats to sail. Joseph really enjoyed himself. (That little girl in the back is Ady. Joseph says he'll marry her someday since he can't marry Sarah.)
And then there are little trouble makers like that little girl in the purple shirt. She was the smallest one there and was getting everyone the wettest.
I don't think she was one bit sorry for it, either!!
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