The CBYA Regatta and the Chairman’s Charity Cardboard Boat Challenge

The 2022 CBYA Regatta on 5 & 6 October was generally foiled by the unpredictable Costa Blanca October weather – a Yellow weather alert ensured that the four cruisers which had planned to sail from Dénia dropped out, the TOMs Coastal Cruise from Calpe to El Portet was cancelled, and the evening social on the beach was generally poorly attended.

However, an unexpected improvement in the weather on the Thursday afternoon allowed the highlight of the event – the Chairman’s Charity Cardboard Boat Challenge – to go ahead!

Five cardboard boats appeared on the beach at El Portet, but only four accepted the challenge, as one was built as a non-sailing display model later to be donated to a children’s charity. The entries were:

1. The Artful Bodger – Stuart Eynestone-Hinkins

2. Dreadnought – John Mackney

3. Con-Tiki – Paul Galvin

4. Nautilus II – Gillian Ashworth & Hugh Epsom

5. Santa Maria – Diana Jarvis & Richard Jones (non-sailing)

The challenge was to paddle boats, made only from cardboard sheet and tubes, duct tape and environmentally-friendly water-soluble paint, around a mark set 100 metres off the beach, and back again, in the fastest possible time. The results were impressive:
1. The Artful Bodger – 8.3 minutes before sinking (DNF)
2. Dreadnought – 3.2 minutes before sinking (DNF)
3. Con-Tiki – 20.1 minutes
4. Nautilus II – 12.5 minutes

All competing entries were subjected to careful scrutineering to ensure complaince with the rules. Many thanks to the scrutineers (and safety team), Peter English and Paul Nicholls.

Prizes were presented by Sara Richardson, Teulada-Moraira councillor for International Relations, on behalf of Mayor Raúl Llobell, who was unfortunately unable to attend.

The awards were:

• Overall winner – Nautilus II

• Most spectacular sinking – The Artful Bodger

• Most inventive interpretation of the rules – Con-Tiki

• Best-dressed boat – Santa Maria

The competitors jointly raised over €800 (mostly by Gillian) for the 2022 CBYA-supported local charities which are Make-a-Smile and the Balcón al Mar Bomberos Voluntarios.

A 10-minute video of this fun event can be viwed by clicking HERE.

A fun event which we hope will be repeated next year.

The Organising Committee