By Nathaniel Thomas ’25
On Wednesday, March 13, 2024, Chaminade students put their engineering skills to the ultimate test in the Second Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta. Tasked with creating a vessel out of only cardboard and duct tape and sailing it safely across the pool, dozens of students were up to the challenge and attempted to go from Flyers to sailors. The crafts all had tremendous variety in name and design, from the Sinkable Ship to S.S. Hot Rods to the U.S.S. Goober to a ship simply called Bob.
Some ships were clearly designed meticulously with a keen structural understanding and features such as cardboard oars, while others would prove not as seaworthy. The difference between boats became obvious as soon as the students entered the water. Most of the cardboard contraptions capsized immediately, with the crew helplessly trying to retrieve the wet cardboard and get back into whatever was left in the boat, while some ships, such as the S.S. AP Guessing manned by Logan Rahner ‘25 and James Casamassima ‘25, made it across the water mostly in one piece. As the seafarers heroically braved the depths in their recycled rafts, landlubbers occupied the pool’s bleachers to cheer on the contestants with an array of homemade posters.
After each boat got its chance to sink or swim, a few captains and crews stood atop them all. In the Solo category, Riley Mascolo ‘25’s Buoyancy Operated Aquatic Transport, or B.O.A.T, took home first place, while the trio of Mike Atteriano ‘25, Panagiotis Kaloudis ‘25, and Harrison Murphy ‘25 won the team prize commanding The Muri. The “Van Gogh Award” for the best-designed vessel went to the historically-inspired Ellis Island Ferry created by Antonio Branchinelli ‘25, while the “Titanic Award” for the most spectacular sinking was won by the aptly named Titanic, with the dubious distinction going to Antonio Barreira ‘25 and Alex Apostopolous ‘25.
Mr. Ahmed Sarhan, the head moderator of Science Club and organizer of the event, said, “The Regatta was a great success this year. The competition was very friendly, but it encouraged a lot of sportsmanship, comradery, and overall I think it was one for the books, and I am hoping to have an even greater turnout next year”. Even though many participants went home wet and empty-handed, everyone who was involved made laughs and memories in an afternoon to remember.
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