June 16 - Build a Boat

Today was the 'Build a Boat' competition. Given my name around the ship is Captain Karen, I felt obliged to participate.

I know it's a little hard to see. The boat part is water bottles, duct taped together. I put a little water in them for ballast. The sail is a world globe mylar balloon. Again thank you Art and Pam for providing me the tools to participate in these competitions. I opened the back side of the balloon, to allow for the wind to push it. And then I gave it some structural integrity. TaDa

I named it the SS World Seas.

We weren't allowed any type of propulsion. It had to cross the pool on wind and wave action only.

It's not the prettiest thing, but it floats! And with wind it moves quite fast, as I tested it. And it proved it could get across the pool. Yes that's it up against the finish line.

Here are the other two competitors.

First problem was they were doing maintenance on the Main pool, so we had to move to the Solarium pool. The second problem was there was no wind in the Solarium. Well the crowd gathered, so the show must go in. In order is, Amber, Clayton, Pam, Dion, Sue, Mary, Grace, Lee, Kathy, Randy, Lety, Cindy & Fred.

I got second on looks and construction, while the boat with the ducks got third. Hmmm, his was obviously better looking and by far the best constructed. I smell a subjective competition, or maybe even a bribe..

The final test was a race. The folks that constructed the Walmart bag boat, provided winds by fanning a large piece of cardboard. So I put my boat next to theirs and the wind they provided easily took my boat across the finish line ahead of the rest by at least 5 feet. In fact theirs never made it to the finish line.

And the winner was......Drum Roll.....The Walmart Bag Boat.

How do you spell BRIBE.

OK, that sounds like sour grapes. I apologize. We all had fun!

And BTW, Happy Father's (and Grandfathers) Day to ALL!