Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation is giving you a chance to unleash your inner shipwright.
Fort Leonard Wood's second annual Cardboard Boat Race is scheduled at 10 a.m. Aug. 16 at the lake at Training Area 250. Teams can sign up to build their own watercraft and have a two-person crew sail it around a buoy and back.
The contest is free to enter, and is open to the public.
"Last year was very successful; we had a good number of teams," said Eli Wilson, FMWR Community Activities manager.
Teams will compete in two divisions: an Adult Division for ages 18 and older, and a Family Division with watercraft operated by one adult and one child 17 and younger. Teams can have an unlimited number of members, but all entries must be operated by a two-person crew, including one who is designated as the boat's captain.
"The key is to get the two smallest people on your team to operate the boat. The lighter the people, the better the boat holds together," Wilson said.
FMWR officials expect some watercraft will not stay afloat all the way to the buoy and back. In addition to awards for the most spirited team, most creative design and the first boat to cross the finish line afloat, an award will also be presented for the "most outstanding sinking."
Teams are limited to cardboard and can only use certain tapes, like duct tape, and specific glues to hold their craft together. A complete set of boat-building rules is available online at fortleonardwoodmwr.com, along with some construction tips. All boat construction must be completed prior to the event.
"It's not so much about the race as it is about the design, and how they build the boat," Wilson said.
The event will be held rain or shine, although Wilson noted starting times could be delayed in the event of lightning.
"It's a lot of fun, and it's a great, team-building event," Wilson said. "We open it to anybody, but we like the idea of it being an esprit de corps and team building event for military units, and we encourage them to come out and compete. It's also a great Family activity, too."
Registration is open now through Aug. 15, and can be completed on the FMWR website at fortleonardwoodmwr.com/form5.php. For more information visit the website or call 596.6913.
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