Orange Beach Students to Compete in 4th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta

R. Ken Cooper • April 15, 2025

Community invited to support student builders as they Set Sail at Bear Point Community Beach

Orange Beach Students to Compete in 4th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach City Schools' Gifted Program is preparing to host the 4th Annual Cardboard Boat Regatta at Bear Point Community Beach. This fun and educational event challenges students to design and build boats using only cardboard, paint, tape, and glue. They will then race their creations in a friendly and creative competition.

Students from grades 3–6 in Orange Beach City Schools' Gifted Program will showcase their engineering skills in this year’s regatta.

The event will take place on Saturday, May 3, starting at 10:00 AM. The public is invited to attend and cheer on these young engineers. Bear Point Community Beach offers ample parking and space for spectators to bring chairs or blankets to enjoy the show.

Beyond the splashes and laughs, the regatta teaches students critical STEM skills—science, technology, engineering, and math—while fostering creativity and collaboration.

The idea of cardboard boat regattas began in 1974 at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Professor Richard Archer created the challenge for his freshman design class, asking students to make seaworthy boats out of cardboard. That first race grew into an annual tradition and sparked similar events across the country.

At the Orange Beach event, prizes will be awarded in several fun categories. These include Most Creative Theme and Costume, Best Boat Design, Best Paddle Design, and the crowd-favorite Most Dramatic Sink Award.

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