Hobbies And Interests
Boat Design Tips
A regatta is nothing without ships, so it's important to consider the design of your scout's boat. The Boy Scouts of America sells a regatta kit that uses a straightforward, single-hull design, but scout dad Carl Schott encourages building a catamaran for your scout's regatta. The catamaran design is more stable, Schott says, and easier to control. Besides considerations of hull design, a fast ship will be light and have ample sail area and a firmly anchored sail mast.
Piloting Tips
A win at a Raingutter Regatta requires a captain with a plan. Boy's Life Magazine notes that a strong, steady wind is a more effective engine than powerful, erratic gusts. Scouts should practice blowing out long, steady streams of air before the race. Directing the stream of air at the proper location on the sail is also crucial to generating top speeds. Boy's Life recommends aiming the stream of air at a point in middle of the sail and just a bit lower than the center.
Raingutter Tips
For pack leaders and parents helping out with a Raingutter Regatta proper rain gutter maintenance is crucial. The Buckskin Council of the Boy Scouts of America suggests keeping a few extra rain gutters on hand in case any need to be swapped out between races. Test the rain gutters before race time to check for leaks and keep a few tools like vice grips, caulk and tape on hand for repairs. Also make sure to have the rain gutters secured so that there's no tipping or falling over during races.
Cleanup Tips
Whether your scout's Raingutter Regatta is held indoors or out, things are going to get wet. The Buckskin Council recommends keeping a multitude of mops, towels and other absorbent things on hand for ongoing cleanup during an event held inside. If your scout's regatta is outside on the grass this probably isn't necessary. Use a wet/dry heavy-duty vacuum cleaner after the races to remove large amounts of water from indoor locations.