However, the story all starts with a group of troops with groups of scouts in crews who made bunches of rafts.
- Paekakiriki Scouts brought a crew
- Paekakiriki Venturers brought 2 crews
- St Marys Scouts (all the way from Levin - WOW what an effort) brought 2 crews
- Whitby Scouts brought a crew
- Brittania Sea Scouts brought a crew
- Titahi Bay Scouts brought a crew
- Raumatis Scouts brought 2 crews
- & Ngati Toa Scouts brought 4 crews
As you can see from the list, a great turn out.
So to the building, the briefing started things off at 9am and rafts were built at a rapid rate from then. However the designs all differed greatly.
Most of Ngati Toa opting to go with a standard two+two inner tube approach firmed up with spars
St Marys opting for a four in a line configuration
Whitby & Raumati doing the "lets just lash some inner tubes together" thing! This is a tried and tested technique for getting to the finish line and this design provided last years winner.
Titahi Bay put together a nice frame that looked like it would go the distance
Paekakariki putting together a superstructure of green bamboo poles that looked like it might be the raft to beat
Britannias effort looking like you could ride this ship and never get wet!
And last but not least the Paekakariki Venturers all out to build out a design 3 years in development
Yes, those are bath tubs!
AND ON TO THE START!
This unruly bunch would not make a straight line making it hard for judges and umpires to be fair about it but we came close and took this picture to indemnify ourselves against any accusations.
Once underway, it became very quickly clear whose rafts were quick and whose were happy to travel on the wind and tide alone! There was a lot of swimming being done and some genuine fun be had!
Britannia off to a shaky start
The Paekakariki Express (the train of bath tubs) showing it's style
"Whitby Wolves" howling along!
There were plenty of leaders and parents in support
Eventually the inlet began to take its toll. Rafts started coming apart, as did crews!
Some crews however found it easier simply to combine their rafts
Eventually, everyone made it to shore and hot chocolate was drunk and sausages were consumed. All the equipment made it back to shore with only one or two pieces being retrieved from the water by safety boats.
Congratulations to Paekakariki Venturers for spending so long perfecting your design. You took honours in brilliant style.
Thanks to all the parents and leaders who brought troops down to attend this event and make it what it is. And a big thank you to the crew from Ngati Toa for providing the safety boats, changing tents, hot chocolate and sausages (You know who you are).
