News
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Eight teams from seven Avalon Peninsula high schools competed in the Marine Institute’s 6th Annual Model Boat Race held April 28.
Also participating for the first time as race mentors was a team of first-year students from the Marine Institute’s Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Systems Design programs.
Teams persevered through sputtering propulsion systems, collisions, one engine fire, a capsizing and even a sinking that didn’t stop students from competing again.
The annual model boat race is held in MI’s flume tank, where teams navigate their boats through a slalom course of buoys to demonstrate manoeuvrability. They also compete in head-to-head races for the title of fastest boat.
“It’s great to see all the teams solving the same design challenges in many different ways,” said Ken Baker, naval architecture instructor with MI, during the award presentations following the competition.
In the championship race, Crescent Collegiate (see photo) defeated St. Mark’s School, who were competing for the first time in the model boat race.
Awards were presented to the following teams:
- Super Skipper – David Green, Crescent Collegiate;
- Most Innovative Design – Brookside Intermediate;
- Best Poster & Design Booklet – Queen Elizabeth Regional High;
- Most Aesthetically Pleasing Boat – Ascension Collegiate;
- Best Team Spirit – Clarenville High
- Fastest Boat – Crescent Collegiate
- Most Maneuverable – Fatima Academy Team 1
“Throughout its six-year history, the Model Boat Race has demonstrated its value as an opportunity to expose intermediate and secondary students of the province to careers in Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Systems Design,” said Jennifer Howell, MI’s Enrollment Management Coordinator.
“By allowing students to explore these opportunities in the marine and ocean-related sector, we hope to inspire our participants to pursue a rewarding career by studying at the Marine Institute.”
Taking marine design components into consideration, each team worked together to build a remote-controlled, operational model ship to competitively race in MI’s flume tank.
While the design and fabrication of the 70-centimetre model boats was up to each team, they are required to use the same propulsion control system supplied by MI.
As part of the event, teams are required to produce a poster board display describing boat design and fabrication. As well, they develop a design booklet, including sketches and noting the concepts that helped in the overall design and manufacture of the boat.
The fifth annual Model Boat Race was organized by MI’s School of Maritime Studies and the Office of Student Recruitment. It was supported by the Fleetway Inc., Genoa Design International Ltd. and SNC-Lavalin.
