Harbour Festival announces callout for Cardboard Boat Race

Harbour Festival announces callout for Cardboard Boat Race

Posted on: 30 May 2023

The Harbour Festival’s classic annual cardboard boat races are set to return this year – and they’re looking for sailors.

Get ready for an exhilarating and downright quirky event at the upcoming Bristol Harbour Festival. The iconic sight of a flotilla of bobbing cardboard boats will once again grace the waters, adding a splash of excitement to the festivities. And best of all? They need YOU to join in on the fun.

Taking place on the weekend of July 15th and 16th, numerous mass launches will set sail from the pontoon near Prince Street Bridge. The Bristol Harbour Festival organizers are on the hunt for participants, welcoming families, schools, and businesses to take part in the cardboard boat making workshops. Imagine crafting your very own sea-faring vessel out of cardboard and setting sail on Bristol's iconic harbor. It's the stuff of cardboard dreams!

 

 

The cardboard boat races are part of the 'My Future My Choice' project, a collaboration between schools, universities, businesses, charities, the Royal Navy, families, and community groups across Bristol. These workshops and races aren't just fun and exciting events, but also encourage young people to think about their future and the future of the city.

Last year's festival witnessed the launch of over 100 cardboard boats, all built by 700 talented school children from Bristol. The coveted first place was claimed by Ashton Gate Primary School, who earned a cool £100 prize for their four young boat-makers. If you want to join the fun, grab a ticket for a public workshop and dive into the creative madness.

This year, primary school children will be tasked with building a cardboard Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter. Schools interested in participating should reach out to My Future My Choice to secure their spot. With over 100 boats expected to set sail, the competition will be fierce, and the £100 prize is up for grabs once again.

Sponsored by GWR, this year's school races offer free rail travel to Temple Meads, where participating students can catch the Packet Boat to attend the boat building workshops. These workshops will be held on the famous MV Balmoral itself, held in dock just by M Shed.

 

 

But wait, there's more! Sunday's racing boats will be piloted by teams or families, who will bring models of the Bristol Channel Pilot Cutter or The Matthew to life. The historical ship, MV Balmoral, will serve as the stage for these exciting races. Make sure to grab your tickets and secure your spot in the action.

As if that isn't enough, long-standing Bristolian theatre company Desperate Men will be aboard on the day, providing comedy & entertainment that showcases the fascinating heritage behind the harbourside, the Balmoral and - of course- the cardboard boat races.

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Article by:

Patrick Bate

Patrick is a filmmaker with so much Bristol in his blood the white blood cells are graffiti'd. Educated at the Northern Film School in Leeds, he’s returned home to be a Videographer and Reviewer for 365Bristol and BARBI. When he’s not messing about with cameras, he enjoys playing guitar, spending far too much time on tabletop RPGs, and being an awful snob about cider. Have a look at his work here, or get in touch at patrickb@365bristol.com.