HAHarvey Walden
1 week agoFAST Beach Bash 2026: Cardboard Boat Races, Games & Food at Lake Avalon June 28
Beach Bash 2026 @ The Beach at Lake Avalon
Save the Date for this FAST members-only event!FAST Beach Bash is coming — and you do not want to miss it!
Join your fellow FAST fam for a laid-back evening of sand, sun, and good vibes. We’re talking: Carnival-style games Cardboard boat races Burgers and hot dogs on the grill (including veggie burgers) and sides Refreshing drinks Chill tunes Ice cream…all FREE for FAST members!
Date: Sunday, June 28 Event start time: 3 PM Cardboard Boat Race Registration from 3-4 PM (see updated rules below) Grill Open from 4-7 PM Honeybean Ice Cream from 4-6 PM Cardboard Boat Races begin 6 PM Carnival Games from 7-8 PM Cleanup at 9PM
Don’t miss out! Make sure your FAST Membership is up to date: https://fasttrails.org/join/
See below for our updated 2026 Cardboard Boat Race Rules!
2026 FAST CARDBOARD BOAT RACE RULES
Boat Check-in Time: 3-4 PM at the FAST tent (Note: your boat will be inspected at check-in toensure no banned materials have been used)Race Time: 6 PMLocation: Lake Avalon (launch from gravel sandbar area located next to boat launch)
Competition Rules:Your cardboard boat must be pre-built and can be ‘fine-tuned’ on site. Each cardboard boat willbe put to the test in a race from the shore to the dock and back to the shore. (Google Mapsphotos will be provided to show race route.)
There will be prizes for the following categories:
Fastest Boat (must finish race) – if no boat finishes, then the boat that made it the furthest distance before sinking will be declared the winner
Most Creative Design
Most Dramatic Sinking
General Guidelines:
Enter as an individual or as a team. Max of 4 members per team. Select a creative team name to represent your boat.
Have fun but safety must always come first. Anyone participating (by entering the water) must wear life jackets (in their proper orientation) to ensure safety.
Motors are not permitted. You must use paddle(s) to row your boat in the race. Please note that paddles do not have to be made of cardboard. If a paddle is lost, the boat captain or a team member must retrieve the lost paddle to continue. No ‘hand paddling’ is allowed.
The boat’s hull must be made of corrugated cardboard and should be constructed and sealed with any of the following materials: tape, rope, string, glue. See below list for full details.
No paint can be used. However, colored duct tape is acceptable.
Above the hull, the boat may include additional materials as long as they don’t aid in its flotation. Be creative and have fun designing your boat.
At the point where the boat has no crew member inside the boat, the spot where the last member falls out is the location marked for how far the boat legally traveled for the race.
Photos will be taken of each boat before the race to determine a winner for ‘Most Creative Design’.
Members must retrieve all boat parts and paddles and dispose of them properly off-site on your own. In other words, leave no trace.
All boats that finish (survive intact after the race) are entered into a “Battleship Boats” round where the last boat standing wins!
Allowable Materials (on finished boat):
Corrugated cardboard
Glue (as long as the glue is not a 2-part epoxy or resin)
Packing tape
Rope or string
Duct tape (any color duct tape is allowed)
REMINDER: Above the hull, the boat may include additional materials that are not listed here aslong as they don’t aid in its flotation. Be creative and have fun designing your boat!
Restricted items that CANNOT be used to construct boat:
For environmental reasons, please do not use any restricted items listed below for decor purposes (on any part of your boat), as they may negatively impact marine life in the lake.
2-part glues (examples: epoxy or resin)
Styrofoam
Metal or metal foils
Plastics
Pasteboard or chipboard
Wood
Varnishes
Paint
Wax
Tar
Fiberglass
Glitter
Silicone
Paper
Caulk of any type
Construction Tips:
Use multiple layers of cardboard, alternating the direction of the corrugations for most strength.
Score your cardboard along the line of folds for the straightest bends.
Seal the edges of your cardboard (with allowable materials) to prevent water from getting in.
Consider building a few model boats to test for the most stability and buoyancy.
Don’t make the sides of your boat too tall for the crew to reach over and paddle.
