All hands on deck! Students learn the ropes at Marine Institute's 10th annual model boat races

About 70 students from around Newfoundland and Labrador gathered at Marine Institute in St. John's on Saturday for its annual model boat races. 

The students, representing eight different schools, worked in teams to build model boats with a mechanical propulsion system supplied to them by Marine Institute.

On Saturday, the teams put their naval architecture and engineering skills to the test in the institute's flume tank.

WATCH | Excited students talk about the Marine Institute's annual boat race:

All hands on deck! Students learn the ropes at Marine Institute’s 10th annual model boat races

1 year ago

Duration 2:48

CBC’s reporter Sarah Blackmore spoke with students from across the province who met at Marine Institute on Saturday for the tenth annual battle of the model boats.

Ken Baker, co-chair of the event's organizing committee, says the event is important because it gets students building something with their hands.

"It's actually getting them to construct something, to think about the design process," said Baker. "From a technical point of view, I think it's important they get hands-on." 

Organizer Chelsey Oldford says the event also helps kids see what the Marine Institute has to offer in person.

"Looking at it in a book doesn't necessarily get you an idea of what it's going to be like when you're coming to school here," said Oldford.

"They also get to go on a tour, speak to some of the students, see what a day-to-day life is like for a Marine Institute student."

Some of the students in attendance Saturday said they already plan on applying to the Marine Institute for their post-secondary education.

"We're all applying to Marine Institute," said Mount Pearl senior high student Michael Uhuangho, standing next to his two teammates.

Uhuangho said he plans to take the marine engineering program, while his teammates Mason Lewis and Raef Nicholson-Hodder plan to take the naval architecture and underwater vehicles programs, respectively. 

The day started with a manoeuvrability course, aimed at showing off the technical finesse of each boat, while the afternoon featured the head-to-head races, focusing on speed.

The final awards handed out at the end of the event were as follows:

• Fastest Boat: Fatima Academy
• Best poster and design booklet: St. Bonaventure's College
• Best team spirit: Gander Collegiate
• Most Esthetically Pleasing Boat: Saint Mark's School
• Most Innovative Design: Mount Pearl Senior High
• Most Manoeuverable Boat: Clarenville High School
• Super Skipper Award: Kiara White of St. Peter's Junior High

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