Stories from Kayak King
Cardboard Kayak Competition
Cardboard, duct tape and a little boat-building optimism. Our cardboard kayak competition brought a wonderfully daft evening of racing, costumes and spectacular sinkings to Lower Town Fishguard.
From the Kayak King archive. A look back at a past community event, not an upcoming competition. No new date or registration is being advertised.
Big ideas. Questionable boats.
The idea was simple: build a boat from cardboard and see how long it could survive on the water. Teams could arrive with ambitious designs, elaborate costumes and a healthy sense of humour.
People came along to race or watch from the quay. The evening brought together food, music, the yacht club and the very entertaining sight of home-made boats trying to stay afloat.
The race and the destruction derby
First came the “Crazy Race”, with competitors paddling around a marked course. Then the boats still afloat faced the destruction derby: a battle to be the last cardboard creation remaining on the water.
Not every boat made it very far. That was part of the fun, with the “Titanic Award” celebrating the most impressive sinking alongside prizes for the fastest boat, the best themed kayak and paddler, and the last competitor standing.
A community evening on the harbour
The event supported the Lower Town Fishguard Sea Cadet unit through registration donations. Safety cover was provided for the course, and competitors wore buoyancy aids.
The old building rules allowed cardboard, duct tape and suitable glue, rather than hidden flotation or waterproof structural materials. Costumes and decorations were encouraged, and the judging came with one overriding rule: enjoy it and treat other people with respect.
The harbour behind the story
Lower Town remains the starting point for Kayak King’s booked tours. Its quayside, cottages and tidal harbour make a lovely setting even when there are no cardboard boats in sight.