This is definitely a bizarre rowing race where “paper” can succeed without fail! On Thursday, dozens of creative rowing enthusiasts gathered at the Hudson River in New York, using seemingly unbelievable materials – cardboard and waterproof tape – to handcraft unique small boats and engage in a fierce competition on the river surface, kicking off the joyous celebration of the annual “City of Water Day” in New York.
Organized by the Manhattan Kayak Club and Hudson River Park, this humorous event aims to celebrate the vast water environment of New York City and the improving water quality in recent years. This year, a total of 23 teams gathered at Pier 84 in Manhattan to vie for the title of “Paper Boat King”.
According to the competition rules, all participating teams had only a short 2-hour window on-site to turn a thick piece of cardboard into a floating vessel. The tools provided on-site were extremely basic: only waterproof tape, scissors, and markers for sketching.
Each team had a different philosophy in boat-building:
The “Technical” team chose to tightly seal the entire bottom of the boat with tape, attempting to create a perfect waterproof layer; while others specialized in sealing the seams.
Representing the Graffiti faction was a team from the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), who spent their valuable time drawing illustrations on the sides of the boat.
The Brooklyn Marine Park Alliance team jokingly claimed they were just winging it, trying to make something that could float, stay afloat, and stay dry.
The competition followed an elimination format. When the referee gave the signal, various bizarre paper boats were pushed into the Hudson River, and the scene immediately turned into a series of hilarious moments.
Many teams, such as the youth group “Fingers Crossed” and the NYCEDC’s “Full Hogan”, saw their cardboard vessels sink within seconds of hitting the water due to absorption, leaving the participants embarrassed in the water.
However, there were also many “hardcore miracle boats” like “Dam it We Float” and the “Downtown Boathouse” inspired by Viking longships, which managed to clumsily make their way into deeper waters.
The ultimate champion was the Manhattan Kayak Club, who competed on home turf. They constructed a cardboard rowboat sealed with plastic wrap and waterproof tape, with a cool shark design on the bow. With excellent waterproof craftsmanship and rowing speed, they cruised through 7 rounds of eliminations to claim the top spot.