Raingutter Regatta on the Northshore

Date/Time:

 

Location:

 

RACE DAY - December 20, 2025

 

Raingutter Regatta is a boat race that is designed to be a parent-scout project. Please feel free to give guidance and minimal assistance to your scout as they build their Raingutter Regatta boat, appropriate to his/her age.  This is a chance for your scout to be part of a team (he/she and you), and to enjoy the spirit of friendly competition with his/her peers.  These “Official Raingutter Regatta Rules” are written to help you keep it simple and fun for your scout, and to know what to expect when it comes time to race your boat.

The Raingutter Regatta is the sailing equivalent of the Pinewood Derby.  The competition brings scouts and parents together through the building of boats.  The event provides a good clean form of competition that the whole family can enjoy!

• The Regatta is a double elimination race, which literally takes place by the Scouts blowing their own homemade sailboats down a course of ten-foot-long rain gutters.

• It involves skill in the design and building of the boat as well as the skill of the Scout blowing the boat down the course.

• The boats are made from the official BSA Raingutter Regatta Trimaran Boat Kit. Kit includes exclusive BSA trimaran polymer hull, two balsa wood outriggers, sail, mast, screws, sanding stick, and instructions.

• There is also a Show & Shine competition for judging the best design.

• Prizes are awarded for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd places in Show & Shine and in the Race division.

• An internet search will reveal many websites with design information and ideas for Raingutter Regatta boats, however all boats must comply with the specifications on the next page.

Registration:

Registration will open at 8:00AM and close approximately sixty minutes later at 9:00AM.  Scouts may enter boats during the designated check-in time only.  Once the brackets have been formed no other boats will be allowed to enter.  Once a boat is impounded (after being measured and inspected) it cannot be handled by anyone other than race officials.  Show & Shine judging will begin immediately after registration closes.  After judging, families will have an opportunity to view all the boats.  Racing will begin as soon as judging, the race brackets, and family viewing of the boats are complete.  Races will continue until champions are selected.   

Each regatta boat will be issued a regatta number.  The regatta number will be the pack number followed by a letter.  This will help spectators follow the progress of fellow pack members during the race.  Show & Shine participants will be issued an anonymous number.  Boats participating in both the Regatta and Show & Shine will have two numbers with the regatta number concealed during Show & Shine judging.

Boats:

We will ONLY have ONE (multihull) Regatta Race Division. Scout Shop Item: 612513

The Regatta is double elimination.  This ensures that each Scout gets to race at least twice and that he/she must lose twice in order to be eliminated.  The track consists of two ten-foot sections of rain gutter, running side by side, filled near the top with water. 

Registration Contact:

Pack leaders are asked to please email your District Executive by November 24, 2025 and let them know if (1) your Pack plans to participate and (2) how many entries you estimate your Pack will be sending in each division.  This information will greatly help us plan a smoother race day.   

This is an Adventure Pass event.  If your unit does not participate in Adventure Pass or is Out of Council, the fee for each participant is $10.

Uniform:

All Scouts and leaders are encouraged to wear their Field Uniforms, commonly referred to as the “Class A” uniform.

Remember….the most important rule is for the Scout to have FUN building and racing his/her boat!