Do we tow or push the boats? Neither

September 7, 2016 2:14 PM

The Henley on Todd Regatta is the only boat race in the world that was cancelled because the river actually had water in it, back in 1993. How do the boats move on a waterless river-are they towed or pushed?. In the words of its founder, Reg Smith, we cut the bottoms out and carry them!.

The event features several competitions, from 1-man kayaks to 8-men yachts. There are also "skiing" teams, brave lifesavers, tireless explorers and a battle between Buccanners, Vikings and the Navy
More interesting water events:

• The beer can regatta, in which vessels try their seakeeping abilities on the spot. Not to be confused with the Beer Mile (official site and records) or the Beer Crate Running
• Several races of concrete canoes, mostly to demonstrate engineering abilities. Official 2016 photo gallery at the American Society of Civil Engineers site.
• If concrete is not your style, you might want to try with a cardboard boat. There are several tips on how to build a cardboard boat
• The International Regatta of Bathtubs, held yearly in Belgium.
• Bog snorkelling (previously), in which you cannot use conventional swimming strokes. Video feature at CNN
.
• The Schooner Wharf Minimal Regatta. You can only use a few plywood sheets, one pound of fasteners and one roll of duct tape.
• The Windsor Pumpkin Regatta (previously)
• Underwater cycling, which is like Aquajogging but with a bicycle

posted by andycyca (4 comments total)

"Standing up in all boats..."
posted by Flashman at 3:32 PM on September 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

I was looking at the photos, thinking..."That doesn't look like a very British crowd...where does this take place, again?"

"Oh, Australia...of course..."
posted by littlejohnnyjewel at 7:41 PM on September 7, 2016

Somehow I sensed, even before clicking, that my fellow Australians would be at the bottom of this. It's exactly the sort of half-arsed fun with a liberal dose of beer that goes down well here.
posted by drnick at 7:52 PM on September 7, 2016 [2 favorites]

TIL that Google returns no search results for "toddley on hen". Now I has a sad.
posted by flabdablet at 10:30 PM on September 7, 2016