Plank Racing

Knightcote Model Boat Club Plank Race

Rules of engagement

1. The contest will take place on the Club water (on a date to be announced) and will comprise a straight-running competition from the Club House steps to the far bank.

2. The hull of each vessel must consist of a wooden plank of maximum size 4 feet long x 6 inches wide by 1 inch thick. Smaller dimensions may be used if desired and the plank may be shaped (for example, pointed at the front!)

3. The plank may not be built up at the sides (i.e. to create a displacement hull) but a superstructure of any construction may be used (if desired) to protect essential mechanisms from water ingress.

4. Underwater keels, fins, rudders. Stabilisers etc may be fitted as necessary to improve straight-running but they must not be used for the purpose of providing extra buoyancy. Such items may, however, (for the sake of constructional simplicity) be constructed from buoyant material (e.g. wood).

5. No form of remote control (e.g. radio, infra red, trailing lengths of string etc.) may be incorporated. Once launched, the plank must proceed entirely unaided by the operator, although cursing and shouting at it (with due regard for the sensibilities of onlookers) will be permitted.

6 In order to encourage originality, a severe point penalty will be incurred by any plank powered by the boring and obvious method of using an electric motor powered by a battery. This method is not absolutely prohibited, but if you use it you risk being labeled a "sad old git" for a long time to come. Other means of propulsion will incur no such penalty, but please note that internal combustion engines are prohibited by Club Rules. Acceptable methods of propulsion might be: wind power (sail or turbine), clockwork, a wound-up rubber band, a steam engine, a home-built nuclear reactor driving a steam turbine, an electric motor powered by a solar panel, a lump of iron at the front of the plank and a powerful magnet on the shore, etc. etc. No doubt numerous other arrangements will germinate in the fertile minds of Club Members!

7. The plank may not be towed (or pushed) by another vessel or by a suitably-trained duck, dog or person dressed only in his underpants (or otherwise).

8. Automatic means of guidance (for example vane steering, gyro-compass, rudder locked to signals from GPS receiver or LORAN transmissions etc) are permitted and encouraged!

9. Each plank will be required to make three attempts at the course. These will be spaced out in time to help share out the effects of changing weather etc. The final score for each plank will be its second best score of the three (second best prevents a lucky, unrepeatable one-off walking away with the prize). Any plank which fails to complete three runs (due to mechanical failure, fire, capsize, sinking suicide of its owner etc) will be deemed to have failed to meet the requirements of the contest and will be disqualified.

How points will be awarded

The object will be to score as few points as possible.

The central area (target) will have, to the left and right, spaces marked-off in one-Yard-long sections (no excuse is offered for using British Imperial Units on the grounds that foreign entries to the competition will not be permitted). Any plank making contract at a point within the target section will score Zero points. Each yard-long section either side of the target section will score Ten points, the next sections out Tenty points and so on.

A starting penalty of Fifty points will be incurred by any plank powered by an electric motor run from a battery.

The winner of the competition will be the plank which scores the lowest number of points on Its second best run. It is as simple as that. No allowance will be made for wind, rain waterlogged planks, dense fog, planks being "retrieved^" by local dogs, declaration of war, terrorism, earthquake, tsunamis or Acts of God. Please note that speed is not a factor except insofar as we need to get three runs in for everyone before bed-time. Accordingly, any plank found to be fitted with navigation lights will be regarded with extreme suspicion.

In the event of a tie between two or more planks, each will make one additional run and the nearest arrival to the target will be the winner.

An additional prize, The Heath Robinson Trophy, will be awarded to the owner of the plank which, in the opinion of the competing members, exhibits the most original (or outrageous) propulsion and/or guidance systems, For example, a plank powered by a treadmill operated by trained water-snails and guided by a photocell picking up light reflected from an on-board sundial might score quite highly in this regard. In order to qualify for this trophy, planks must complete at least one of their three allocated runs, but the number of points scored will be of no relevance. All competing members will be invited to vote for their choice during the day. If would be considered ungentlemanly to vote for your own plank.

This is boating but not as you know it !!