The First Annual Whatever Floats Your Boat A Huge Success!
We had a whopping seven boats enter the First Ever FSUCML Whatever Floats Your Boat Regatta and approximately 75 people in attendance. Cash prizes went to the four winners, thanks to our sponsors West Marine and Wal-Mart, which inspired some fierce competition. Our judges, Jim Muller (Muller and Associates), David Maloney (Administrative Law Judge, State of Florida), and Mike Marshall (Marshall Marine Fiberglass and Transport) had a tough time narrowing it down, but in the end only four teams could take home the “gold”. The winners were The WFV FLO for First to Cross the Finish Line, The WFV HMS Carrabelle for People’s Choice, The WFV Splinter for Most Creative, and The WFV Palletdrome for Most Spectacular Failure. In addition, another team’s wacky wardrobe and energetic spirit inspired an impromptu fifth award for Best Costumes of which The WFV Miss Mary’s Nemesis were the winners (refer below for pictures of the vessels, courtesy of Jim Muller). Peter Koenig and Alex Koenig (Koenig Bros. Design) were responsible for designing and making the trophies that were awarded to contestants (the fifth trophy is currently under construction), as well as the “Whatever Floats Your Boat” logo and t-shirts (refer below for pictures, courtesy of FSUCML’s Dan Overlin). During the race, Michelle Gardner (FSU HR), our Master of Ceremonies, had a grand time narrating the antics of the teams. Also adding to the ambiance of the event was delicious seafood served by Posey’s (Sherrie Posey Miller and her father) and some amazing acoustic music performed live by The New 76ers. All in all, we had a fantastic turnout and everyone really enjoyed themselves. We are looking forward to hosting this event again in the near future! Also, be sure to check out the WFSU-produced video!

Questions? Contact Capt. Rosanne Weglinski

Download the Registration Form Here

Download the Waiver of Liability Form Here

Download the Regatta Flyer Here

The spell between our Open House (which occurs every other year in April) is so long that we decided we needed something to fill in the gap in the fall when folks need one more weekend to play in the water. That's when we came up with the idea of having our very own regatta. What better place to have it than in water that is hot, shallow, and has low visibility!

Contestants: The object of the Regatta itself is not so much to get some place first as it is simply to stay afloat. The challenge is to create a homemade "boat" that is both artistically interesting and reasonably buoyant.

Attendees: Watching outrageously costumed boat crews topple over or slowly sink into St. George Sound is, of course, part of the fun anticipated by the Regatta's landlubber attendees. Festivities surrounding Florida State University's first Annual "Whatever Floats Your Boat" Regatta includes live music, good food, and loads of fun.

The Regatta can be viewed from various shoreline vantage points around the Marine Lab, boat basin, or for optimal viewing bring your own real boat and anchor along the outside of the channel and race course markers.


RULES FOR BOAT CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY INSPECTION
The rules are mostly simple. No commercial boats, no motor-propelled boats, and no boats over 20 feet long. Here's where the "mostly" part comes in. The following rules relate to the construction of competition boats entered into the regatta and to safety concerns. These rules apply to all entrants equally.

• All boats must be constructed of materials that have been previously used (that is, no newly purchased material).
• All materials must be clean and safe for the environment.
• NO boating materials (new or recycled) may be used to make the boat.
• All crew members MUST wear a U.S. Coast Guard Approved life vest (not that we don't trust your shipbuilding experience)
• Each crewmember must be at least 16 years of age.
• All boats must be self-propelled (e.g., by poles, oars, paddle wheels, sails) or any combination thereof. These propulsion devices can be homemade or manufactured. No swimming, pushing, or towing.
• All boats must have a name and the name must appear either on both sides of the bow or on the stern.
• NOTE: All boats MUST be at the FSUCML waterfront for inspection by the judges by 1:00 pm on the day of the regatta. After all inspections are complete, the Master of Ceremonies will explain the course for the regatta
• It is the racing crew's responsibility to "leave behind no trace" of your boat. Whatever you carry in, you carry out.

RULES FOR MATERIALS:
One of our goals with the regatta is to encourage ingenuity and excitement about recycling. This means using in novel ways everyday items that we would otherwise discard to give them a second life.
Examples of acceptable recyclable materials:

• any previously used or found materials (that are not boating material and will not harm the environment)
• cardboard
• plastic bottles
• wood
• metal cans
• duct tape
• twine/rope
• cloth, including burlap bags

Examples of unacceptable materials:

• NO containers that contained pollutants or other hazardous waste;
• NO potentially dangerous objects (e.g., sharp edges, rusty metal, glass containers)
• NO parts from "real" boats or commercial flotation (e. g., no old boat hulls, no boogie/surf boards, no borrowed rudders)
• NO material that could break off into the regatta course area (e.g., styrofoam packing peanuts)

NOTE: Please make sure that all materials on the boat are securely fastened so that no loose objects fall off into St. George Sound during the regatta. If any piece of your boat falls into the water, you MUST retrieve it.
PRIZE CATEGORIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

1. First boat to cross the finish line in the regatta
2. Most creative use of materials
3. Titanic Award to the most spectacular failure
4. People's Choice

Available prizes are two $50 West Marine gift cards and two $50 Wal-Mart gift cards that will be awarded to the four winning teams.

Download the Registration Form Here

Download the Waiver of Liability Form Here

Download the Regatta Flyer Here