Laughlin hosts 7th annual cardboard boat race

Participants from the cardboard boat race push off to begin at Laughlin’s Friendship Pool Sept. 25, 2013. More than eight four-man teams competed in the race to test their ingenuity and creativeness in racing homemade cardboard boats across the pool. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman John D. Partlow)

Laughlin hosts 7th annual cardboard boat race

Brad Clawson, left, and 2nd Lt. Charles Heim, both from the 47th Civil Engineer Squadron, paddle towards the finish line at Laughlin’s Friendship Pool Sept. 25, 2013. Their boat filled with water on their first attempt, but upon their reentry into the water, they were one of the few that made it across the pool. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman John D. Partlow)

Laughlin hosts 7th annual cardboard boat race

Staff Sgt. Phong Pham, left, and Airman 1st Class Todd Brackenbury, both from the 47th Operations Support Squadron, paddle towards the other side of the pool at Laughlin’s Friendship Pool Sept. 25, 2013. The race was designed to raise morale across the base and to build camaraderie between squadrons and shops. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman John D. Partlow)

Laughlin hosts 7th annual cardboard boat race

Published Sept. 26, 2013
By Senior Airman John D. Partlow
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Japan -- The base pool was flooded with cardboard boats as Laughlin hosted its 7th annual cardboard boat race here Sept. 25.

The event was designed to raise morale throughout the base and to build team camaraderie between squadrons and shops.

"I had fun working as a team to build our boat," said 2nd Lt. Cody Dameworth, 47th Medical Operations Squadron dental shop and crewmember of the S.S. Crown. "Being able to do something like this right after work was a great change of pace."

Several base members came out to support their squadron's boat and other neatly crafted ships that either failed or prevailed to the other end of the pool.

"My favorite part of the race was seeing the support from everyone in the crowd as well as the determination that every team had," said Kristen Malig-Listisen, 47th Medical Operations Support Squadron crewmember of the Team Ramrod boat.

The race consisted of multiple four-man teams from around base racing their homemade cardboard boats in three heats. Each boat was required to have a captain and first mate and couldn't have anything other than duct tape, keeping it together and the water out.

"We came in thinking our boat would at least make it across, but it failed us," said Malig-Listisen. "We put a lot of time and effort into making our boat extravagant."

Ultimately, more ships sank than made it to the finish line, but for some, next year holds the real glory.

"We'll be winning next year," said Malig-Listisen. "Not only that, but we're planning on building a sturdier boat and breaking the record for the fastest time."