Cardboard Boat Race

Get ready for an action-packed day at the Bideford Rotary Water Festival’s Cardboard Boat Race! This isn’t just about winning—it’s all about fun and spectacle. Decorate your boat however you wish and sail it against others, either on your own or with a crew. The crowd is eager to be entertained, so bring your creativity and enthusiasm. With prizes for the most entertaining and best-themed boats, it’s a perfect chance to showcase your flair. Check out photos from previous years to get inspired. Make this event as entertaining as possible for everyone!

Click below to register and find the boat-building rules, and, if you’d like some advice on how to build a boat, click for details of the Boat Building workshop where you’ll get useful advice and a template that you can use too build your boat.

Don't worry about sourcing cardboard, we've partnered with Atlas Packaging to get plenty of free cardboard for everyone. Just get in touch with us to arrange collection or discuss delivery options.

Theme for this year is "Sailing Through Time"

Step aboard for a time-travelling splash-fest like no other! As Bideford Rotary marks its centenary, we’re throwing the ultimate water festival — and you're invited to sail through the ages with us.

From the flapper dresses of the roaring twenties to the psychedelic vibes of the sixties, from grunge-fuelled nineties nostalgia to the futuristic flair of the AI era, it’s time to dive into history, get creative, and let your imagination run wild.

Think of your favourite books, films, and eras — from The Great Gatsby to Back to the Future, from medieval legends to space-age adventures. If it sails through time, it sails here.

Don't just stop at crafting an incredible cardboard boat, be sure to join our lively fancy dress parade and show off your era-inspired look.

Useful information

Registration: You need to register to enter the Cardboard Boat Race, you can do so here.

Registration deadline: All boats must be registered by 5pm on Thursday 17th July.

Entry fee: The fee to enter is just £20 per boat for adult paddlers or just £10 per boat for children paddlers, and includes free cardboard. Payments and registrations need to be made prior to the day of the event. (All event proceeds go back into the local community, find out more)

Construction rules: You can read our boat construction rules here.

Guidelines: You can find our boat building guidelines here.

Cardboard: Please contact us to arrange collection of your free cardboard.

Paddles: Invest in a paddle to increase your odds of winning, find out more here.