Bloor West Villager

It was a gold medal for the home team.

Swansea Public School garnered gold for a second year in a row at the annual cardboard boat races, Tuesday, Jan. 25 at the Swansea Recreation Centre pool.

As part of the Skills Canada competition, 25 teams had to construct 'seaworthy' structures using just four by eight-inch sheets of corrugated cardboard, adhesive and four rolls of duct tape - not to mention brain power.

The goal was to build a boat that would make it successfully to the other end of the pool in one piece. And, that's only half the challenge. Once the teams crossed the finish line, if their boats were still in tact, competitors had to continue on to the weight challenge. This portion of the competition tested each soggy haul's ability to hold each team's combined body weight.

Meanwhile, nine teams of two students each competed in the video challenge, which was comprised of filming, producing and editing a short video that promoted the boat races.

"The design of the boats look the same year to year," said Tercott. "A lot of the kids this year got into the team spirit by wearing costumes."

Since 1989, Skills Canada has been hosting the competition whose mission is to increase awareness of skilled trades and technology. In the beginning, the competition was held in the early to mid fall outdoors on a lake, but because it would get a little chilly, it was moved indoors.

"It was a really good day," said Tercott around 3 p.m. following the medal ceremony. "It went really smoothly."

Swansea P.S. captured the gold, Cosburn Middle School in East York received silver while Smithfield P.S. from Brighton, Ontario came third.

The most exciting aspect of the day: the races, Tercott said. The kids get really pumped for each race, especially if there is more than one team from a school competing.

Throughout the day, the teams, comprised of Grade 7 and 8 students, were judged on their team spirit, ability to work together, the design of their boat and the use of materials and safety.