A scorcher of a weekend at Ocean Village Cardboard Boat Race Gibraltar

THE temperature reached a high 28 degrees down at Ocean Village last weekend, but that did not deter the enthusiastic sailors from taking part in the RAOB /Ocean Village Charity Cardboard Boat Race.

Minister for Sport Steven Linares and Miss Gibraltar 2017, Jodie Garcia were in attendance with her first and second princesses, Tessa Britto and Sian Dean.

It was clear to see that oceans of effort had been poured into the design and production of each and every cardboard vessel, as a large crowd as gathered in Casemates Square to see the pre-judging and registration.

A record 19 boats registered for the race, including six children’s entries with clear winners for best boat design being Hawaii Five Uh-Oh a beautiful Hawaiian inspired boat, complete with cardboard shark.

 The child’s race was close, but Europa FC’s Green Machine pipped everyone else to the post.

The Gibraltar Prison Service’s many hours of hard labour won The Bridge Bar & Grill Shield and prize for Best Boat Design for the adults, with their H.M.P Moorish prison-style boat and matching inmate costumes.

James Murphy from Payment Protection Scotland in the World Trade Center Gibraltar and race partner, John Glover won the first prize for the Adult’s Race with their impressively fast boat Last Minute.

The festivities continued over the two days with other marina activities and rides offered to the public including kayaking, water-zorbing, stand-up paddle boarding, and HM Customs were also on hand providing  speed boat rides up and down the bay in exchange for charity donations for GBC Open Day.

The final amount raised for charity is still being counted at this time, but it was an extremely busy and exciting two days, enjoyed by adults and children alike.

For those who are wondering, RAOB stands for Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes, a long-established charity.