Chippenham River Festival-Raft Race 27/28 August

[bubblylittleme]

I have mentioned this before but they now have lots of entries for it so should be great fun.
Did we fancy entering a men's raft and a ladies raft? £10 per raft 4-6 people on each
Can enter as many rafts as we want but remember we need to build them (lots people needed) and race them (4-6)! So need some engineers to design them, construction workers to build them and some paddlers on the day.


Rafts should not be any higher than 6 feet tall and no longer than 10 feet. The teams must be
able to carry their raft themselves, a considerable distance without any further assistance. All
rafts should be sat on, not in.

They have also asked me if we would like to have a stall advertising our club. They have the White Helmets’ motor-cycle display team from the British Army arranged for public to watch on Sunday.
Also
Sailing dinghy exhibition – Sailing & Canoeing Club
Guided walks along the river - Riverscapes
Fun Water-walking
Bungee trampoline
Punch & Judy
Climbing Wall
Falconry display
Quad Bikes
Street artists
Picnic area
History and eco-zone centre
3-par, crazy golf, and putting competitions
Craft and local produce stalls
Hog-roast and other refreshments
Face painting, hair braiding


http://www.chippenhamriverfestival.co.uk/

Ladies Paddlers builder
1. bubblylittleme 1. Loops
2. jacde 2. Jacde
3. 3. Bubblylittleme
4.
5.
6.

Mens Paddlers builder

1. squashed-fly 1.
2. geo 2.
3. 3.
4.
5.
6.

[Jacde]

Me me me me ;D
Could someone add me as on phone at the mo, ta

[bubblylittleme]

Ladies Paddlers

1. bubblylittleme
2. Jacde
3.
4.
5.
6.

Mens Paddlers

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

[Jacde]

Thank you Sue :-*

[Squashed_Fly]

Ladies Paddlers

1. bubblylittleme
2. Jacde
3.
4.
5.
6.

Mens Paddlers

1. Squashed Fly (although I have not the first clue about building a raft so should be interesting!)
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

[Loops]

I'm in to help design and build :) but I'm afraid I have to bow out of paddling.

[Jacde]

Sue you can put my name down as a builder too.

[Rossio]

I can lay my hands on alot of 50 gallon plastic barrels get in touch if you want some, very light and very uh good at floating

[wiltshire builders]

I can lay my hands on alot of 50 gallon plastic barrels get in touch if you want some, very light and very uh good at floating
This is the only tip i'll give you lot as i'm planning on winning this year. Don't use 50 gallon drums. They're too heavy, not streamline and you'll sit too high out of the water to be able to paddle. Also if one springs a leak you'll never get it out of the water which will lead to disqualification.

[mick_benson]

not sure if i will be available on the day but happy to help with disign maybe with build too

[Rossio]

I disagree, but hey was inky offering.

[bubblylittleme]

watched last year and noticed big barrels were slower but better than nothing.

One raft used coke and lemonade bottles that worked great so maybe need to look at design first so get going Essex lol

[mick_benson]

Ok first need to work out how many people are going to be on it, need o work out payload then go from there

[mick_benson]

Ok first need to work out how many people are going to be on it, need o work out payload then go from there

[Jacde]

Payload!!! I'd rather tell you my age than my weight!!! ;D :-[ ;D

[Squashed_Fly]

21 again aren't you Jacde?

[Jacde]

No SF I'm 43 :P

[mick_benson]

Age is only a number ;D ;D

[Squashed_Fly]

You're only as old as the person you feel.... ;)

[mick_benson]

mmmm ;D

so back to it, just need an idea of how many people on each raft, then i can work out some idea's

[NoYou]

Count me in for paddleing but last time I built a raft it all fell apart after about 20 yards so probably best for me to stay away on that front! :p
Geo

[bubblylittleme]

looks like we might be entering a mixed race now with 4 of us unless u r coming on too essex

[mick_benson]

medical conditions wont let me get on sorry but will help as much as i can

[bubblylittleme]

http://i377.photobucket.com/albums/oo218/bubblylittleme/raft-building.jpg

This looks like strongest option.
Anyone got some long lengths of wood, some rope and 4 big barrels?
And of course some paddles!

[bubblylittleme]

other option is milkbottles etc like these...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGD6KVbDSHM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6j1grzlCxBA

[Squashed_Fly]

I thought about getting some old canoes and using them as the floats. We could get them dirt cheap with holes in, then just patch the holes up and fibreglass over. Would be fine for a short term fix. They would be long and slim, so would be quite quick, plus fairly lightweight. We just use planks of wood between them to sit on and paddle.

Don't know if it would work?

[NoYou]

Well I get through about 20 bottles of coke a week so bottles aren't a problem xD

[Jacde]

SF canoes are a great idea, however I got a feeling they might not be allowed!
Think the coke bottles might be a good idea and we could ask Smelly and Basil to keep their empties as well as other WB'ers, we could duct tape bottles together might be better than rope/string?
Wood wise I can get pallets from work.

[mick_benson]

Coke bottles are a good idea but going to need around 60 2ltr bottles per person on the raft plus maybe 40 to cover the wood, a lot of coke :-)

[PSSSSD]

Are there an official set of rules or is it a loose sort of "anything goes apart from modded water craft"?

[wiltshire builders]

http://www.chippenhamriverfestival.co.uk/pdfs/Rules-rafting-2011a.pdf

[Loops]

Coke bottles are a good idea but going to need around 60 2ltr bottles per person on the raft plus maybe 40 to cover the wood, a lot of coke :-)

Rope in neighbours and work colleagues, I'm sure many bottles could be collected!

I think that while barrels are a good base and nice and floaty, they're too flat on the front and hard to paddle - need adjustments to make the front pointy for faster speeds!

EDIT: Just read the rules! No streamlining allowed and floats must be cylindrical - coke bottles it is! ;D

[Loops]

More videos with ideas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZxp0g-zNBQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c52cgEb6J5Q&feature=related

You think that would count - the floats haven't been streamlined, it just happens that the bottles can make it that shape ;)

[mick_benson]

I think 300 or so coke bottles would be good idea wire or tie onto a simple frame,

[Squashed_Fly]

going to need a lot of coke :-)

Have you asked Kate Moss? ;D

[bubblylittleme]

I think 300 or so coke bottles would be good idea wire or tie onto a simple frame,


think so too...we'd better get collecting

HELP EVERYONE!!!!

[Loops]

So are we going with 2-litre drink bottles then? I shall get asking 8-)

[Toph]

I think 300 or so coke bottles would be good idea wire or tie onto a simple frame,



HELP EVERYONE!!!!


I'll collect all mine!!..

[Squashed_Fly]

I'm just on the phone now to coca-cola uk....

Edit - what a useless bunch of fools!

[Squashed_Fly]

Pepsi Market Dept are trying to find out if they can help us out with 350 of the 500ml bottles from their recycling centre!

Awaiting a call back later today. Now we have to think about how we are going to do it!

[mick_benson]

i may have a frame ready to mount bottles on need to check size and stuff first, maybe a chat over a pint could be good place to start

[Squashed_Fly]

Sounds like a plan :)

I will chase up the woman at pepsi tomorrow and see where we are with the bottles.

[Jacde]

Um, been lazy and not read any of the rules but knowing what elf and safety are like nowadays do we need to wear buoyancy aids?

[mick_benson]

can we all make H&C this week????

[Loops]

Um, been lazy and not read any of the rules but knowing what elf and safety are like nowadays do we need to wear buoyancy aids?

Yes, but they say that they will be available on the day for payment of a deposit :) Worth bringing along any that people already have anyway I would have thought.

[NoYou]

can we all make H&C this week????
Can't make it unless anyone feels like giving me a lift from Salisbury :3 probably would be much use anyways thoug :p

[Jacde]

Can't make H&C or PB this week, sorry :-/

[Squashed_Fly]

Me neither. Can do next week though?

[Loops]

I've roped my neighbours into collecting bottles for us - one of them drinks loads of bottled water so said they should have plenty soon!

[bubblylittleme]

Sorry been away for 2 weeks,
Will be around next wed for H &C if everyone else available

[Squashed_Fly]

Are we all convening at h&c tonight then guys?

[bubblylittleme]

I will be there..bike if dry ...car if not
having withdrawal symptoms as not been there for weeks

[mick_benson]

Sorry can't do H&C,

[bubblylittleme]

Sorry can't do H&C,

next week?

[mick_benson]

99% next week, will do my best

[Squashed_Fly]

Weather has put the kybosh on me coming :(

Next week works as well though

[mick_benson]

next week works well, i'll be there ;)

[Jacde]

I can come to the H&C this Wednesday, anyone else free to come along?

[Squashed_Fly]

I'm up for it. Jacde - are you riding if weather good?

If it's bad, would you mind if I get a lift over?

[bubblylittleme]

I can come to the H&C this Wednesday, anyone else free to come along?

yep hopefully going

[mick_benson]

I'll be there

[bubblylittleme]

see you all there tonight
introduce yourself to me essex as don't think i know you

[bubblylittleme]

We need a team name!!!

Get thinking

[Jacde]

Coke float? ;D :-[

I'll get me coat!! ;D

[Squashed_Fly]

Wiltshire Sinkers

[Jacde]

Wiltshire Sinkers

Told you yesterday SF we ARE NOT going to sink!! ;D

[Squashed_Fly]

Sir, No Sir! ;D

[Jacde]

Sir, No Sir! ;D
;D at ease Private!

[mcicy]

Its not sinking, its tactical submersion to avoid further enemy heckling