Imagine yourself lying on a beach in the hot sun, listening to the waves crash against the shore as you finish off another ice cold beer. Now imagine your skipping across the ocean at 58 M.P.H. in a “sleek, solid looking J-boat built out of a pile” of those very same beer cans. That’s exactly what the Aussies had in mind when they started the Darwin, Australia Beer Can Regatta 34 years ago.
The Australia Beer Can Regatta invites boating enthusiasts from all walks of life to take part in one of the most creative and environmentally friendly racing events in the world. The rules are simple: the beer cans must be empty, which goes without saying; the shape of the cans may not be altered in any way; and the cans must account for 90 percent of the hull’s floatation. The rest is up to you.
According to Duckworksmagazine.com, Suzanne McKenna, builder of “Miss Canabeer” has been a part of the Australia Beer Can Regatta for years and has been influential in establishing the Belleville Beer Can Regatta in Ontario, Canada. “The only problem with a beer can boat is that you have to find volunteers to help build these boats who like to drink beer” says Suzanne. “Miss Canabeer” had 1500 Foster’s Lager cans as her hull, not exactly a one man job.
Designs differ as much as the individuals who build them, ranging from single person paddle boats and sail boats, to the record breaking J-boat “pushed by a 160 H.P. Johnson Outboard”.
The lawyers and staff at The Oberman & Rice Law Firm encourage you to recycle – whether it is a beer can or scrap paper. We’d like to thank Chris Hoeflein for his assistance in researching and writing this article. For information on Tennessee DUI Defense, visit our website at www.tndui.com or call us at (865) 249-7200. So next time your ready to throw that beer can away, remember to recycle it in one way or another, beer cans are used for much more than just holding beer. Check out the photos below!
