Seniors in AP Physics C competed in M-A’s annual boat race competition at the pool on Friday afternoon. Students and teachers gathered across the bleachers and pool deck to watch students attempt to race across the pool without their boats sinking.
Each of the 11 teams handcrafted unique boats with different features. Some were flat cardboard boxes, while others had been constructed to resemble a real vessel. Students expressed their creativity through intricate designs and boat names such as SS Baddies, SS Sigma, and The Pizza Mobile.
The competition included two events. In the flag challenge, teams raced to paddle across the pool and back, capture a flag on the opposite side of the lane, and return in the shortest time possible. The crossing challenge measured how many laps participants could complete in 20 minutes before their boat sank.
Students were filled with nerves and anticipation, unsure whether their vessels would survive. “I think our boat is going to fall apart immediately. We worked on it pretty last minute,” senior Max Spier said.
While some boats fell apart immediately after entering the water, many successfully made it across the pool, and a few even lasted until the end of the challenge. In A Canoe, crafted by seniors Raphael Pierres, Emile Freeman, and Connor Bae was victorious, crossing the pool 18 times.
During the competition, live music performed by students kept the crowd energized. Playing tunes from Pirates of the Caribbean, the band helped put students in a competitive spirit.
Although many groups’ boats were unable to complete the challenges, students enjoyed the competition. “My race didn’t go well because we capsized immediately, but it was still very fun,” senior Zachary Quintana said.
This tradition, a memorable part of M-A’s end-of-year celebrations, was created by former physics teacher Jeff DeCurtis. His idea of combining physics concepts with a hands-on competition has grown into an event that students eagerly participate in every year.
