In October, Kahu Youth hosted it's 12th annual Cardboard Boat Race.

This family favourite event sees friends get together to form cabin crews that create innovative, ingenious, hilarious and downright ridiculous cardboard boats and race them against each other on Lake Wānaka – just for fun and a good laugh. 

The Flying Mullets (left) v's The Black Pearl (right).

Ten nautical master pieces entered into this year’s competition that saw captains and their crew race out to a buoy and return to shore. 

There were 5 prestigious awards up for grabs that were awarded to the following boats.

Commodores Choice – M!NT

Best Themed – Buzzy Bee

Most Outrageous – The Flying Mullets

Titanic Sink – Best Mates

Fastest Boat – Lucky Harold

 Lucky Harold skipper receiving the award for fastest boat.

Participants were treated to prizes from local sponsors and hot chocolate to warm-up after their race and occasional dunking.

"It was so lovely seeing such enthusiasm from Wānaka’s youth to participate in such a unique and comical event" said Sam Strong the Event Coordinator.

 Kahu Youth is so grateful for everyone who helped us have a great time at this event.

Best Mates (L) vs The Goat Boat (R)

A HUGE thanks to…

• All of the youth that participated and for your efforts and entertainment
• our community, thanks for cheering our crews on from the wharf
• the QLDC for providing infrastructure, a life guard to supervise the race
• Lakeland Adventures for creating our course and supporting our race
• Red Star Burger Bar and Cinema Paradiso for providing prizes 

About Kahu Youth. 

Kahu Youth is a small charity with a big vision for Upper Clutha youth to live their best lives.

We achieve this by providing safe spaces where youth can hangout, learn and have fun! We offer 25 different youth development programmes over the course of the year to meet their needs, interests and strengths of local youth.

Led by professional Youth Workers, these programmes offer fun and unique experiences and opportunities for youth to develop their capacity strengths, resilience, confidence, wellness, and friendships.