Rain Gutter Regatta

The Rain Gutter Regatta is the Pinewood Derby’s nautical cousin. Scouts build small wooden sailboats from a kit and race them down a 10-foot rain gutter filled with water — propelled entirely by blowing on the sail.

It’s gloriously low-tech, full of laughter, and surprisingly competitive.

What it is

Each scout gets a Rain Gutter Regatta kit:

• A small wooden boat hull
• A mast and sail
• A rudder

The scout assembles and decorates the boat with a parent’s help. On race day, two boats at a time race down side-by-side rain gutters. Scouts propel their boat by blowing on the sail — no hands, no fans, no straws.

When we hold it

Pack 12 schedules the Rain Gutter Regatta as part of our annual program. The exact date appears on our calendar.

The rules

We use the standard kit and minimal modifications:

• Use the kit parts — official hull, mast, and sail
• No mechanical assistance — no fans, no air pumps, no straws
• No touching the boat during the race once it’s launched
• Blow only on the sail, not directly on the water or hull
• Decoration is encouraged: paint, decals, a name on the bow

Race day

Like the Pinewood Derby, we run heats so every scout’s boat races multiple times. Trophies for fastest by rank, and a Best in Show for design.

Bring a towel — both for your scout and yourself. Things get splashy.

Why scouts love this one

The Rain Gutter Regatta is one of the rare events where lung capacity and strategy matter more than craftsmanship. A perfectly built boat loses to a wonky one if the kid blowing on it has better technique. There’s no “fast wheels” hack. It’s pure scout-vs-scout, and it’s hilarious to watch.