Fan Information

Desktop and pedestal fans can be used with a maximum power output of 50W.

Track Information

A hard floor surface is recommended with a clear space of approximately 6 X 3 metres.

Materials

The following materials are allowed:

• Recyclable materials such as cardboard boxes, plastic containers, jar lids and cartons.
• Stationery items such as paper clips, rubber bands, pencils, rulers and erasers.
• Common household items such as sponges, CDs, cotton buds, material off-cuts, aluminium foil, plastic wrap and plastic.
• Hardware items such as light timber off-cuts, screws, nails and sandpaper.

The following materials are NOT allowed:

• Construction materials such as Lego
• Pre-made materials such as pre-made wheels, yacht bodies or sails
• Toys such as toy cars, boats or trains

Design

All designs must be original - not copied from an existing design.

When designing in class, team members must not receive input or advice from anyone other than their team members or teacher.

During discussions, teachers must not offer direct advice. In order to challenge students to think carefully about their design, teachers may, however, ask questions such as:

• Why did you design the wheels like that?
• Did you have any other ideas for the shape of the sail?

These are also the kinds of open questions you should ask online. These could be prefaced with a shared experience or positive reinforcement.

Design Plans are to be presented on paper in class and/or scanned to be uploaded to your Lands Yachts page. Plans might show:

• measurements;
• materials to be used;
• connectives (how the materials will be connected together; and,
• top view, side view and front view.

Accompanying their Design Plans, teams are to include paragraphs that describe:

• why particular design elements were included.
• how far the yacht will travel on Race Day.

Construction

All construction is to take place at school and be supervised by a teacher.

Team members are responsible for the construction of their yachts and must not receive help from anyone outside of their team.

All cutting of materials, including timber off-cuts, is the responsibility of the team members and must be supervised by a teacher.

Power tools are not allowed.

If any constructions processes are deemed to be unsafe, the teacher must instruct team members to choose other methods of construction.

During construction, teams may decide that the design of their yacht needs to be altered. If this is the case, the alterations must be recorded on the Design Plan with an explanation as to why the changes were made. The blog is to be used to record these changes - add as much detail as is needed to explain what you have done. There is a good chance that others will have encountered the same problem!

Testing Rules

Teams will be given time to test their yachts several times before Race Day.

During testing, the teams will have access to the fan and race track.

Teams members are to record - on their team page - how far their yacht travels during testing. Real scientists and designers make accurate measurements to see how changes have impacted on the performance of their invention.

Racing Rules

The yachts are to be raced one at a time.

When called, teams are to place their yacht on the race track on the start line.

Teams are not to adjust the fan.

The teacher will signal the start of the race. At this time, all team members are to stand back. One team member is to start the fan.

The yacht is not to be touched by any person while in motion.

When the yacht has stopped moving, the teacher is to measure how far the yacht travelled. This data is to be posted on the website.

The teacher is to signal when the team can remove their yacht from the race track.

Each race is to be filmed and posted on the website. This should be a 'fun' event and teams can cheer their yacht along!