MARITIME knowledge, engineering expertise and technical eccentricity will be the order of the day in this year’s ‘Low Wood, No Wood’ cardboard boat races held on Windermere.

Low Wood Bay Resort Hotel & Marina plays host to the unusual wacky racing on the water which takes place on May 16, starting at 10am.

Established in 2013, the annual fixture is held in aid of outdoor adventure charity Calvert Trust, near Keswick.

The rules for the racing teams are that all boats must be made of cardboard of any thickness, whether corrugated, waxed, tubed or barrelled. Duct tape can be used to hold vessels together, but only applied to seams, joints or patches.

Organiser Ben Berry, from English Lakes Hotels Resorts & Venues, said: “We expect about 20 vessels to enter the water for the initial time trial heats. Those that successfully stay afloat will qualify for the Armada race before an overall winner will emerge hopefully unscathed and home and dry.

“We have lots of prizes to give out for the fledgling sailors, including a progression prize for the best youth team and accolades for the best boat design and best dressed, themed team or paddler.

“There is also the Titanic award for the most dramatic sinking and the Armada prize for the final destruction derby.”

For details see http://www.cardboardboatrace.co.uk/.