Beale Park organises a Boatshow every year and this year, the organisers are looking to do a few new things.

As you probably know, it is the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in the summer and to celebrate, the organisers of the show are looking to have a display that shows boats and cars from each decade since the coronation. Suggestions and offers would be gratefully received by contacting tel:0118 9767498 .

There is another interesting challenge that is due to start at the show. It sounds like a sort of 'great egg race' on water. The organisers are trying to get entrants into an electric powered craft competition. The sponsors of the show are the power tools company Makita. Together with the Electric Boat Association, entrants are invited to build an electric powered 'canoe' to be entered into a series of races that will take place across the pond at the show.

Our minds immediately turned to dusting off the old Canadian Canoe that is going green in the garden and stacking it up with loads of car batteries and a cunning propeller. However, there are rules and we immediately discovered that the canoe can only be powered by electric power tools. Hence the sponsors connection! If you are interested then best get an upto date copy of the full rules. It appears to be a time trial and the build cost is not to exceed £400. So it is now a bit more of a cross between the 'scrap heat challenge, top gear and the great egg race'..... all on water.

The show is on the dates 10th - 12th June 2012. Here are the official competition details:

To enter the competition, simply take some photographs of your boat and send them with your contact details to: ccc@watercraft-magazine.com no later than 1 May.Boats will be invited to enter the Challenge and will be checked for safety by stewards from the Electric Boat Association before they are allowed to compete.

The crew, complete with safety gear, can be as many or as few as you think necessary, though at least one member must be 18 years of age or over. Entries from clubs, colleges, families, associations and boating businesses attending the Show are all welcome.

The boats can be modified in any way or built from scratch, using any material but the length must not exceed 16'3" (5m), including steering and stern gear. The design is entirely down to you. Make it as colourful as you like and make sure that your group or company's name is highlighted on your entry.

For further information visit: http://www.watercraft-magazine.com