More than 100 students and mentors from Newfoundland and Labrador junior high schools, high schools and community groups will race boats they designed and built in the annual Model Boat Race today in St. John’s.

The students will compete using remote-controlled miniature vessels of their own design and construction.

The competition is designed to spark interest and exploration in the Marine Institute’s ship design programs Naval Architecture and Marine Mechanical Design.

Winston Pynn, chair of the School of Marine Studies at the college, says teams navigate their way through a slalom course of buoys, and race head-to-head for the title of fastest boat.

“They do maneuvers and then go head-to-head which is usually the loudest time of the day,” says Pynn.

The event, which takes place from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Marine Institute campus in St. John’s, is open to the public.