Cambridge students poke fun at Brexit during ‘Suicide Sunday’ cardboard boat race

Cambridge University students have lined the river Cam to celebrate the end of their exams by causing chaos on the city’s waterways.

More than 2,000 people gathered to watch the annual cardboard boat race on what has been dubbed ‘Suicide Sunday’.

The day is the first Sunday after the end-of-year exams, and has been known to see a number of students enjoy the alcohol-fuelled celebrations.

This morning, 20 teams spent their time meticulously designing, making and sailing their boats, which were made out of cardboard, glue and as much duct tape as they could use.

Each vessel was cleverly designed, with one poking fun at the Brexit battle bus which travelled up and down the country in the run up to the 2016 referendum.

Ingenious students dubbed it ‘Boat Leave’ and they tried to up their speed by constructing paddles from Frisbees on a stick.

Another competitor called her vessel ‘Daddy’s Yacht’, seemingly poking fun at some of the more wealthy Cambridge University attendees.

But despite the clever designs, the flimsy boats soon succumbed to the water and crumbled in the water.

Even those who were not involved in the race itself joined in the festivities, and many leapt into the river to splash around and enjoy the afternoon.

The aim of the race is to make it from the historic Jesus Green to Magdalene Bridge.

The weekend is famed for its drinking and parties, as by this time students have finished exams but do not yet know the results.

Many students are then left in a period of suspense, unaware of what their future will hold, and elect to blow off some steam with a full calendar of events.