The late-19th-century Chinese empress Tzu-hsi once famously built a marble boat, although one doubts she could have used it to win the America’s Cup. A better boat-building option, perhaps, is cardboard, although certain limitations immediately spring to mind, such as, say, water-resistance. But, via Wired magazine, these are not insurmountable problems. “[I]f treated and protected, a world of opportunity opens,” according to Dutch artist Filip Jonker.

the 7.5 x 2.8 x 2.6-metre De Furie...is constructed entirely out of standard honeycomb cardboard and fitted with a 33-horsepower diesel engine. It took four months to build, using wood glue and a 4mm-thick coating of heavy-duty paint normally used on gas pipes. In September last year, Jonker set sail on a nine-day trip from Enschede in Holland to London. Crossing the sea took 22 hours.

One problem is that, as might be expected, it does not perform especially well in inclement weather. “Because we were so light, I had to put counterweights in the keel. This caused the boat to behave like a rocking chair, as all the weight was on the bottom. We rocked for 21 hours and were black and blue from bashing into the boat.” Where’s the Dramamine...