The Rain Gutter Regatta- playing worst case scenario

Alexanders Cub Scout pack held a Rain Gutter Regatta. The kids were given a balsa wood boat kit a month before, that they had to build and then the race was on!
Alexander built and painted the boat entirely himself. I was annoyed, but not surprised to see some boats sanded and air sprayed to perfection. As we drove to the race, he asked me "But what happens if I don't win Daddy?"
The question I realized was coming from someone who is so good at sports compared to his peers he wasn't used to loosing. Now he was up against several dens who were 3+ years older than him and he new his chances were slim. I tried the old "It's the taking part..." bit, but knew he would not be dissuaded.
"But what happens if I don't win Daddy?" he asked again.
I thought for a bit and told him "Well Alexander, if you don't win the Rain Gutter Regatta they will take you to the front of the pack and rip the buttons off your uniform. They will crush you hat underfoot and then push you outside. You will never be allowed in Cub Scouts again."
He looked at me hard and then said "No Daddy, you're just kidding!" and the ice was broken and he was happy to take part.
As it was he won two heats hands down. He didn't so much loose to the older kids as to the alternative design: You cut the hull and mast in half to make a catamaran and then neither the sail nor the boat can turn around. The final 4 contenders were catamarans. We will know next time.