The Nanaimo Dragonboat Festival featured fast-paced paddling 含羞草研究社� the only time the action slowed down was to let a pod of killer whales pass.
The visit from the orcas on Saturday, right in front of Maffeo Sutton Park, was one of numerous highlights of the Save-On-Foods Nanaimo Dragonboat Festival this past weekend, July 5-7.
含羞草研究社淭hat was a first, and it was a very exciting first,含羞草研究社� said Leslie Sutton, Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival Society spokeswoman, about the visit from the killer whales.
Arlene Witham, one of the Quality Foods Blu By U paddlers, said she couldn含羞草研究社檛 believe it when the orcas surfaced so close. Later, she joked to one of the directors, 含羞草研究社淗ow did you pull that one off?含羞草研究社� she said.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 never happened before. It was just incredible, and they had a baby with them, so that was just awesome,含羞草研究社� Witham said. 含羞草研究社淓veryone was completely enthralled by it.含羞草研究社�
RELATED: 含羞草研究社�
Other than the short orca delay, things pretty much went to plan over the festival weekend.
含羞草研究社淭he weather, unfortunately, was not our friend, so we had fewer spectators down there, but for the paddlers, it含羞草研究社檚 just water 含羞草研究社� the races went well,含羞草研究社� Sutton said.
Witham said despite the rain, the seas were calm, and said practices in the channel are often held on much choppier water.
含羞草研究社淵es, we did get wet, but it is a water sport, right? And it wasn含羞草研究社檛 cold rain. Yes, you含羞草研究社檙e wet, but c含羞草研究社檈st la vie含羞草研究社卟菅芯可鐫 Witham said. 含羞草研究社淧eople were still laughing and having fun in the [park]. It含羞草研究社檚 not the first time that people have been rained on in festivals.含羞草研究社�
As far as race results, paddlers set a fast pace out on the water. This year含羞草研究社檚 event saw a new addition to the itinerary, the Guts and Glory challenge, with paddlers taking on a 1,500-metre course.
The first Guts and Glory champions are the Nanaimo Paddling Centre含羞草研究社檚 Nusa含羞草研究社橪on Dragons, who won the women含羞草研究社檚 race Saturday in a time of nine minutes, 51.66 seconds. The FCRCC Saggin含羞草研究社� Dragons were second and the Snapping Dragons came third. Sunday saw the mixed Guts and Glory race, won by the Navy Dragon Anchors in 8:14.35. The Fairway Gorge Paddling Club Rebel Alliance placed second with the Save-On-Foods Dragonslayers third.
In the women含羞草研究社檚 platinum A final, Chix With Stix won in 2:21.73, ahead of the Nusa含羞草研究社橪on Dragons and Stroke the Dragon.
The festival含羞草研究社檚 fastest final was in the mixed platinum A division, where the FGPC含羞草研究社檚 Rebel Alliance crossed the finish line in 1:59.98. The Navy Dragon Anchors were runners-up and the Dragonslayers placed third.
In the breast cancer survivors含羞草研究社� A final, Abreast in a Boat Fortitude won a close race in 2:30.50, edging out Sistership Dragon Boat Association and Abreast in a Boat Deas Divas.
For more results, .
RELATED:
RELATED:
a
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on and follow us on
