Dragon Boat Regatta

On May 15th, I got the chance to participate in the 2010 Madison County Dragon Boat Regatta.

Dragon Boat is a sport that is very popular in the north. I had no clue what I was getting myself into at first. I got to compete in this race 2 years ago(which we won), last year it was canceled and picked back up this year. Let me explain exactly what Dragon Boat Regatta is:

Each team has 25 members; which 21 one members are on the boat at a time. The boat is very long and narrow. There is a drummer that sits at the very front that drums the beat to which the rest of the team must row too. There are ten rows of 2 people. One race is 400 yards long.... which might not seem like a lot but it is!

Here is a pick of the boat. The small wooden chair right behind the number is where the drummer sits.

This year 15 teams competed. Each team had 3 races then a final(if you made it to the final). Well... if you remember what yesterday was like you know it wasn't nice weather. Very cloudy, windy and just not pretty. The water was very choppy and for a resevoir there was some very big waves.

My team was in the 2nd heat of the very first race. 3 teams were in each heat. So, the first heat of teams all successfully made it to the finish line and then one boat turned over.... all 21 members in that boat were now in the resevoir waiting on the rescue team.... this doesn't help my nerves one bit!!

Its time for our heat. All three teams load the very long, skinny boats and get ready to race. Paddles in the water... Ready... Set... Go!!!! We were on our way to the finish line. We made it to the first 100 yards and all of a sudden those gigantic waves are rocking the boat sooo hard and next thing I know all 21 of us are in the water. You have got to be kidding me! We are the returning champs and we are in the water!!! Well thanks to another boat in our heat that just sank because of the waves we were all able to redo the race!

Me after being rescued!

Bandits being dragged to shore by the rescue team.

After 3 teams were unsuccessful on completing the first race, they did some configurations and cut the team from 21 people in the boat to 14. Thanks to this, Baptist Bandits were able to step it up and show the other 14 teams what returning champs looks like.

Baptist Bandits

(Baptist Health Systems sponsored us)

Thanks to the weather the 3rd race had to become the final. The weather was very nasty at this point. As we are loading the boat for the final race it seemed like the waves were getting bigger and bigger. The sprinkle was becoming huge size rain drops. Since it wasn't lightening the race continues! The 14 of us paddle our hearts out and left everything we had in the resevoir.

Did we win??? Was it a close race?? Was it a sweep??

We are being told we won by other team mates but are they just telling us this or do they really know we won??? As we are all walking back to the tent the rest of our team starts yelling with excitement!! WE WON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Mayor of Madison County in our tent with the trophy!!!

We won!

This is a very physically demanding race. I feel that I am in pretty good shape and I can do this. Um..... not so much!!! I hurt in areas that I have never hurt in before. This takes being sore to a whole new level. But winning makes all this pain SOOOO worth it!!