The Nanaimo Dragonboat Festival featured fast-paced paddling 鈥� 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.
鈥淭hat was a first, and it was a very exciting first,鈥� 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鈥檛 believe it when the orcas surfaced so close. Later, she joked to one of the directors, 鈥淗ow did you pull that one off?鈥� she said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 never happened before. It was just incredible, and they had a baby with them, so that was just awesome,鈥� Witham said. 鈥淓veryone was completely enthralled by it.鈥�
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Other than the short orca delay, things pretty much went to plan over the festival weekend.
鈥淭he weather, unfortunately, was not our friend, so we had fewer spectators down there, but for the paddlers, it鈥檚 just water 鈥� the races went well,鈥� Sutton said.
Witham said despite the rain, the seas were calm, and said practices in the channel are often held on much choppier water.
鈥淵es, we did get wet, but it is a water sport, right? And it wasn鈥檛 cold rain. Yes, you鈥檙e wet, but c鈥檈st la vie鈥︹�� Witham said. 鈥淧eople were still laughing and having fun in the [park]. It鈥檚 not the first time that people have been rained on in festivals.鈥�
As far as race results, paddlers set a fast pace out on the water. This year鈥檚 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鈥檚 Nusa鈥橪on Dragons, who won the women鈥檚 race Saturday in a time of nine minutes, 51.66 seconds. The FCRCC Saggin鈥� 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鈥檚 platinum A final, Chix With Stix won in 2:21.73, ahead of the Nusa鈥橪on Dragons and Stroke the Dragon.
The festival鈥檚 fastest final was in the mixed platinum A division, where the FGPC鈥檚 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鈥� 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, .
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