Posting their best times ever in three heats, McKenzie Mussels mixed dragon boat team achieved a great photo finish to finish second in their final race.The 22 men and women, plus supporters, travelled to Victoria Aug. 15 to 17 to compete in the 18th annual regatta. Races took place in the inner harbour, where race marshals competed for racing territory with the Port Angeles ferry, constant floatplane departures, whale-watching inflatables and large yachts.
Teams were diverse. In any given heat, the Mussels were racing against four teams comprised of, for example, a youthful mixed corporate team, a group of seniors, cancer survivors, organ transplant donors and recipients and other combinations of keen participants.
Race times for most dragon boat sprints (500m) varied from a high of 2:48 to a low of 1:59:50. The Mussels posted times between 2:25:52 and 2:31:33 for this, their second regatta of the season.
Dragon boating is said to be the fastest growing sport in North America. The Sunshine Coast boasts three boats and five teams. The 2009 season begins in March 2009 and welcomes men and women.
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