After a great season of paddling, members of the Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club will hold their Final Fling Racing Regatta at Porpoise Bay Provincial Park on Sunday, Sept. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Paddlers on the Mackenzie Mussels, SeaGals, Sunshine Dragons Abreast and Porpoise Paddlers will be joined by members of three more teams from Powell River and Texada Island for a day of fun racing.
Members of the public are invited to bring their lawn chairs and cheer on the teams. The Lions Club food truck will be on site, offering lunch for sale in the park and there will be a raffle for great prizes from the teams.
“This has been one of our best seasons, with more than 100 people participating on our four teams, and by and large the weather cooperating to offer us five fabulous months on the water,” said club president Beth Callahan.
“It’s really a sport for adults of all ages and abilities. All people need to participate is the desire to learn a new paddling skill, an enjoyment of being on the water and getting a great workout with team members. We’re so fortunate to have Porpoise Bay right in the heart of the lower Sunshine Coast. It’s a great venue for the sport,” Callahan said.
For diehards, paddling practices will continue on Sundays throughout most of the year from the MacKenzie Sea Services marina, where the club docks its boats. For information on how to participate, please contact the club through its website scdragonboatclub.com.
“We’re always interested in recruiting new members,” Callahan said. “If anyone would like to see for themselves what dragon boating is all about, coming to the Final Fling will give them a great idea. They can also send a request for more information at anytime to me at [email protected].”
The Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club is entirely volunteer-managed. Funds raised through member fees and raffles go toward paying for docking costs and equipment such as boats.
The Final Fling’s local sponsors include Brenda Sopel of Re/Max Oceanview Realty, Rug Runners, Claytons Heritage Market, Sechelt Pharmasave, Wilson Creek IGA, McDonald’s and the Sunshine Coast Regional District.
“We so much appreciate the support of the wonderful local businesses and district government who are all helping people here to live a healthy lifestyle,” Callahan said.
– Submitted by Ellen Adelberg
