The Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival is back for another year after missing the last two thanks to the pandemic. Fairway Gorge Paddling Club are leading organization of the event. (Fairway Gorge Paddling Club)

By Alex Rawnsley

OARS READY

‘Fiercely competitive’ Nanaimo dragon boat festival back on the water

Feb 18, 2022 | 12:08 PM

NANAIMO — One of the key anchors to the annual Marine Festival is back after a two-year hiatus.

The Nanaimo Dragon Boat Festival has declared its return, July 9-10 at Maffeo Sutton Park, being run completely by the Victoria-based Fairway Gorge Paddling Club (FGPC).

Erik Ages, club general manager, told NanaimoNewsNOW they’re in a better position to breathe life back into the festival rather than a volunteer-based group and they’re doing so with the blessings of the local society.

“A hiatus of two years is difficult to come out of. In our case, we’ve been operating through COVID…all of our staff compliment and race management team have been active and involved throughout the whole period.”

The club has managed the on-water racing for the festival for many years but will take on the extra responsibility of organizing on-shore activities this season.

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Upwards of 60 teams are expected to be on the water, with each team comprised of 26 paddlers.

Around one-third come from Vancouver Island with the rest originating in the Lower Mainland, through central B.C. and even as far away as Alberta and the northwest United States.

Adult, masters and senior masters divisions will make for a “fiercely competitive” environment, according to Ages.

“People want to race, they want to meet at the start line and we needed to put a start line together for them in communities up and down the Island.”

Ages added vaccination against COVID-19 is “expected” for all teams competing.

Vendor stalls, food trucks and other entertainment will line the shore at Maffeo Sutton Park over the two days with no admission or other charge for passersby or race watchers.

The Nanaimo festival will join three similar events being run in Victoria in May, August and September, along with a fifth summer event in Comox in mid-June.

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