Wow, what a race course. New Port Richey, Florida offers a unique dragon boat racing experience.
It is a river-like inlet off the Gulf that is stone-wall lined and can accommodate 2 dragon boat sprinting side by side by side for 215 meters.
Then throw in a tide component, current and race-day, severe cross wind that challenged each boats steerers skillset, and you've got New Port Richey. 
Race day was shoe-horned in between the need for the tide to rise to race level, and a multi-town parade scheduled to kickoff at 1:30. Just  minutes after the last race. 
So the organizer, Pan-Am did a marvelous job of keeping the regatta race schedule on time. 

The format was set for each class to race two preliminary heats, and then the Championship. 

The Leatherneck Warriors entered boats in three classes,  the Mens 10. Womens 10, and Mixed 10.

The racing was fierce because the course followed a slight boomerang ( to the right) bend from start to finish. The current and wind continued to drive the boats towards the outer course stone wall. That meant the steerer needed to hit the bend perfectly to avoid going off course or worse, hitting the competitors boat. 

The Warriors had a fine racing day. 

1.    The Warrior Men's 10  dominated its class and won GOLD.
2.    The Warrior Women's 10 dominated its class and won GOLD.
3.    The Warrior Mixed 10 showed its talent and won BRONZE 

So at day's end, The Warriors went three for three as medal winners and were (drum roll please) ​​​  ​

EVENT CHAMPIONS 

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​​​​And after a BRIEF CELEBRATION,  the teams focus shifted to next week's regatta in Clermont.