And Here We Go…
After three months of training up to five days a week in Florida darkness and cool weather the Leathernecks were ready to kickoff their 2024 dragon boat racing season. And why not start with a gut wrenching 7.3 mile maximum endurance race? Really, YOU CAN'T BE SERIOUS. . .

The team entered two, twenty man boats in the Tampa Bay 7.3 mile, “ Around The Bay” endurance regatta. The longest, traditional racing distance for a sanctioned dragon boat regatta is 2000m. This event was the equivalent of 5.874, 2000m races in a row! Non-Stop 

 

After a controlled, staggered start the Warrior boats kept a steady pace through difficult conditions. The course circled the island in Tampa Bay, and the boat traffic, currents, whitecaps and wind led to numerous instances when swamping was a real possibility.  Exhausted but steady to the end the two boats finished in roughly 78 minutes and 85 minutes respectively.

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Quite an achievement. Most of the paddlers retain the memory of trying to stand up and get out of the boat after paddling 11,748 meters - NON-STOP. Not easy at all!
 

As our coach said after the race…

“ You did it! No one will ever understand what Strength and Resolve it took, unless they paddle the event themselves. I am proud of each of you “ Warriors.”

And with that the magical 2024 racing season was now underway for the

Leatherneck Warriors.