Boat Capsizes at Dragon Boat Festival; No Injuries

January 16, 2017

No matter how we mitigate, there is an element of risk anytime we enter the water. Just when we think we have thought of all the potential hazards, more rear their ugly heads. Keep an open mind and always stay calm in crisis as these paddlers demonstrated last season.

of the by Amelia Dickson on theolympian.com

Rowers from team Bridge City Blitz Gold tumble into Puget Sound after a collision with the Wasabi Fury boat, which lost control and veered out of its lane during a race at the Saint Martin’s University Dragon Boat Festival on Budd Inlet at Olympia Port Plaza on Saturday.

A midrace crash sent 22 rowers into Puget Sound on Saturday morning.

Harbor Director Bruce Marshall said none of the rowers during the Saint Martin’s Dragon Boat Festival were injured, and Port of Olympia and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office boats quickly came to their rescue.

“Everyone is fine, they’re just a little cold and wet,” Marshall said.

The wet rowers were from the Portland-based Bridge City Blitz Gold team. Their boat had collided with the Wasabi Fury boat, which had veered out of its lane during the race.

“We deserve the good sportsmanship award. It’s all smiles,” said Logan Gore, a Blitz City rower.

Marshall said the boats were unscathed.

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