A Seat with a View - 2000m

A Seat with a View - 2000m Race: Manna in row 8.

Here are the details of the near disaster that happened when we, as unwilling participants in a trial "bumper dragonboating" game, maneouvered ourselves out of harms way in the last leg of the 2000m race.

As we came out of the last of 3 turns we were hit on the front right by another team's tail either swinging wide or fishtailing. And within minutes (I guess it wasn't "minutes" cause the whole race was only 10mins 'n change) I heard Wendy, our cox, yelling something out of the ordinary - "Number 7, HOLD YOUR BOAT, HOLD YOUR BOAT". Hmmm, strange. Whatever, my job was to keep paddling, so that's what I did. Then I heard Christine, in row 10 yelling something. Hmmm, strange, normally she doesn't yell call ups. I kept paddling ... until I saw a humugous, coloured dragon head cross my face from the right. Holy Jesus [please save us]! In no time I grabbed onto the head of that dragon with my right hand, and with superhuman strength :P slowed down and diverted the rampage that was going to bludgeon Eva (row 7) in the back of the head and tip our boat. No way would 1500m of hard work be sunk!

A few seconds of chaos and profanities later we were free of the parasitic boat. But what lay ahead was a gagglefart of other boats which Wendy masterfully steered us through. In the mix was a couple calls for "KEEP PADDLING", Wendy's "YOU'RE STILL IN IT", and other's curses fuelling our rage and desire.

In the last 300m, in the outside lane, we caught up and passed 2 other teams, placing 4th. It was truly awesome (and exhausting)!

Comments from those who had a view from land: Watching our finish (and start) was really something else.

P.S. For those that are new to dragonboat racing, collisions like this are rare, but when they happen, are spectacular. And it's not normally dangerous. The 2000m is unique because there's one lane and turns. (Oooo, so much fun.)