Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival 2018

September 8, 2018 - I was in my first dragon boat race this year. Dragon boat races are a worldwide sporting event. A narrow boat of paddlers (not rowers) plus a steerer and a drummer race about 300 meters from start to finish. It is a fun and highly competitive sport; plus, the money raised goes to great area kid-focused charities: Gulf Coast Kids House and Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida. After having been in one in Pensacola, I am already looking forward to next year's race and even looking at traveling to be in other races around the country (or maybe even as close as Mobile or Biloxi).

Captains Meeting and Dragon Meets

Captains Meeting August 30th

NE Pensacola Sertoma hosted the Pensacola Dragon Boast Festival Captains Meeting the week before the race. Chris Mull could not make it so I went alone, which was fine. I just had to collect our information packet and sit through a briefing session. The meeting was all the way downtown Pensacola. Roy Ridgeway had to go as well so I rode with him and luckily there was free food and free beer for all the captains. Woohoo!

Dragon Boat Practice Races and Camp Setup

Dragon Boat Practice Races

Every team had at least two practice sessions scheduled for them the week of the race. I scheduled ours for Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6 o'clock. Being late summer, the sun was setting about 7:15 so I wanted our boat to be able to finish practice on the water before it got dark (it still got pretty dark before we finished each night). Good thing, too. There were several boats after our sessions that were paddling around Bayou Texar in the dark, and these boats do not have any lights on them at all.

Dragon Boat Race Day

Dragon Boat Race Day

Race Day for the Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival was an exciting and fun-filled day. There were over thirty dragon boat teams registered for the day and every team had to race three separate times. The weather was perfect - not too hot, a few clouds to help block the sun (you still need your sunscreen) and a good breeze coming off the bayou.

Pensacola Dragon Boat Pictures

We had a great time at the Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival. Here are pictures and we will add more next year!

Thank You to Everyone Who Donated

This whole event would not be as great as it is without all of the wonderful people who donate to help the kids in our area. Gulf Coast Kids House thanks you. Junior Achievement of Northwest Florida thanks you. And all of us dragons thank you.

Perdido Key Fireball Breathing Dragons

We had a fantastic group of Dragons on the Perdido Key Fireball Breathing Dragon Boat for the Pensacola Dragon Boat Festival. Thanks to all of you for participating. We are planning for next year and would love to have you on-board in 2019. It will be here in no time at all.

Dragon Boat Team Supplies and Party Ideas

We bought some of these for our Dragon Boat Team and will probably buy more next year. You might use some of these for your team or party.