Boatyard’s Dragon Team Wins Gold – Again
For the second year in a row, Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard’s dragon boat team brought home the gold at the annual Paddlers Cup Regatta.
Our sponsored team of paddlers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord won first place in the 200-meter sprint during Sunday’s dragon boat races in the harbor — by five full fire-breathing seconds, we might add.
Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard is a proud sponsor of the annual Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup, and organizers were gracious in expressing their appreciation.
“Thanks, Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard, for the photos and your awesome support throughout the event,” Paddlers Cup organizers posted on their Facebook page. “And congratulations! Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard is the sponsor of the two-time gold medal JBLM dragon boat team.”
Boatyard’s Dragon Boat Team Wins Gold at Paddlers Cup – 2 Years Running
Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard Managing Director Ron Roark, always a supporter of the military and JBLM specifically, proudly showed off the team’s medal at the boatyard this week.
“We know how to pick winners,” he said. “This is the second win in a row by the team we sponsor.”
For the last two years the marina has sponsored paddlers from the 201st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade out of JBLM and provided, along with the Northwest Maritime Academy, the ornate dragon boat for the team to use. Like last year, this brigade of powerful paddlers flew across the harbor in front of four other dragons again this year.
2017 Dragon Boat Results:
- JBLM – 201st E-MIB (55.33)
- Greater Gig Harbor Foundation (60.32)
- Rotary (62.30)
- Windermere Professional Partners (62.48)
- Pierce Transit (67.78)
Sunday’s popular dragon boat races capped the 6th Annual Harbor Paddlers Cup Regatta that took place April 8 and 9 at historic Eddon Boat Park in Gig Harbor. The event included various long and short distance canoe, kayak and stand-up paddle board races and workshops for both experienced and novice paddlers.
The exhilarating Cross Narrows Challenge started things off with a splash on Saturday. Definitely in the category of ‘for the adventurous paddler,’ the Narrows Challenge features an open water race through the insistent current of the choppy Tacoma Narrows. The approximately six and a half-mile course takes paddlers from the harbor to Point Defiance and back.
“Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard is an awesome Paddlers Cup partner and sponsor!” – Paddlers Cup organizers
The annual Paddlers Cup, which Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard supported as a Silver Sponsor this year, is organized by Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team in cooperation with the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission and the City of Gig Harbor. This yearly community event features paddle racing for kayaks, canoes, SUPs, outriggers and para-canoes, as well as the dragon boat races.
Proceeds from the Paddlers Cup benefit the five-time USA National Champion Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to introduce youth ages 9 to 18 to the sports of Olympic canoe and kayak racing.
Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard’s is happy to be a supporter of the annual Paddlers Cup. The marina’s Club @ the Boatyard provided a venue for registration and a pre-regatta function the day before the races, and organizers were grateful for the support.
“Gig Harbor Marina & Boatyard is an awesome Paddlers Cup partner and sponsor!” organizers posted on their Facebook page. “From hosting the pre-race reception at The Club @ the Boatyard, to hoisting the dragon boats in and out of the water for us, to helping with boat trailer parking, to being a huge supporter of GHCKRT.
“We can’t thank you guys enough!”