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"Y-Knot" team from Monroe County, IL, wins 2011 Gateway Dragon Boat Festival

Save the Date
2012 Gateway Dragon Boat Festival
General information
Saturday, August 11
1) Registration fee includes the boat, paddles, a steersperson/coach. Each team will have a designated area to "hang out" between races. It is suggested that teams bring folding chairs and pop-up tents (For an extra fee tents, chairs, tables can be rented). Each team will have a practice/safety session during the week before the race. Extra practices can be obtained for a fee.

2) 2012 Dragon Boat Festival – Race Rules: There will be two divisions - Recreational or Competitive - to be declared by each team when they register. Races start at 9am on Saturday, August 11, (coaches meeting at 8am). The schedule for the first round of races will be distributed in advance. (Each team’s first race could be anytime between 9 and 10:30am.)Each team will race two “qualifying” races, with three boats in each race. Following the first round of races, the teams will be sorted from the fastest to slowest. In the second round, the teams will race fastest to slowest teams based on times in the first round – the fastest three qualifiers in the first race in the second round, the next three fastest in the second race and so forth. Then, following the second round, the average time of each team in the first two races will be used to determine the order of teams for the third and final round, which will be run slowest qualifier to fastest. All teams will race in the third round. The final race of the day will be the three fastest qualifiers vying for 1st, 2nd and 3rd overall, with the winner being awarded the coveted traveling trophy. Awards will be made to the top three winners in Recreational and Competitive Divisions. In addition, awards will also be made to the fastest teams of certain similar types, such as Community, Media, Healthcare and Manufacturing Divisions. A Team Spirit Award will be presented, as well as Fastest Run of the Day. Awards will handed out at approximately 3pm.

3) A food/non-alcoholic vendor will be at the Festival. However, you can bring food – alcohol is permitted but not sold at the festival.

4) Team banners, team shirts, ect., are encouraged. A "Spirit Award" will recognize the team with the most spirit.

5) There is no charge for spectators. . . Participants/paddlers must be on a dragon boat team.

6) The 20 team paddlers (not rowers) and the drummer (required) must be 14 years of age. 8 of the paddlers on each team must be female. To accommodate alternate paddlers/or drummers, each team roster may include up to 26 people.

Watch highlights from past years' festivals