MacDill teams compete in Tampa's first dragon boat race

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Erin Dorrance
  • 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFPN) --  Skinny, colorfully painted dragon boats swiftly paddled through Tampa's downtown Garrison Channel on May 1 during their Asia Fest. The boats, including one from the base here, competed in Tampa's first Dragon Boat Race.

The MacDill team, composed of people from various base organizations, finished second in Division B, second highest of seven divisions, in 2 minutes, 4.21 seconds. The Tampa Police Tactical Unit finished first in 2:01.88.

"I thought MacDill would be perfect for the Asia Fest competition because we have all the right ingredients: precision, cadence and teamwork," said Maj. Michael Hamill of the 310th Airlift Squadron, and team coach for the race.

Maj. Keith Peloquin, of the safety office, said he joined MacDill's team to have fun.

"It sounded fun," he said. "I really enjoy doing things with the community and this was a chance to do so while representing the Air Force."

Major Peloquin said he thought the Air Force might have some advantages in the competition.

"From Day 1 in the Air Force, we concentrate on teamwork," he said. "In most jobs, you go to work and then go home. In the Air Force, our squadrons deploy together and live together."

Even though the competition was fun, it was hard work, Major Peloquin said.

"The 400-meter race only takes about two minutes, but your back and arms are definitely burning before you reach the halfway point," he said.

Each 22 person team consists of 20 paddlers, eight of whom must be women, and one drummer in the bow and a steerperson in the stern. After three days of practice, the MacDill team was ready to race against 48 teams, which ranged from high-school sport teams to corporate teams and professional dragon boat racing teams.

The sport comes from an ancient Chinese legend. Two thousand years ago, Qu Yuan was exiled from his home. He threw himself in the Milou River. Local fishermen hit their drums and wildly splashed water with their paddles to prevent water dragons and fish from eating his body. Qu Yuan died, and the dragon boat races commenced in his honor.

Today, the sport has attracted more than 11,000 U.S. competitive and recreational participants, and between 2 to 3 million competitive recreational participants worldwide, according to the International Dragon Boat Federation.