YOUR HOSTS! The Dogwood Nothin’ Dragon Masters are ready for the second annual inlet Spring Regatta. (Photo: Joep Olthuis)

COQUITLAM, BC (April 17, 2019) The second annual Inlet Spring Regatta will take place at Rocky Point Park, in Port Moody, B.C. on Saturday, April 27 attracting dragon boaters from around the region. The event is a free spectator sport and everyone can expect exciting race action on the inlet, a beer garden sponsored by Yellow Dog Brewing, food trucks and vendors.

The inaugural event in 2018 was a glowing success with rave reviews coming in from dragon boat paddlers, fans, vendors and sponsors. The Inlet Spring Regatta is now a prominent fixture opening the 2019 Dragon Boat Season.

Hosted by the Dogwood Nothin’ Dragon Masters, a 50 plus team based in Coquitlam, the 2019 event has 44 teams ready to race.

“We’re excited about the growth we’ve seen in our second year of the event. We’ve increased the number of teams competing,” said Nothin’ Dragon president Brian Kenny. “We’ll have over 1000 paddlers taking part from junior teams with teenagers to masters teams with some in their 80s and every age in between. Dragon boating is an inclusive sport.”

The Inlet Spring Regatta features 200m sprints, with each race taking approximately 1 minute to complete. Teams race in heats of 3 to 4 boats across. Total in sync teamwork and a spirit of competition make each race exciting! G2G Race Management, who travel the world to officiate events, will handle the race portion of the regatta. Teams will compete in either a mixed or women only division.

Each BUK boat seats 20 paddlers, one drummer and a standing steersperson at the stern. Most teams bring spares, a coach and managers. Some teams arrive short in numbers and sign up to receive roving spares from other teams. Each team will be guaranteed four races and all of the top three teams in ten divisions will receive a medal.

The 44 teams competing are from Hope, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley, Coquitlam, Port Moody, Burnaby, New Westminster, Vancouver and North Vancouver. Learn more about each team HERE.

Event dedication: The late Dan Strain, beloved captain and founding member of Nothin’ Dragon Masters.

The 2019 event is being dedicated to Dan Strain, team captain of the Nothin’ Dragon Masters, who passed away in 2018. Dan was a founding member and was with the team for 20 years.

“We want to honour a man that gave so much to our team,” said Nothin’ Dragon assistant captain Randy Wilson. “Dan wasn’t just a captain, he was a teacher, a leader and a teammate; and he taught us how to become a better team. Our memories of Dan are those of character, wisdom, integrity, and immeasurable courage.”

The Nothin’ Dragon Masters wish to thank this year’s sponsors and supporters: K+S Potash Canada, City of Port Moody, Yellow Dog Brewing, Reed Point Marina Ltd., Jon Ross Films, The Tri-City News, Oddball Apparel, Marcon, Noura Homes, Old Mill Boathouse, Flavelle Oceanfront Development, Cobs Bread, Thrifty Foods, Lotus Sports Club, G2G Race Management and Shutter Up & Shoot.

For more information go to www.inletspringregatta.com.

2019 Teams: Abreast in a Boat - DEAS; Abreast in a Boat - Fortitude; Abreast in a Boat - Rocky Point; Abreast in the City; Al-O-Wetters; Butts in a Boat; Century Dragons; Concord Pacific Flying Dragons; Cultus Blue; Cultus Lake Dragonflyers; Deep Cove Perfect Catch; Deep Cove Wave Crashers; Draggin’ Divas at Rocky Point; Dragonhearts and Souls; Dragon Zone Twisted Hips; FCRCC Masters Women; FLCC Chicks Ahoy; FLCC D-Fyance; FLCC Fast and Furious; FLCC FORTified; FLCC Paddle Pushers; FLCC Phoenix; FLCC SOAR (Spirit of a Renegade); FLCC Sundragons; FLCC Titanium; FVPC Spirit of the Fraser Valley; FVPC Seraphins; Gals on the Gunnel; Grandragons; Insink; Momentum; Nothin' Dragon Masters (HOST TEAM); Pass the BuK; Pirates; Rocky Point Moody Brews; Rocky Point Moody Dragons; Saggin Dragons; Seventh Wave; Spirit Point Dragons; Starbucks Waverunners; Swordfish; The Eh Team; The Thunder Strokers; and the Water Warriors.

About Dragon Boating: Dragon boat racing is one of the fastest growing water sports in the world. Participants of all ages compete and enjoy the sport. Over 2,000,000 people around the world participate in dragon boat festivals or regattas. Dragon boats are 12 meters in length and are propelled by 20 paddlers guided by a steersperson and kept in rhythm by a drummer seated at the bow of the boat maintaining a steady and powerful pace for the duration of a 200-meter or 500-meter course.

About the venue: Known as the City of the Arts, Port Moody is located in Metro Vancouver at the east end of Burrard Inlet and is bordered by Coquitlam on the east and south, and Burnaby on the west. The regatta venue, Rocky Point Park, is known for its beautiful amenities with The Boathouse Restaurant, Pajos Fish and Chips. and Rocky Point Ice Cream all within one to five minutes walking distance. The area is well-known for its four local breweries also within short walking distance from the venue.

About the Nothin' Dragon Masters: The Nothin' Dragon Masters are a 50 + team based in Coquitlam, B.C., and operate under the Dogwood Seniors Society. The team has approximately 70 members and mentors challenged youth through their Kateslem Kids Program as well as supports the Riverside Secondary dragon boat team. They have also been organizers of the Coquitlam Crunch Challenge for the past 4 years. More information at nothindragon.ca.