OWLS Dragonflies win Silver in Tacoma!

On Saturday, May 12, the OWLS Dragonflies competed in the Rainier Dragon Boat Festival on Commencement Bay in Tacoma, Washington. The 'Flies arrived at Thea's Park before 8:00 a.m. for their first race of the 2012 season. Most of the team drove up Saturday morning after leaving Portland at 5:00 a.m. The 'Flies took an early lead in their first round race, finishing first with a time of 02:28:30 and shaved six seconds off that time in their second round race for a second place seeding going into the semi-final round.

By afternoon, the tide had turned and race times started getting longer, but the 'Flies were ready for the longer sprints having spent the Winter training for endurance in all conditions on the Willamette River.  Winter paddling paid off in the semi-final round and the 'Flies advanced to finals where they took 2nd place from the improbable lane 1 where the current is particularly challenging.

The OWLS Dragonflies will race next in the Portland Rose Festival Dragon Boat Race held on June 9 and 10 at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, so please mark your calendar and plan to spend some time by the river cheering for the ‘Flies.

See you on the water!