Day 2 of racing was impossibly hotter than the day before. Rowbust thankfully had a late morning start so team members were well rested upon arriving at the venue. As always, we completed our warm up and convened for our "marching orders". Coach Sarah encouraged us to focus on the long powerful stroke and to feel in harmony. We headed out to the start line and practiced a full start and some technical work. As we were about to line up, we quietly said, "For Sarah". The start was quick but we were ready and got off to a powerful start. We did our power out of the start and Shirley called a number of powers throughout the race to keep us focused. Our timing was on and you could feel the length and the harmony in the boat. We finished and left it ALL on the water. We were all pleased with how we'd come together and Sarah was happy with how we'd executed the race place. Here is where our "Believe" tattoos (thank you Linda Kushan!) finally hit their mark - we believed in ourselves and the power of the team!
The heat was unrelenting so we did our best to stay in the shade and to stay hydrated. We enjoyed another delicious lunch provided by the organizing committee - in the shade - and chatted with our fellow paddlers from around the world. After lunch, there was time for more pin trading, shirt swapping and team visiting. We were all very inspired by the team from Argentina who was fundraising to purchase their very first boat. They can currently only afford to rent a boat once a month to practice.
Our final race in the late afternoon was not as powerful as our morning race but we were happy with the day on the whole and prepared ourselves for the next part of the program. The Sandy Smith Global Race featured a representative from every team paddling in mixed boats. Our newbie Pat Holdsworth represented Rowbust admirably. These boats then reformed on the water for the flower ceremony - an extraordinarily powerful and emotional experience for all.
The closing ceremonies wrapped up the day and the weekend - featuring impactful speeches by the husband of Sandy Smith and by Dr. Don McKenzie, the "Father of BCS Dragon Boat Racing".
With the event at an end, we enjoyed one final meal at the site and team members split up into their respective groups to head "home" for the evening.
Teammate Patsy shares a story of a chance encounter in Florence...
I was walking along the pathway between the rows of teams looking for pins to trade. I love lighthouses so was looking for one on my travels. I suddenly noticed one on a team's sign. There was one woman sitting in the team's tent so I went in to speak to her about a pin exchange. When she asked where I was from, I replied "London, ON". She gasped. She said, "It's because of you guys that I'm here today. My husband and children are here with me. She recounted that 20 years ago, she was at a business meeting with a woman from London. The woman from London had shared that she was on a dragon boat team that was just starting. This woman (speaking to Patsy) said that she had held onto that memory. A few years later she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She contacted IBCPC to ask about a dragon boat team in her area (in Florida) and was told that there was no team. She was disappointed, but only momentarily because - the contact then told her, there WAS someone moving to that area who was a dragon boater who was intending to start a new team!! So, inspired by Rowbust, that is how she started!
Susan Oster
Rowbust member since 2014, current Board member and proud member of the 2018 IBCPC Italy crew.
Contributor - Pasty Ste. Marie - Rowbust member since 2014 and proud member of both the 2018 IBCPC Italy crew AND the IDBF CCWC Hungary crew.