(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
Naha wrapped up the 52nd installment of the dragon boat races this year on a rainy note.
The races, which ran from May 3-5 at Naha Port New Wharf, featured teams battling it out on the water along a 600-meter course.
Okinawa’s rain season officially started May 4 and on the last day of the races, 48 teams, including members of the U.S. military community, competed under cloud-covered skies and a constant barrage of rain.
Rowers gave it their all, defying the sudden chill from the low temps remaining under 20 degrees Celsius (68° F) on the final day. The crowd went wild, rooting for their team while the rowers’ passion and excitement took the venue by storm.
“It was absolutely amazing,” said Cala Booth of Yasha Dragons, a team of military spouses, veterans, and active duty servicemembers, which came on top in the heat No. 8.
“It just totally blew our minds. We pulled together out there as a team, and we did fantastic,” Booth added.
The all-female team was originally supposed to compete in heat No. 7, against Army Ladies and Lady Shoguns, but were moved to the next race due to a boat malfunction.
When asked if the change had any impact, Booth said the members were there to show up as a team. “We didn’t know we were going to win, but we came on top, so it’s fantastic,” Booth said.
Yasha Dragons’ record was 4 minutes, 28 seconds, 88”, giving them the lead of Category A on the board at the time.
The open competition was held in two categories, A and B, among which the Army Black Knights became the winner of Category A with the record of 4 minutes, 20 seconds, 30”, edging out the other teams by less than a second.
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
(Photo by Shoji Kudaka/Stripes Okinawa)
“We came out and we beat the Navy,” Joshua Salazar, an Army Black Knights crewmember, said with excitement.
“We won number one in our division. We trained for the last couple of months, we came together as friends and families, really took it from there,” Salazar said.
The Naha Dragon Boat Races are a highlight of the Golden Week holidays every year in Okinawa. The 3-day event is considered one of the three major festivals of Naha City along with the Naha Tug of War in October and the Shurijo Castle Festival in late October or early November.
Although the Naha Dragon Boat Races are done for the year, there are still more chances to catch boat races around Okinawa in the coming weeks. Yukkanuhi is May 4 of the lunar calendar, which falls on June 18 this year. This is the day when dragon boat races are held at several locations on the island to pray to the god of the sea for a good catch.
Be on the lookout for the next opportunity to catch exciting dragon boat races soon!