ANC2C02 Forum

UPDATE: May 15: Dragon Boat Festival has been postponed due to recent rain and exceptionally high water levels on the Potomac. Tentative new date: June 14-15, 2008

The water from the torrential rains that hit our area last weekend is finding its way down to the Potomac, and the water levels are very high, and the current is very fast. Rowing crews are not currently launching from the docks at TBC, and have instead packed up their boats and are rowing out of Anacostia.

To give a sense of scale, we normally get 10,000 cubic feet per second coming over Little Falls at this time of year. (median reading for the past 80 years). In only 20% of the years on record have we ever gotten over 20,000 cubic feet per second. As of right now, we are getting 95,000 cubic feet per second coming over Little Falls -- nine times the normal amount of water!
— DCDragonBoat.com

Yesterday afternoon was the last practice for the Mayor's team that will race in next week's DC Dragon Boat Festival. ANC-2C02 residents James Carter and Martin Moulton, and I all plan to row for the Mayor's team. The practices have taken place over the past few weeks on the Anacostia not far from the Navy Yard. It was hard work getting a large team to work perfectly in sync, but some of our practices runs proved very successful yesterday against other teams. Aside from the 20 rowers, each dragon boat will carry a traditional chinese drummer who will help the rowers keep pace. Boats will race in heats of 4 to 5 along 250 and 500 meter courses between the Kennedy Center and Thompson Boat Center. The racing is expected to begin at 9am and end at approximately 5pm.

From our efforts yesterday, the Mayor's team seems ready to win. Despite the clearly filthy water, Martin was able to capture some of the great views of the Baseball Stadium and navy yard vessels from the Anacostia with his ever present camera. (Next time I'll carry my camera so I can get some pics of him also.) The race course next week should be much better all around. More pics here.

7th Annual Washington DC Dragon Boat Festival
8am-7pm, Saturday and Sunday, May 17-18
Thompson's Boat Center, Goergetown Waterfront, 2900 Virginia Ave NW
DCDragonBoat.com