battle in the bay news

Registration fee discount

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:18:58 -0500

Always held on the second Saturday in May, Battle In The Bay Dragon Boat Festival has once again received unanimous approval from the Marathon City Council for the 4th annual event at Sombrero Beach on May 12. Organizers are anticipating a special year. According to Chinese astrology, 2012 represents the Year of the Dragon and specifically, the Water Dragon. Water Dragon only happens every 60 years. Additionally, legend says that hosting a dragon boat festival brings prosperity and health to the host community. Marathon has certainly been reaping the benefits of that legend as this event continues to grow and thrive year after year.

For a limited time, teams signing up before February 4th can take advantage of the Early Bird Discount and deduct 10% from the registration fee. Enjoy the savings now and have until May to fill your team roster of 20 paddlers, 1 drummer and 3 alternates. You may download a registration form from the official Website www.BattleInTheBay.org on the Team page. Emailing lunarchik@earthlink.net or calling 305-766-1053 can also provide you with registration information.

While visiting the Website, you can subscribe to the monthly e-newsletter that contains updates of social events, tips from John Fernandez, dragon boat coach for the local recreational teams and downloadable documents related to Battle In The Bay - vendor, volunteer, team registration, advantages of sponsorship and pledge sheets for teams that are fundraising for their charity of choice.

Battle In The Bay Dragon Boat Festival news and updates can be followed on Twitter and you can become a Fan on Facebook by accessing the links located on the official Website

Message from the event director

Tue, 17 May 2011 14:07:01 -0400

It is with the support of our loyal, returning and new, enthusiastic sponsors, advertisers, volunteers, vendors, spectators and of course, the dragon boat teams providing the thrilling race action that enable the organizing committee to wrangle this circus into the greatest tropical dragon boat show north of the equator. City of Marathon’s Sombrero Beach is a big top venue attraction and the Tourist Development Council DAC III’s continued confidence earn both of these ringmasters the spotlight of our gratitude.

To the visiting dragon boat teams and helmsmen - thank you for choosing our beachin’ event as a destination. It is our goal to be the best host that we can by staging a day of serious fun.

Dragon boating is a sport accessible to everyone. If does not exclude. It does not require special modification for abilities or disabilities. It embraces young and old, wealthy or just getting by, the weekend warriors and the conditioned athletes. It is the personification of ‘yes, you can’.

I encourage everyone that was watching the races this weekend to give dragon boating a try. You’ll never forget - as you reach longer, dig deeper and pull harder - your first time crossing the finish line.

Thank you, one and all, for your part in Battle In The Bay Dragon Boat Festival. Until May 12, 2012, the Chinese Year of the Water Dragon - Let it ride.

Fundraising and race results

Mon, 16 May 2011 16:06:45 -0400

The returning Battle In The Bay Champions have triumphed once again taking top honors in the third annual dragon boat race held last Saturday at Sombrero Beach in Marathon, Florida Keys. The Tampa Tarpons, a dragon boat team made up of fierce competitors from Tampa and Miami once again dominated Battle In The Bay’s A Division races. The A Division category represents the top level racing teams in the event. Another returning championship team was the Marathon High School Dolphins - once again taking home the B Division bling.

The Conch Republic Navy, hosts to paddlers from Vancouver’s Eye of the Dragon, once again represented the Florida Keys in the A Division. This fusion of local paddlers and guest powerhouses in a show of solidarity for their visually impaired guests and to raise awareness for the inclusive quality of the sport of dragon boating, raced blindfolded feeling the rhythm of the boat and paddling on the count from the drummer rather than watching the person in front of them and listening for the drumbeat. They also qualified for the 2000 meter race held for the top finishing teams from A Division. This race is about the paddlers pacing themselves and is really dependent on the steersperson to get them around the turns and powered back up in the straight-aways.

Here are the official results:

Open Challenge Race: 98.7 Conch Country Crusaders
Hospitality/Tourism Challenge Race: Squally Weather HeronCane
Dragon Boat Club Crew Challenge: Tampa Tarpons
Gift of Life Challenge: Conch Republic Navy

Top Community Team: HeronCane Tropical Depression

Division C Champions: The Floaters - Weiler Engineering/City of Marathon 2:06.46;
Division C 2nd Place: Squally Weather HeronCane 2:16.47: Division C 3rd Place: Dragon Masters – Keys Hair Masters 2:22.14
Division B Champions: Marathon High School Dolphins 1:58.79 Division B 2nd Place: Conch Country Crusaders 2:05.23 Division B 3rd Place: Save Our Sisters 2:10.35;
Division A Champions: Tampa Tarpons 1:46.07 Division A 2nd Place: Miami Dragon Slayers 1:47.56 Division A 3rd Place: HydroBlades 1:49.28

2000 Meter Champions: Tampa Tarpons 8:35.04; 2nd Place: HydroBlades 8:52.81; 3Rd Place: Miami Dragon Slayers 8:57.80; 4th Place: Draggin’ Dragons 8:58.16; 5th Place: Conch Republic Navy 9:37.61

The finishing times for allraces and the 2000m can be viewed on the Team page.

Exemplifying the community spirit of Battle In The Bay, local paddlers on about half of the local teams collectively raised over $12,000 in pledges that benefit Heron Peacock Supported Living, Stanley Switlik Early Childhood Special Education Program and Marc House. Susan G. Koman for the Cure receives all the donations from the Survivor Flower Ceremony and Reef Relief receives all the proceeds from the beverage sales.

Dave Condra returned as the individual fundraising frontrunner for the third consecutive year, winning 2 nights for two at the Curry Mansion Inn in Key West. Condra surpassed his 2010 earnings for Heron Peacock Supported Living and raised $5,16.24. The combined money raised for Heron Peacock with other dragon boat teams totaled $10,285.

Dragon boat races this Saturday

Mon, 9 May 2011 09:12:01 -0400

The sponsors have been secured since January. Teams began signing up in February. Local paddlers started their practice sessions this past weekend. Sombrero Beach is being groomed by the City of Marathon for Battle In The Bay Dragon Boat Festival this Saturday.

New for 2011 is the Awakening the Dragon Ceremony taking place at the launch lagoon at 8:15 AM. The Chinese tradition that dates back thousands of years involves monks dotting the heads of the boats with paint in a sign of good karma for competitors. Dave Condra, 2010 Rainmaker (top individual fundraiser) has the honor of dotting the eye, assisted by his HeronCane teammates. Returning to start the races with a honk of the conch shell is Mike Puto, Governor General of the Middlemost Territories of the Conch Republic followed by a cannon blast from the Pirates of the Marquesas.

The Flower Ceremony returns at 11:30 AM with even more breast cancer survivor teams than last year. Around the world, survivor dragon boat teams celebrate with the Flower Ceremony. Spectators are invited to participate with the teams in a floral tribute to all those touched by life threatening disease. Pink blooms graciously donated by Flowers by J&J can be had for a donation amount of your choosing to Susan G. Komen For the Cure.
Race action kicks off at 9:00 AM with the Qualifying heats. Teams in these first sets of races are grouped by similar industry and are competing for a Challenge Race medal. All times from the first round are arranged fastest to slowest and teams are assigned to Divisions based on those times. Movement from the Semi-final to the Final round in a Division is based on a seeding system. The top 6 finishing teams from A Division qualify for the 2000 meter endurance race scheduled to begin at 4:30 PM.

Club crews from Ohio, South Carolina, Central and South Florida are joining local teams for a field of over 400 racers. Teams are made up of 20 paddlers, a steersman and a drummer. “I am really pleased with the amount of competitive traveling teams this year”, said Karen Bowers, event director.

It’s free to watch the races and there is an abundance of activity on the shore in addition to that out on the water. Conch Country’s (98.7 FM) Big D and Bubba are joining the live remote from Noon to 2:00 PM. The beachside belly dancer performs during the first break between races. Reef Relief, serving up cold, craft beer, receives the proceeds from the sales of Dale’s Pale Ale and Mama’s Little Pill. Food vendors offering a variety of meals – Greek cuisine, BBQ, crepes, seafood paella, MYC French fries and other snacks paired with non-food vendors provide spectators plenty for a family friendly day at the beach.

The racing is over at 5 PM but the fun continues when Mad Tea Party takes the stage to kick off the Last Splash Beach party and the public is invited. The shout outs and awards are presented at 6:30 PM followed by more bubbly uke-billy honky tonk from the Mad Tea Party.

Mad Tea Party in the FL Keys

Mon, 9 May 2011 06:57:48 -0400

“It’s the B-52s meets Buddy Holly with a lot more thump”. Musical conspirators Ami Worthen and Jason Krekel serve up an exciting live show to music lovers thirsty for upbeat, original refreshment. Delicious harmonies glide over electrified ukulele, juke-joint guitar, scratchy fiddle and pulsing foot percussion. Catchy songs are steeped in raw rockabilly with shreds of doo-wop and devilish blues. Drink deep – Mad Tea Party concocts a musical recipe that will make you boogie.

Appearing this week for the first time in the Florida Keys, Mad Tea Party from Asheville, NC is bringing their rock’n’roll, garage-pop and honky tonk to Marathon’s Hurricane located at Mile Marker 49.5 starting this Thursday night at 9 PM, followed by Battle In The Bay Dragon Boat Festival’s Paddlers’ Party at the Hurricane on Friday the 13th and the Last Splash Beach Party being held after the dragon boat races at Sombrero Beach from 5:30 – 8 PM May 14th. They finish out the night back at the Hurricane with more uke-billy boogie. On Sunday, May 15th, MTP wraps up their tropical tour at Bobalu’s in Key West located at 404 Southard St.

As they traveled through Miami, the dynamic duo stopped in for a chat with Michael Stock from WLRN’s Folk and Acoustic Music (91.5 FM) and the interview is slated to air on South Florida’s public radio station on Sunday, May 15th.

For more information about Mad Tea Party, visit their website at www.themadteaparty.com