Boat capsizes at Dragon Boat Festival; no injuries

A midrace crash sent 22 rowers into Puget Sound on Saturday morning.

Harbor Director Bruce Marshall said none of the rowers during the Saint Martin’s Dragon Boat Festival were injured, and Port of Olympia and Thurston County Sheriff’s Office boats quickly came to their rescue.

“Everyone is fine, they’re just a little cold and wet,” Marshall said.

The wet rowers were from the Portland-based Bridge City Blitz Gold team. Their boat had collided with the Wasabi Fury boat, which had veered out of its lane during the race.

“We deserve the good sportsmanship award. It’s all smiles,” said Logan Gore, a Blitz City rower.

Marshall said the boats were unscathed.

“They bailed out the water, and the boats are back to racing,” he said Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s Dragon Boat festival brought together 52 teams from the Puget Sound region and beyond, and more than 1,000 participants, according to Saint Martin’s University. The races have been a South Sound event for 11 years, but dragon boat races date back to fourth century China.

This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 12:10 PM with the headline "Boat capsizes at Dragon Boat Festival; no injuries."