Innisfil's "That Sinking Feeling" ready for Annual Dragon Boat Festival
by Michelle Minnoch

"That Sinking Feeling", Innisfil's dragon boat team, will be competing at the Barrie Dragon Boat Festival at Heritage Park in Barrie on August 26th.

This year there are 75 teams entered in the competition, which moved to Heritage Park this year to accommodate the growing number of participants, and to accommodate the anticipated construction of the City of Barrie's intended surface water treatment plant.

Every year, each team picks a charity to raise money for through the event. The Innisfil team is raising money for RVH Cancer Care this year.

"Last year we raised about $4000," said Innisfil's Captain Allison Thomas. She said last year there were 62 teams entered, and 70 are are signed up for this years event.

With their first practice last night and their second on August 21st, the team is getting ready to fight for the title this year.

"We have 23 team members and one drummer on the boat," said Thomas. "The festival provides the boats and the steering person."

On this year's team, about half of the participants are new members, with Councillor Paul Wardlaw joining in for the fun this year. Mayor Brian Jackson and Councillor Lynn Dollin, who participated last year, are again going to be taking their place in the boat.

Due to the fact the boats are launching at Heritage Park this year, the organizers of the event are able to increase the number of lanes from four to five, which allowed for a total number of 70 boats for the day.

On site will be live entertainment, concession stands, cultural activities and featured crafts. About 5000 people, including participants, volunteers and spectators took in the event last year.

Organizers have also added two new sponsored awards to the competition; the Calian Challenge Cup which will be awarded to the top team from the Armed Forces; and the Genesis II Barrie Champions Trophy, an

award to the team from Barrie with the highest placed finish.

Fifty local charities benefited from the event in the first three years, with more than $400,000 raised. Last year, 44 charities received a portion of the $285,000 raised.

Dragon boat racing has been around for over two thousand years, originating from the "Awaking the Dragon" ritual found in many Asian cultures. The event was traditionally held on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, a signal to awake the hibernating dragon.

The person in the front of the boat, who bangs the drum, began in the 4th century. Qu Yuan, a Chinese poet, was banned from the

kingdom due to his political views. When he heard his kingdom had fallen into the hands of a rival, he threw himself into the Milo River, committing suicide. While some local fisherman tried to save him, they beat on drums and splashed their oars to protect Yuan's body from fish and water dragons. In honour of Qu Yuan, dragon boat races from that time on included a front man, beating a drum.

Help support "That Sinking Feeling" by going to the teams Charity Fundraising BBQ this Friday at the administration office. On Sunday, August 20th, the team will be holding another charity car wash at Sobey's Alcona.