NAVIGATING the unfamiliar waterways of Venice with 17,000 other man-powered water craft is very different than paddling about on Lake Canobolas.
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But that didn’t stop Orange’s Pinnacle Dragons Abreast paddlers from having the time of their lives when they participated in Venice’s Vogalonga and two other regattas in Italy and Israel recently.
The team of 17 departed Sydney on May 15 and flew to Rome to train with Rome’s dragon boat club Pink Butterflies, before competing in the Vogalonga, or Long Row, through the canals of Venice on May 24.
Coach Pearl Butcher said despite using an old, heavy and cramped boat, participating in the non-competitive 30-kilometre regatta had been a fantastic experience,
“It was a lot of fun, a lot of clashing with the rowing skulls and Venetian [boats], and everybody’s talking to you in six different languages, but it doesn’t matter, it’s all fun,” Mrs Butcher said.
“When you get to the Grand Canal towards the finish, that was just incredible. The sides of canals were packed with people, the bridges were packed with people all cheering.”
After the Vogalonga, the team split into two, with eight members travelling to Florence for the Florence Dragon Boat Pink Meeting on May 30 and 31, while nine members flew to Israel for the Dragon Boat Israel International Festival on the Sea of Galilee on May 28 and 29.
Mrs Butcher, part of the team who flew to Israel, said boating on the Sea of Galilee had been a great experience and feedback from those who went to Florence was also positive.
But the overwhelming feeling she took away from the trip was one of camaraderie between other Dragons Abreast paddlers from across the world.
“It’s knowing you can go anywhere in the world and you will be instantly welcomed by people who have been through the same thing, breast cancer. It doesn’t matter if there’s a language barrier, you just feel welcome,” Mrs Butcher said.
alexandra.king@fairfaxmedia.com.au