Contact Us
706-650-5760
Goodwill Industries of Middle Georgia and the CSRA
231 Furys Ferry Road, Suite 210
Augusta, GA 30907
2013 Sponsors
Registration Forms
2013 Sponsor Registration Form
Goodwill's 1st Annual Dragon Boat Race
Thanks to everyone who made our second annual GoodBoats: Paddling for a Purpose dragon boat festival such a great success! We engaged 23 dragon boat teams, 23 vendors, 150 volunteers, and over 2,000 attendees...not to mention a great partnership with our wonderful Asian community.
Jim Stiff, Chief Executive Officer, said the event is already on next year's calendar. It's something new! Not another Gala or golf tournament. Dragon boat racing is the fastest growing sport in America, but it originated in China dating back over 2,000 years. Not only did the event raise money, but it also raised awareness of our life-changing mission. There was delicious Asian and American food, captivating entertainment on the cultural stage, and a day of sunshine to enjoy cheering for the dragon boat teams.
Cab Stiff, Goodwill Works Foundation Board Chair, served as the festival chair for the second year in a row. A rowing regatta expert, Mr. Stitt provided the vision and leadership for GoodBoats for Goodwill.
Two awards were presented at the end of the day. Gwinnett College placed first in the races, and Georgia Regents University won Most Team Spirit.
Dragon Boat Origins
Born of a 2500 year Chinese tradition, dragon boats are the largest flat water racing canoes in the world. Originally constructed of solid teak, these spectacular boats weigh 1500 pounds and are over 30 feet long.
The Dragon Boat Festival commemorates the life and death of the ancient patriot-poet Qu Yuan who lived from 340-278 B.C. Qu Yuan was a minister who advocated reforms in his home state of Chu. The King refused to listen to Qu Yuan's advice and instead banished him from the state of Chu. In exile, Qu Yuan wrote poetry expressing his concern for his country and people. In 278, when Qu Yuan heard that his home had been invaded, he drowned himself in the Mi Lo River.
The people of Chu rushed to the river to rescue him. Too late to save Qu Yuan, they splashed furiously and threw zung-ze, steamed rice wrapped in reed leaf, into the river as a sacrifice to his spirit and to keep the fish from Qu Yuan's body.
Since that time, dragon boats are raced on rivers in China and people throw zung-ze into the river to honor the memory of Qu Yuan.
Dragon boat racing emerged in modern times as an international sport in Hong Kong in 1976. Dragon boat racing (sport and festival) is among the fastest growing of team water sports, with scores of thousands of participants in various organizations and clubs in over 60 countries. There are nearly 50 million people worldwide who currently take part annually in dragon boat races.
Present day dragon boats are still similar to those raced over two thousand years ago. Each crew consists of 20 paddlers, one drummer and one steersperson. Teams race in a sprint along a straight course ranging from 250 to 2,000 meters. Top speed comes with a well-timed stroke of the bladea seasoned Dragon Boat team can travel over the water at 10-13 feet per second.