As complete novice dragon boaters, the Dalmeny Deviates were always going to get wet when they took on the Narooma Blue Water Dragons in the inaugural Wagonga Challenge.
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The races between the men of the charity group and the local dragon boat club took place Saturday morning on Forsters Bay.
The bay was a hive of activity as the 50 or so traditional boats participating in the 10th annual Narooma BoatsAfloat Festival took off on their morning tea putt putt across Wagonga Inlet.
The boys from the charity group ended up in Forsters Bay twice during the two races, but Marine Rescue was there on its Jetskis to provide assistance while Deviates founder John Rowley had his boat ‘Deviate 1’ also mopped up.
The challenge came about after the Blue Water Dragons participated in this year’s Dalmeny Deviates Bowls Day.
Deviate member Norm Budin suggested the boys took on dragon boaters as a way of paying back the favour, and it was was hoped to be an annual event.
For the record, the Deviates despite capsizing twice claimed to have won both races, although some suggested their head starts had something to do with it.
Any funds raised on the day would go toward Marine Rescue Narooma who also did a brisk sale in sausage sandwiches.
Later in the morning, the BoatsAfloat traditional boats putted back from their morning tea across the inlet at Peter’s Point.
The activity then switched to the Narooma Marina area where there was live jazz and an art exhibition by the Montague Arts and Crafts Society that continues all weekend.
The real highlight of BoatsAfloat is the grand parade that sees all the boats cruise past the Narooma Boardwalk around 11am Sunday morning.