Re: Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat Races 2007
From: [email protected]
Wed 9/05/07 3:56 PMThanks for your comments. We did do a lot of the things you mentioned but it seems that the Port Authority in Vancouver even though permits were given to us to run the races would not move or ticket the boats in question. We had contacted the authority Thursday and Friday nights to say that boats were in the navigable channel and that they would not move.
The authority (Coast Guard and Vancouver Police) told us that they could do very little. Whereas in Victoria, the RCMP and the Harbour Patrol took immediate action if a boat was in the course. The water taxis were all informed about the event but some drivers did not take extra caution as they approached the docks and course. We requested a lot more space for the paddlers than what was provided. DBA was totally shocked to see that such a small space was provided for the paddlers. The reason was that the city would not allow the Festival to close off the bicycle pathway.
Usually the dragon boat area is part of the festival. You are also right about more coordination with TaiwanFest. We had talked to them about incorporating the advertisement of dragon boat racing in their promotion but none of this occurred in their radio ads and newspaper ads. I will have to re-emphasize to TaiwanFest about the promotion of the dragon boat event. We tried to get as many volunteers as possible but have found that the Labour Day Weekend is a tough one to attract volunteers. However, we try to make a better effort next year.
I will pass on your suggestions to the starters, marshals, and festival organizers.
Again thanks for your comments,
Wing
Re: Vancouver International Taiwanese Dragon Boat Races 2007
To: [email protected]
Tue 9/04/07 7:06 PMI just wanted to write to you today to say, "thanks," for a wonderful two days of competition. My team enjoyed the competition, although we were thrown-off our game with the flag-catching. More practice for next year.
Of the on-water problems:
* Clear of traffic during the race, either by chase boat or to pay the harbour authority. Harbour authority would be expensive, but the chase boat would have greatly helped with kayakers and water taxis.
* Land-side started. This would allow the chase boat to do more safety stuff, and they wouldn't have the engine to drown the racing crews.
* If no land-side starter, then starter boat MUST clearly find out if boats are ready. In several Saturday races, boats were pointed by 30 to 45 degrees away from the course. Steerspeople called out not ready, and the races still went ahead.
* Safety boats for all events, including barrel races. Too many close calls with non-race boats -- even more so than Victoria.
Of the dock problems:
* Needing more volunteers.
* Talk to water taxi drivers and management beforehand to get them to agree to dock master authority. Too many near collisions from the barrel races because of it.
* Checking pfds. A few lapses in pfds happened on Saturday.
Of marshalling:
* It would be easier to tie in the PA system of TaiwanFest to the dragon boat races so they can call crews.
* More volunteers - to do escorting of crews to the docks. They would carry a sign and hopefully the spectators would move aside for the teams.
Of paddlers' village:
* What is the point of the wrist bands if paddlers village is not secured? Having volunteers guard the entrances to the village. Not having the toilets and unloading pathways to the festival go right through paddlers village. Too many things can go missing when you have such openness.
* More room for paddlers. There was not enough room for all the teams to put up their tents.
Of spectators / TaiwanFest:
* Open up the area so that spectators can see the dragon boat races in between sets of Taiwanese entertainment.
* Have the MC of the races be bilingual so that Mandarin-speaking spectators can understand what is going on.
* More friendlier staff in the beer garden. Yes, two pieces of ID is the law, but really, grand master team being turned away because they were afraid to leave their wallets and purses in an unsecured paddlers' village. Also, from the beer garden, you were not really able to see the races nor the main stage. I spoke to staff there, and they said this year and last year it was dead.
* More connection between the races and the festival. My family came to TaiwanFest and did not know that there were dragon boat races happening behind the main stage.
I hope this e-mail helps.
