Dragon boats glide across Gulfport Lake for the United Way

GULFPORT, Miss. (WLOX) - The 7th annual Dragon Boat Festival brought 18 teams of racers to Gulfport Lake Saturday for fun while raising funds for United Way of South Mississippi.

Coast businesses and nonprofits form the race teams. Each 46-foot-long boat holds 20 paddlers, a cox who steers the dragon boat from the rear, and a drummer who sits at the front.

The teams then race in various heats until a winner rises to the top. Here’s the full list of winners:

1st Place Overall: Sparklight “Team Sparklight”

2nd Place Overall: Chemours “Chemours Komodos”

3rd Place Overall: Chevron “Team Chevron”

Full Throttle Award: TIE: Lamar “Team 5 Second Leeway” and Chemours “Chemours Komodos”

More Often Than Knot Award: Harrah’s “Breakin’ Wind”

Dynamic Drummer Award: GCCFCU “Water We Doing Here???” (Bridgette)

Most “In-Tents” Competitor Award: Coca Cola “Team Coke”

Swaggin’ Dragon Award: KFCU “Dragon Behind”

The Golden Anchor Award: Goodwill of South MS “Team ThriftOARS”

Fish Out of Water Award: Boys & Girls Clubs of the Gulf Coast “Team Phoenix”

Most Food Donations for Back Bay Mission Food Drive (Certificate): Goodwill

Saturday’s event also featured live entertainment, a crawfish boil, and activities for the kids. Proceeds from the festival, including entry fees for the dragon boat races, support the United Way of South Mississippi and many non-profit organizations across the coast.

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