The Cape Coral Dragon Boat Club takes to the water from the Burnt Store Boat Ramp. PROVIDED

A Cape Coral club that ventures out on the water to compete in a disciplined and enthralling sport has rebranded and is looking for Southwest Floridians to get on board.

The Cape Coral Dragon Boat Club, formerly known as the Charlotte Harbor Paddles, takes to the Burnt Store Boat Ramp each week to hone their skills and practice for both local and national competition.

The sport, which sees both male and females partake, involves racing a thin, crew-style boat using individual paddles rather than connected oars.

CCDBC is dedicated to expanding access to the sport throughout the region, as unlike many other metropolitan areas across the country, there are limited opportunities for dragon boat enthusiasts locally. The club aims to collaborate with nearby organizations and government bodies to introduce dragon boat racing to people of all ages and abilities. Through accessible public programs, CCDBC strives to create a truly inclusive environment where everyone can experience the joys of dragon boating.

“We’ve made our home Cape Coral, practicing off the Burnt Store ramp, going out to the Spreader Canal,” said CCDBC member Neil Price. “We’ve got a lot of Cape Coral paddlers on the team, and it just made sense to identify with the community.”

Price said the group would like to see this team grow in a couple of ways, one of which involved preliminary talks with the city to potentially bring from dragon boat youth programs online.

The group is all for bringing on younger members, as the club only competes in senior racing at the moment. Though their track record is one of great success. In 2014, the club established an elite senior mixed 10-person team, the “Rogue Dragons.” The team not only competed internationally at the 2015 Pan American Club Crew Championship held in Canada, but also secured medals. The Rogues’ winning streak continued with victories at the Pan Am Club Crew Championships Senior Division in Puerto Rico (2017) and Tobago (2019). They further qualified for the Club Crew World Championships slated for France, in the spring of 2020, but was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Returning with renewed vigor, the Rogues claimed the U.S. National Championship (senior C division; 60-plus) title in 2021. Their journey culminated in a remarkable performance at the 2022 Club Crew World Championship, where they clinched a phenomenal combination of gold, silver, and bronze medals across three events. The club expanded its offerings in 2016 by forming Southwest Florida’s first all-women’s team, the Vogue Dragons. CCDBC frequently fields both Draggin’ Dragons and Vogue teams in various race events across Florida.

Just last weekend at the Sarasota Dragon Boat Festival, CCDBC came out on top.

“We’ve grown our team mostly by word-of-mouth, and we’re just trying to bring the sport to the forefront here in Southwest Florida,” Price said.

According to the International Dragon Boat Association, the sport boasts more than 90,000 participants in the United States and Canada alone, with a staggering figure of more than 300,000 across Europe. With origins dating back over 2,000 years to China, dragon boat racing has become a global phenomenon with tens of millions participating worldwide.

It’s also a great way to stay in shape while enjoying the beautiful surroundings of Southwest Florida.

“It does great things for you physically,” Price said. “It can be pretty intense. Emotionally and mentally, it’s dynamite, too. It’s a team sport where you can put a 110-pound, 60-year-old woman in front of a 200-pound younger guy, and they’ll both put maximum effort and power in perfect sequence and perfect timing and perfect teamwork. It’s pretty unique.

“It’s a strong team bond. Everything you do, you do as a team. A lot of team sports rely on individual performances, but in dragon boat racing, it’s how well you match and synchronize with the rest of the team.”

Make no mistake, dragon boaters are paddlers, not rowers. They also face in the opposite direction, towards the direction they’re moving, as those in the sport of crew. The club practices three times each week, running two boats (12-person; 22-person). Seasons usually run from late fall until late spring.

There are three different course lengths for completion: 200 meter, 500 meter, and 2,000 meter.

“Southwest Florida deserves a stronger presence in the dragon boat racing scene,” said Brad Erickson, President of CCDBC. “We welcome participants who want to elevate their physical fitness in a thrilling sport, all while enjoying the company of dolphins, manatees, and Florida’s diverse wildlife.”

Individuals and groups interested in learning more or trying out dragon boat racing can contact the club through the recruiting tab on its website at capecoraldbc.com. There is no cost to inquire or try out the sport, and necessary equipment is provided.