PHOTOS: Dragon boats return to Victoria waters

Paddlers set off in a dragon boat Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)Paddlers set off in a dragon boat Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Paddlers celebrate a successful run Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)Paddlers celebrate a successful run Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Dragon boat paddlers sprint toward the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)Dragon boat paddlers sprint toward the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Dragon boaters race to the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)Dragon boaters race to the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Dragon boat paddlers sprint toward the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)Dragon boat paddlers sprint toward the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Paddlers return to dry land after a successful run Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)Paddlers return to dry land after a successful run Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Dragon boat paddlers sprint toward the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)Dragon boat paddlers sprint toward the finish line Saturday, Aug. 26 during the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Dragon boaters returned to the waters of Victoria once again as the Vancouver Island Dragon Boat Festival arrived for its second year.

Taking place Aug. 26 and 27, the event was hosted by the Fairway Gorge Paddling Club and featured dozens of teams from the Island, B.C., and beyond.

This year’s event saw a new pentathlon race format, where paddlers compete in a cumulative weekend of racing in 100-metre, 200-metre, 500-metre, 1,500-metre and flag relay events.

When paddlers weren’t warming up or sprinting various distances between the Bay Street Bridge and Selkirk Trestle, plenty of live entertainment and refreshments were on offer.

READ MORE: Pender Island listing has wow factor – and $20M price tag

PaddlingVictoria