Dragon Boat - The Relaunch

Dawn Erdinc
Mar 18, 2017
2 min read

After a long Winter of fixing up the Dragon Boat we got to see it relaunch into the sea a couple of days ago. What a fabulous experience it was too - on a gorgeous, clear, sunny March day in Turkey!

I have often driven through the dry dock in Karagözler, Fethiye when there has been a boat being maneuvered towards the sea. Usually I am sat in my car waiting for it to pass over the road so I can get on and continue my journey! But this was the first time I had the pleasure to stop, park up and partake in the experience first hand.

By the time I arrived, Dragon Boat had been rotated and moved out of it's Winter parking spot. There was a busy, energetic atmosphere with lots of men shouting and directing operations. I kept out of the way (Except to take some pictures of course!)

Dragon Boat looked HUGE as it started moving over the road and it was hard to believe the supports it was on would hold it. Of course they did. The extremely experienced men of the dockyard showed great teamwork and made sure all was handled perfectly.

Just as the job in hand seemed to get momentum and the excitement around us grew, everything stopped. A few worried looks and mumbles among the men and then a lot of fiddling with the supports - apparently Dragon boat was leaning to one side! Things were corrected and the boat was pulled to the shoreline using cables, planks of wood and what looked like a pair of giant wooden skis! Don't ask me what the correct terminology is for any of these things - I think it is clear I am not a yachtswoman!

So - myself and others were standing, cameras at the ready, just waiting for that final action which would relaunch Dragon boat into the sea! Then it was decided to stop for lunch. Turkish men do love their food! Everyone dispersed and I was able to join my husband Umit (And 20 other men) for a not so romantic lunch in the dockyard lokanta (small canteen)! However, it was delicious soup, kizartma (fried veg with tomato) and yogurt for less than £2. So stomachs full, cay (tea) drunk, cigarettes smoked and we were on our way again!

After what seemed like a long time of not a lot happening it was amazing to see how swiftly Dragon boat did relaunch into the sea. Very smooth with no problems. Although I did have my 3 year old son hanging on my leg shouting 'WAIT!' 'COME BACK!' 'MY BOAT!' bless him.

Then, as the Coca Cola and Baklava (Sweet pastries) were handed out to all the workmen and we thought it was all over - we heard the familiar tune of Dragon Boat's horn as it cruised away.

Just around the corner where there is more work to be done!