Coach Peter van de Castle christens the new blue boat with champagne
Monday, June 5, 2023, was a HUGE day for the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club. Our new boat arrived!
We couldn’t have hit this milestone in our history without our supporters. Your donations are being put to good use, providing us with hope and strength.
Before launching the new blue boat, Coach Peter Van de Castle christened it with champagne. We also held a blessing ceremony led by Eric Holle, one of our founding members.
Heavenly father,
We stand before you today with a proud but humble heart to beg your grace may be upon this vessel — and to all who paddle them, work on them, see them, think of them, and love them.
It is our most fervent desire that all may know and appreciate what our goals are when gliding elegantly through your most beautiful kingdom.
We are 22 souls who join in unison with our brothers and sisters to guide this boat to an agreed-upon end as quickly as possible. Only by loving and trusting in each other can we achieve this goal. Whenever we are in these boats, we learn that we must “love thy neighbor as ourselves” and trust and work in unison with our neighbors if we want to bring home the bling.
We also know it is only by Your grace that we are given this opportunity.
We will always endeavor to remember the love and lessons of those whom You have called home before us, for they, too, are always with us as we paddle.
And lastly, we ask that we may be guided by you and accept our endeavors for all your children who are in need of joy, fellowship, a willing ear, and sound advice as they pass through this race of life here on earth.
And that we may earn a seat on your dragon boat in heaven at the end of our race here on earth.
Amen
Our old red boat is being repaired and donated to a new club that has just started. We clearly remember how much work it took to form the Annapolis Dragon Boat Club in 2010, and it feels great to be able to pay it forward.
