Prices are in USD and do not include applicable tax (7% Sales tax).

Payment Methods
We accept Visa, Mastercard or Check.

Please note: Effective January 2026, a 3% surcharge applies to all credit card payments. No surcharge applies to non-credit card payment methods.

Introducing Event Guard
Offers your team peace of mind against the unknown. The rate for this event is $95 USD plus applicable taxes and must be purchased when registering your team for the event.
Cancellation or Postponement: If the event is cancelled or postponed more than 12 hours in advance of the scheduled first race, receive a full refund.
Cancel for Any Reason: Cancel anytime up to 30 days in advance of the event for any reason and receive a full refund.

Registration Process for tax-exempt teams
Register your team, choose the “check” option on the payment page. Please email your valid tax-exemption certificate to info@gwnevents.com along with the invoice number and method of payment (check or credit card). GWN will send you an invoice without taxes, if paying by credit card, an authorization form will be sent.

For more information (i.e. refund policy, multi-event discount, etc), please visit our FAQ page.

Racing Divisions / Races

• At least 3 teams must be registered in a division. Any division with less than 3 teams registered will be amalgamated into the next closest racing division offered.
• *Sport 200M distance: Time-permitting, teams will receive up to two (2) 200m races.
• **Sport 2K distance: Time-permitting, only the top teams in each division will qualify for the 2K. Due to scheduling and time constraints, only 3 2K races will be offered. The number of top teams in each division will be determined by the sizes of each division.
• To ensure races run smoothly, smaller divisions may be combined in heats but will race independently of each other.

Community Division vs Sport Division
A community team is considered to be a team that competes in less than 3 festivals in a season. Contact GWN if your team should be granted an exception.

Registration Add-Ons
Each team registered at the festival will get a 20 x 20 team site (footprint, not tent rental) within the Athletes’ Village. Teams have the option to bring their own tent or rent one from GWN. In addition to tents, chairs and tables are also available. For more information, please refer to the “Athletes’ Village” tab below. Teams may also order practice sessions, please refer to the “Practice” tab below.

Please note teams bringing their own tents – Nathan Benderson Park’s requirements state that if a team opts to bring their own tents, each tent may not be larger than a 10×10 tent. Teams may bring multiple 10×10 tents to erect to provide themselves with additional coverage.

Address
The event will take place at Nathan Benderson Park at 5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota, FL 34235.

Site Map
The 2026 site map will be posted 1 week before event day.

Park Rules
We’re committed to creating a safe, comfortable, and enjoyable experience for participants and spectators. Before heading out to the races, there are some things you should know:

• BBQs and other cooking equipment are not permitted on-site.
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at the venue.
• Dogs are permitted on-site but must be on a leash (at least 6ft) at all times.

Teams are responsible for picking up their waste within their team sites.  In addition to handing out waste bags during team check-in, there will be wastebaskets located throughout the Athletes’ Village to maintain the venue’s cleanliness. Let’s all work together to keep the site clean and green.

Race Schedule
The 2026 schedule will be posted on Monday, April 13.

For Points System and Ranking, click here.

For 2K Rules of Racing, click here.

Racing Divisions
At least 3 teams must be registered in a division. Any division with less than 3 teams registered will be amalgamated into the next closest racing division offered. 

To ensure races run smoothly, smaller divisions may be combined in heats but will race independently of each other.

Race Marshalling
Marshalling for races will begin promptly half an hour before the first race of the day. Teams must be in the Marshalling area 30 minutes before their scheduled race throughout the day.

Race Day Check-In
Every Team Captain must check-in their team at Race Headquarters on race day. Registration will be open from approximately 6:30AM to 9:30AM. All waivers must be completed prior to check-in. Please visit the FAQ section for more information on how to check in on race day.

For a speedy check-in, ensure that all waivers for your team are completed. The electronic waiver deadline is 11:59AM EST on Wednesday, April 15th. After this, only paper copies will be accepted.

Team Captain’s Meeting
There will be a Team Captain’s meeting on Saturday morning in front of the Marshalling Area to discuss race day rules and address any questions, 1 hour prior to racing.

Industry Cup Races
First-place teams will receive a trophy and gold medals.

Consolation Finals
First-place teams will receive a trophy and gold medals.

Grand Finals
Third and second-place teams will receive bronze and silver medals, respectively. First-place teams will receive a trophy and gold medals.

Awards Ceremonies
Ceremonies will take place after each Industry Cup, Consolation Race, and Grand Final Race. GWN Staff will gather the winning teams as they come off the water and will be directed to the Awards Area.

Awards Photo Wall
Winning teams are invited to capture the moment on race day at our featured MLDB photo wall, thanks to Showtime Photo Booth. Their memorable setups will add a fun, celebratory touch as you commemorate your race experience.

TBA

Marketplace:

• Bath Fitter
• Dragon Saddles
• Pure Lotus Organics
• Sol Soaps
• The Monkey Brand

Health and Wellness: 

• Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute

Food Trucks: 

• 2026 TBA

Interested in being a vendor? Email us at sales@gwnevents.com to find out more.

Nathan Benderson Park’s gates will open at 6AM. Ample on-site parking is available. The cost is $15* per car.

*Rate subject to change, based on Nathan Benderson Park’s discretion.

Looking to have some fun on the docks? GWN is always looking for fantastic volunteers.

As a volunteer, you’ll have the opportunity to be a part of the exciting and fast-paced action that is dragon boat racing. You’ll also get to experience the energy and excitement of the festival event atmosphere and be a part of a vibrant community of dragon boat enthusiasts. Volunteers will be needed to help with various tasks in ensuring the safety and smooth operations of the event through the various outlined tasks:

• Boat Marshalls: Will be on the dock assisting paddlers with getting in and out of the boats. This position should be filled by people who are comfortable around the water.
• Results Runners: Will be posting the results from the Timing Officials at the Registration Headquarters. This position requires neat handwriting.
• Team Marshalls: Will assist the Marshalling Manager in ensuring that all teams are ready to load into boats at the correct time to maintain smooth running of the races.
• Crowd Control: Will ensure one-way flow traffic from the Marshalling Area after boats are unloaded.

If you would like to volunteer, we can promise some food, drinks, a really cool shirt, and community service hours (if applicable), so please complete this Volunteer Form to join our team! To get more info or ask any questions, feel free to send us an email at volunteers@gwnevents.com.