PORTLAND, Oregon — Dragon boat paddlers who practice and race on the Willamette River are asking for authorities to crack down on boaters behaving badly. Their frustration arises from two recent incidents involving speedboats in no-wake zones that sent some paddlers into the water.
“What they're doing now is illegal,” said Jim Hensvark, a coach with the Wasabi Burn Paddling Club.
Hensvark said twice in one week, wakesurfing boats churned up waves in the no-wake zone and led to dragon boats capsizing, sending dozens of paddlers overboard.
“Terror,” said Hensvark. “Terror on their faces.”
The first incident happened July 20 near the Marquam Bridge. Hensvark said two dragon boats capsized and a third boat got swamped. He said some of the people thrown overboard have special needs, saying one person is non-verbal and several others, including Catherine Suchowij, are legally blind.
“That is terrifying for anyone,” said Suchowij. “But people who don't see well, it is especially scary.”
Suchowij lost her shoes during the incident. Other paddlers lost their keys, cell phones, wallets and even prescription glasses in the water. Suchowij said she remembers someone yelling at the people who caused the wave.
“‘Slow down! It's a no-wake zone, it's a no-tow zone, slow down!’” recalled Suchowij. “‘And they did not, and I could hear them laughing.’”
Five days later on July 25, there was another wake boarding incident. On that occasion, Hensvark said a dragon boat capsized near the Ross Island Bridge. Paddler Robin Allen wound up underneath the boat.
“That was scary being under the boat,” said Allen. “It could have hit me. One other guy had his head hit the other night."
Dragon boat racers are trying to get the word out about the dangers of not following the rules in no-wake zones.
“We are now on a mission,” said Suchowij, “that river safety laws are enforced.”
Multnomah County Sheriff's Office officials told KGW they're aware that some boaters don't always observe no-wake zones. They said marine deputies are out trying to enforce those restrictions as much as possible, and encourage people to report dangerous incidents.
“We're all trying to share a nice spot here,” said Allen. “But we do have to go by rules and regulations.”