The Dragon Boat Festival is calling for an area in False Creek to be re-designated as a marine park following an incident during a race Saturday.
During the final 2,000-metre race, fourteen teams were travelling through the course when a large charter yacht veered towards the boats.
“A private boat came out, part of a charter company, and crossed the course. When our race marshal asked this boat operator to please move out of the way he didn’t want to,” said Anita Webster, communications manager for the dragon boat festival.
The festival has started a petition to re-classify the area to prevent future similar issues.
“We would like this area to be re-designated as a marine park, and that way it would be safe for everybody and we could run our race and other people could do their activities unencumbered by these safety concerns,” she said.
Webster said all vessels should follow the rules of the waterway including giving self-powered vessels leeway over motorized vessels.
Festival organizers have filed a complaint with the Vancouver Police Department and Transport Canada.
