Team Competes Blindfolded In Key's Dragon Boat Challenge

MARATHON – In a show of "yes you can" solidarity for their visually impaired Canadian teammates, sighted members of Conch Republic Navy team donned blindfolds and won the Gift of Life Challenge race with their Vancouver counterparts during Saturday's Battle in the Bay Dragon Boat Festival in Marathon.

Dragon boat racing involves 20 paddlers moving in unison -- a combination of strength and teamwork attracting men and women of all ages and abilities with a competitive spirit and the ability to work together.

To enhance mental concentration over visual focus, the boat's drummer called the count rather than beating a traditional drum, making it easier for the paddlers to simultaneously feel the rhythm of the boat. The Vancouver-based team, which has five visually impaired members, is dubbed "Eye of the Dragon."

Nearly 20 teams competed during Saturday's event, a unique direct-from-the-beach launch for sleek, 40-foot-long race boats whose elaborate designs originated in ancient China.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Florida Keys News Bureau contributed to this report.)