On Sunday, July 12, the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce held its annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Races at the Jude Thaddeus Glen Cove Marina. This year the Races were part of "Americas Sail '98" events. The Races involve 2 forty-foot wooden canoes each manned by a team of 20. Each race covers a distance of about 500 meters. There were 10 teams this year in the competition and about 500 spectators (including 200 team members). The teams were: East Meadow Fire Department, Erin/Edwards Communications, Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club, Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce, Photocircuits Corporation (2 teams), Senior Quarters at Glen Cove, the Libertad, Paddy's Paddlers, and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and the Boys and Girls Club teams and others helped to upright the boats which weigh about 2,000 pounds each! It was a cooperative and enthusiastic effort to say the least. The final heats were held among the top 4 teams who paddled the best racing times. The 2 finalists were the Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club and the Libertad. The Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club won the overall race (first place) and the crew of the Libertad placed second.

But what followed was a beautiful ceremony of Brotherhood! Each of the members of the Glen Cove Boys and Girls Club placed a silver second place medal on each of the Libertad racing team. Then the crew of The Libertad placed a gold first place medal on each of the members of the Boys and Girls Club. The members of the Libertad spoke only Spanish and literally "hugged" the members of the Boys and Girls Club Team who spoke only English. The Libertad crew sang and shouted cheers in Spanish to the winning team. The crew of the Boys and Girls team did the same in English to the Libertad sailors. It was a sight to behold and one which the spectators will not soon forget. Good will, excitement, love and brotherhood prevailed at these Dragon Boat Races. Three cheers for the Glen Cove Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this glorious event!