DragonBoat Beaufort relocates 2026 race amid Waterfront Park closure. Here’s where, race changes
DragonBoat Beaufort is making waves — literally.
After calling Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park home for more than a decade, DragonBoat Beaufort is charting a new course to Port Royal for its 13th annual Race Day.
On June 27, 2026, DragonBoat paddlers will race behind Fishcamp and Shellring Ale Works at 809 Paris Avenue, bringing the excitement, splashes and cheers to a whole new stretch of local waterfront.
The change marks a new chapter for the festival — and a fresh new backdrop in Port Royal.
Why the move?
Construction and structural concerns at the Waterfront Park prompted its closure shortly after the 2025 Race Day, meaning the organization had to begin exploring alternatives.
With the promenade expected to remain closed for up to five years, organizers knew they had to find a solid solution.
According to event organizers Kaci Willis and Terri Ely-Wenrick, several locations were considered, including areas on Hilton Head. But holding the event during peak tourist season and ensuring accessibility for participants and spectators made that option impractical.
They also wanted to keep the event north of the Broad River. After seeing the success that the 2025 Beaufort Water Festival activities had in Port Royal, it sparked the idea that DragonBoat Beaufort could do the same.
A popular location, The Sands, however, proved unworkable from an operational standpoint.
“Our biggest priority is safety, and that location just didn’t work,” Willis explained.
But with some adjustments, the waters behind Fishcamp and Shellring Ale Works offered the necessary space and infrastructure to host an event this large and involved.
Willis confirmed that Fishcamp, Safe Harbor and Shellring Ale Works will serve as sponsors for the 2026 race, with additional sponsors still being finalized.
What’s changing for the 2026 races?
With a new location comes several Race Day adjustments. Some of the most notable include:
- Team count reduced: The number of teams will be cut from 28 to 21.
- Three-boat heats: Races will shift from four-boat heats to three-boat heats.
- Community teams: Community teams will have the boat size reduced from 20 paddlers to 16 paddlers, a change implemented this year for safety.
Organizers said a new racing website is also being built, with registration for the 2026 event expected to open at the beginning of April.
Despite the new layout, spectators can still expect a dramatic show as the long, narrow, 42-foot dragon boats — modeled after vessels dating back almost 2,000 years to China’s Guangdong Province — slice through Lowcountry waters.
A purpose behind the paddling
DragonBoat Beaufort is more than a fun summer boat race; it’s dedicated to supporting cancer patients who live in or receive treatment in Beaufort County, putting a purpose behind the paddling.
Through Race Day, the nonprofit organization raises tens of thousands of dollars each year to provide financial assistance for patients’ essential needs, whether it be electrical bills, groceries, a tank of gas or child care.
Families face enormous financial strain during treatment, often shifting from two incomes to one — or none at all.
“Cancer alone is a huge battle,” Willis said. “If we can help take some of the load off patients, that is what DragonBoat Beaufort is about.”
