Dragons Abreast Sunshine Coast

🩷 How do you put something like this into words?

We came to France to race dragon boats. But we leave with so much more.

It was about team bonding, belly laughs, hugs, happy tears and friendships strengthened. It was about connecting with incredible women from all over the world — sometimes without a shared language, but always with a shared understanding.

We raced for ourselves, but we were never really on our own. When we needed an extra paddler (or 6), women from other clubs jumped straight into our boat. We cheered for other crews, celebrated their victories and shared in something much bigger than any one team or race result.

On the water and off, we were simply one dragon boat family. 🐉🩷

Our suitcases are heading home heavier — filled with swapped pins, shirts, hats and treasures from around the world.

But the things that matter most won’t take up any room in our suitcases.

The friendships.
The laughter.
The courage.
The connection.
The memories.

Those will stay with us for a lifetime. 🩷

We came here as Coastal Breast Friends.

We leave as part of a worldwide family. 🩷🐉🌏

Thank you, IBCPC 2026. These memories will last a lifetime 🇫🇷

🌏🐉 WHAT AN OPENING! 🇦🇺💗

The IBCPC Festival is officially underway — and what an incredible way to begin!

The Opening Ceremony had all the feels, starting with a spectacular Parade of Nations - a little like the Olympics, only more pink and a whole lot of dragon boat spirit! 🐉💗

There were flags flying, a fabulous dragon dance, a parade of dragon boats and, everywhere you looked, cheers, hugs, support and love. Thousands of breast cancer paddlers and supporters from around the world, all together in one very special place. 🌍

Our Glamma Galahs weren’t going to parade quietly! 🦩🇦🇺🎶

We treated the crowd to a very Australian soundtrack, with enthusiastic renditions of We Are Australian, Waltzing Matilda and I Still Call Australia Home. Were we always perfectly in tune? That’s probably not the important question. 😂 What we lacked in musical precision, we more than made up for in Aussie spirit!

There was something pretty special about walking together, singing those songs, surrounded by paddlers from across the globe and representing our little corner of Australia. 🇦🇺💗

The festival has begun… and the Glamma Galahs have officially landed! 🦩🐉

Bring on the racing! 💪💗🇦🇺

🩷 DAY ONE AT IBCPC — AND THE GLAMMA GALAHS HAVE LANDED! 🇫🇷🐉

What a way to kick off our IBCPC adventure in Aix-les-Bains!

Today the Coastal Breast Friends (including a big contingent from Sunshine Coast Dragons Abreast) had our very first paddle on the absolutely stunning Lac du Bourget — surrounded by mountains, sunshine and our pink sisters from around the world. 💕🌍

What was meant to be a training paddle somehow turned into an unexpected mini race with crews from New Zealand and Canada. 😂 Apparently you can take the paddlers out for training… but you can’t take the competitive spirit out of the paddlers! 🐉💨

And just as importantly… our GLAMMA GALAH shirts made their international debut — and they were a HIT! 🦩✨ A little bit cheeky, a little bit glam and very, very Australian.

The lake is beautiful, the atmosphere is incredible, and this is only Day One.

We have a feeling this is going to be one very special week. 🩷

Coastal Breast Friends have arrived! 🇦🇺🇫🇷

🇫🇷🥐 Ooh la la… the countdown is ON! 🐉💗

Just 16 days until the IBCPC Festival kicks off in Aix-les-Bains, France, and things are getting très serious at Mavericks HQ…

🇫🇷 French-themed training with a baguette relay, escargot race, ch*****ne sprints and a Tour de France challenge ✔️
🥐 Ridiculously delicious French morning tea - profiteroles, palmiers, madeleines, quiche, croissants, cheese and more✔️
🧳 Bags starting to be packed ✔️
🤔 Wondering how many team shirts, Aussie goodies and other “essentials” one suitcase can hold ✔️😂

We paddled, we laughed, we practised our bonjour and au revoir, and then rewarded all that hard work with plenty of delicious treats. Apparently carb loading starts 16 days out. Who knew? 🥐🤣

The excitement is building, the countdown is getting very real, and before we know it, SCDA Mavericks will be France-bound! 🇦🇺✈️🇫🇷

16 DAYS TO GO! allez allez allez!

Aix-les-Bains… you have been warned! 😂🐉💕

🎸🤘 TIN CAN BAY: WE CAME. WE PADDLED. WE ROCKED. 🤘🎸

Officially, we went to Tin Can Bay for a dragon boat regatta. Unofficially… we may have been there for the dress-up competition. 😂 And what a weekend the SCDA Mavericks had!

Day 1

🥈 2nd – Diamond Dash
A race involving speed, sharp turns and a fair amount of hanging on while Audra and Lawrence worked their legendary sweeping magic at the back of the boats. Congrats to our two crews "Sunrise" and "Sunset" for giving it everything! 👏🐉

Day 2

The wigs came out.
The tattoos went on.
The leather appeared.
The paddles became guitars.
And things escalated quickly. 🎸😎

Our ROCK THE BOAT crew committed HARD. Big hair. Bigger attitude. Air guitars. Rock-star poses. Tattoos in places tattoos probably shouldn't be. And approximately zero embarrassment.

🥇 1st – Breast Cancer Division 💗
Strong. Together. And VERY happy paddlers crossing that finish line.

🏆 BEST DRESSED TEAM — FIRST PLACE! 🏆

For the THIRD. YEAR. IN. A. ROW.

At this point, we're starting to think we may have accidentally become a dress-up club with a dragon boating problem. 😂

Of course we love racing. We love pushing ourselves, racing hard and seeing what we can achieve together.

But we also love the road trips, the shared accommodation, the team dinners, the ridiculous ideas that somehow become even more ridiculous once 30+ Mavericks get involved, the uncontrollable laughter, the cheering, the friendships and the stories that will be retold for a very long time.

Because somewhere between getting into a dragon boat together and dressing like an ageing 80s rock band, something pretty special happens.

You become a team. 💗

Thank you Tin Can Bay for another brilliant weekend. You were AWESOME.

We came.
We raced.
We rocked.

And yes… we're already planning what we're going to wear next year. 😏😂

🤘🎸🐉 ROCK THE BOAT, SCDA MAVERICKS! 🐉🎸🤘

🇫🇷🐉 88 DAYS TO GO! 🐉🇫🇷

Today the Coastal Breast Friends crew swapped countdown calendars for paddles as we came together on the beautiful Maroochy River for a training paddle and morning tea.

With paddlers from clubs across Queensland joining forces for the IBCPC Festival in the French Alps, every paddle brings us one step closer to the adventure of a lifetime.

There were plenty of smiles, plenty of laughs, a few discussions about packing (already!), and just enough hard work on the water! 🚣‍♀️💪

The countdown is officially on…

🇫🇷 88 days
💜 One unforgettable adventure

France, we’re coming for you!

It wasn’t just 33km of paddling … it was 33km of magical moments. ✨🐉

Morning tea tucked into the mangroves.

The Glasshouse Mountains showing off in the distance.

Spotting a sea turtle popping up beside the boat. 🐢

Turning our dragon boat into a floating disco party thanks to the onboard DJ (although clearly we now need a glitter ball 🪩😂).

Somewhere between the laughter, snacks and paddle strokes, there were chats about upcoming adventures too — France for the IBCPC festival and Monster the Loch in Scotland. Because apparently paddling 33km wasn’t enough craziness for this crew. 😉

And then finishing the “race” rafted up with our DAA sisters … the smiles went for miles as we crossed the finish line together.

These are the moments that stay with you long after the sore muscles fade — friendship, connection, shared adventures and the simple joy of being out on the water together.

What a day. 💙💜💗💛