Saturday, October 1, 2005. 6:15AM, Schuylkill River, looking towards Strawberry Mansion Bridge.

Arturo shows us how early morning recovery is done.

It's dark, but we've got coffee. That's all that matters.

After two hours of standing around in the dark drinking coffee, you get pictures like this one.

Coach Chris. He's smiling. We haven't screwed up the Pharma Race yet.

Vikki: "Hey Beth, what's a six-letter word for someone who shouldn't be there?"

Beth: "Ringer?"

J.R. Hildreth and Joey Kenney

Lou!

Lynnee and Jack try to stay warm. Where's the sun?

Nanette suggested we have a caption contest for this one.

Unable to come up with a caption, Nanette ran over and got into this picture with Patrick and Margo.

Billy - Official Steerperson and Motivational Consultant to the Wyeth Wyverns. Does he look like someone you don't want to listen to?

Pre-race waiting in the roster area. Lynnee reminds us which way we'll be going once we're in the water.

Dragon Boats from Great White North wait for their engines. That'd be us.

Loading up the boat before the Pharmaceutical Cup race.

Leaving the docks for the Pharma cup race.

We're under Billy's command now, heading away from the docks.

Off to the starting docks for the Pharmaceutical Cup Race.

The start of the Pharmaceutical Cup Race!

We're working to recover from our rough start...

...slowly making progress to the lead, and never looking back.

Pharma Race Finish Line: Billy was right. We had a boat length!

Happy boat - we won the Pharma cup! Well, at least, we thought we had.

Ah, such short-lived, happy times!

Paddles up - full boat shot!

Yeah!

Whoo-hoo!

One race down, two more to go.

Joey Kenney and Dave Lehman discuss wotdahell happened in the Pharma race.

There are a lot of people at the festival.

Between races, everyone gets a long time to hang out and just soak up some rays.

Once the sun is out, everybody chills.

The first of the "A" Semi-Final races. We're in Lane 5 hanging close with Steel City Dragons and D.C. Dragons.

"A" Semi-Final, 200 Meters.

"A" Semi-Final - we're head-to-head with D.C. Dragons, while Steel City takes off in the foreground.

Nice shot of the field in the "A" Semi.

"What do you mean we have to do it again?"

Nobody's smiling now.

A lot of drooped heads in the boat. This was a tough moment for all of us.

Semi-Final "A", Take 2.

If you thought race 1 for the "A" Semi was close...

...we decided to put on an even better show in Race 2.

Steel City Dragons lead us, and D.C. Dragons.

The classic "wedge" of boats in seed order.

Cruising towards the line in "A" Semi-Final, race 2.

The wedge expands...but we're right where we need to be.

We're second by a half-boat to Steel City, and just a nose ahead of D.C. Dragons.

Closer shot of the Wyeth Wyverns in the "A" Demi-Semi Final.

The timing looks pretty good for the end of 1000M of racing in 10 minutes!

"Thank GOD that's over..."

"Yeah! See you guys in the Grand Final!"

"Whew!"

Heading back to the docks, hoping there won't be a surprise third race...

Once again, Arturo shows us how recovery should be done.

Seymour, on the other hand, prefers to tan while recovering.

"No pictures!" Dogs hate paparazzi.

Duck: "You lookin 'at me, furry boy?"

Cezanne: "Come up here and say that my face, feather butt!"

The "Psych Sheet" Bill Donnelly maintains all day so we know exactly where we stand. Note revised result of Pharma Race. Son of a...

GRAND FINAL START! 118 boats started, and now 9 will settle it here. We're in Lane 3, getting the early lead.

"A" Final, 200 meters in. Now I know why Vikki was screaming so much. If I knew it was this close with everyone, I would have lost my mind.

"REACH! REACH!" Vikki gives it to us, while Main Line tries to close in.

"REACH! BURY!" The Main Line drummer sees it - they need a seat!

"A" Final - 100 Meters to go. The ducks run for cover. Main Line still needs a seat. GSK is right there in lane 4.

"A" Final - 50 meters to go. Vikki gives Main Line one last look...they still need a seat!

The last meters of the "A" Final - almost there...!

REACH! REACH! REACH! REACH!

WYVERNS WIN! WYVERNS WIN!

GOLD IS THE COLOR OF THE SUN, AND THAT'S US!!!

PADDLES UP, AS CHAMPIONS! YEAH!

YEAH! WE REALLY DID IT!

Dave shows us the hardware.

Carlos' son makes sure Dad gets his Gold.

Everybody got a hug from Carol Lee.

Arturo shares the moment!

That's my mom, and me, the GOLD.

"Did this really just happen? Is this really ours?"

WYETH WYVERNS - 2005 PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL CHAMPIONS!

PADDLES UP, TEAM. WE DID IT!

The Blade that led to the Bling.