About Dragon Boat Racing


	NAVMAT at Chinese New Year Regatta Darling Harbour February 2006

Dragon Boat racing is an aquatic sport with an ancient history. It is said to have originated in China over 2000 years ago. The Dragon Boat Festival is commonly believed to commemorate the tragic death of the Chinese statesman/poet Qu Yuan (pronounced 'Choo Wan'), who drowned himself in the third century BC.

Click here to find out more about the history of dragon boating.

In Australia the modern Dragon Boat is a canoe like boat that is approximately 12 metres long and large enough to sit 20 paddlers in pairs along 10 benches. At the back stands the 'Sweep' to steer the boat using a large oar and at the front facing the paddlers is the 'Drummer' who strikes a drum in time to the paddling rate.

Typically in Australia Dragon Boat races are conducted over distances ranging from 200 to 1000 metres.

During races a Dragon Boat will feature the head and tail of a dragon, a mythological creature regarded by the Chinese as having dominion over the water and exercising control over rainfall. The dragon is one of the 12 animals in the Chinese Zodiac and the only mythical creature.

For more information see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dragon_boat

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