Dragon Boat
Dragon Boat Racing is a competitive sport. A dragon boat team consists of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, plus a sweep that steers the Dragon Boat from the rear and a drummer who sits at the front beating time. The team of paddlers work in unison to propel the boat forwards from a standing start, the aim being to reach the finish line (usually between 250 and 1000 metres away), in the fastest time. Generally a race consists of between four to six boats depending on the width of the circuit.
In Melbourne, the race distance is 500 metres with up to four boats competing at a time. Teams can comprise all men, all women or mixed crews containing equal numbers of both men and women, or a mixed crew there is a minimum requirement of seven women in the boat either as a paddler, sweep or drummer and failure to meet this requirement will result in competing against the all men teams.
During races a minimum crew of 16 paddlers is required, a maximum of 20. There must always be a sweep and a drummer. Timing, strength and endurance are three key elements to a successful team, the fourth and most critical is that of teamwork. CYSM was amongst the first teams in Melbourne to participate in the Melbourne Dragon Boat Festival during the 1980’s.
The CYSM Sea Dragons train all year in preparation for the Melbourne International Dragon Boat Festival.
http://www.dragonboatsvictoria.com.au/festival.html
