Boating Information
Enjoying the Fun of Safe Boating
Dragon boating isn't something that a lot of people in the United States are familiar with. That is, unless you are of Asian descent. Then you probably know exactly what dragon boating is.
A dragon boat is a long, narrow, human powered boat used in the paddling sport of dragon boat racing which originated in China. Many people think that dragon boating was the pre-cursor of the Ivy League rowing teams. For racing events, the boats are usually outfitted with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails. A large drum is required to be carried on board to keep the oarsmen in time with each other.
Dragon boat races are traditional held to commemorate the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese patriotic poet. Dragon boating is the only sport that is celebrated as a national holiday. The Chinese calendar date is 5/5 which usually corresponds to a date falling sometime in June.
The standard crew of a dragon is 22 - 20 paddlers in pairs facing toward the bow of the boat, 1 drummer or caller at the bow facing toward the paddler, and 1 steersman at the rear of the boat. For races, it is common to have just 18 paddlers. Dragon boats do vary in length and crew size.
The drummer is at the heart of dragon boating. He is responsible for leading the crew throughout the race with a rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the frequency of the paddling strokes. The drummer, or caller, can pick up the pace by drumming faster or slow down the pace by drumming slower. He generally will match his beat with the pace of the front few oarsmen.
Modern dragon boating is organized at an international level by the International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF). The IDBT recognizes two types of dragon boat racing activities: sport racing and festival racing. The latter type of racing is more in keeping with traditional dragon boating.
There are also some very long endurance events such as the Three Gorges Dam Rally along the Yangtze River in China which covers up to 100 kilometers. The Ord River marathon in Australia covers over 50 kilometers and is another endurance event endorsed by the IDBF.
Today, dragon boating is among the fastest growing of team water sports with tens of thousands of participants in organizations and clubs in 60 countries. The sport is recognized for the camaraderie, strength, and endurance fostered among participants. It has also become a very popular corporate and charitable sport.
Dragon boating isn't just an Asian sport. It has grown in popularity in North America as well. It has a long, rich history and is a beautiful sport to watch. Dragon boating embraces the Asian traditions and brings them into the modern world in a whole new way!
| Victor man dies in boating accident - Teton Valley News Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:33:00 GMT ... fishing guide Rob Merrill this morning, after his boat overturned on the Snake River near Swan Valley yesterday. The search ... County Sheriff's Office said three people in a drift boat going down the river got ... | ||
| FWC officer seriously injured in weekend boating accident - Gainesville Sun Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:12:00 GMT Billy Giles, 34, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officer, received injuries that were not considered life-threatening in the accident on the Santa Fe River. According to the Gilchrist County Sheriff's ... | ||
| Soldier drowns in Germany boating incident - Army Times Sun, 29 Aug 2010 13:42:00 GMT BERLIN — NATO’s training school in southern Germany said Sunday that a 39-year-old U.S. soldier has died in a rafting accident. The NATO School said that the soldier, who worked for NATO, drowned in the Ammer River ... | ||
| Brooklyn Park man hurt in boating accident - St. Cloud Times Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:33:00 GMT ZIMMERMAN — A Brooklyn Park man was injured Sunday in what the Sherburne County sheriff's office is calling a boating accident. The incident happened about 6:50 p.m. at Lake Fremont near Zimmerman. Deputies found Brock ... | ||
| Boating OK again at polluted Grand Lake St. Marys - Lancaster Eagle Gazette.com Sat, 28 Aug 2010 10:51:00 GMT ST. MARYS -- Toxins from algae are at lower levels on Ohio's largest inland lake, allowing officials to declare it safe for boating again. However, agencies say people still should avoid direct contact with ... |