Day Trips
Intro to Dragon Boat Racing

Learn to race a dragon boat!

Ready for something NEW? Join us and the New York Wall Street Dragons for a fun day on the water! During this introductory session, we will learn paddling fundamentals, run through paddling drills, have a one-boat tug of war and race different distances.

Dragon boat racing has been practiced for 2,000 years—one of mankind’s oldest organized competitions. It requires stamina, dexterity and commitment. But it is also a fun, easy to learn activity. Dragon boating is a great means for team building, getting fit or just having fun in the water. A Hong Kong dragon boat is a slim, 39-foot long, teak wood racer with a dragon’s head at the prow and a tail at the stern. Decorated in traditional Chinese colors, it seats a crew of 18-20 paddlers, a helmsperson, and sitting by the dragon’s head at the front of the boat, the drummer sets the pace. Timing is extremely crucial.

Teams race along a straight course in an assigned lane varying from 250 - 1,000 meters with an average time of one to six minutes. The goal is to generate enough speed to cause the boat rise high and smooth above the water by a cresting wave beneath the bow. Typically, a seasoned dragon boat crew will have a rate of 70-80 strokes per minute and can travel over the water at 3-4 meters per second.

Boats, drummer, steerer/coach, life jackets and paddles included.

History of Dragon Boat Racing

The Cultural heritage and religious beliefs of Dragon Boat racing dates back to an ancient legend more than 2,000 years ago honoring the memory of Qu Yuan, a poet and court minister. Loved by the people, but disliked by the emperor for advocating reforms, he was banished from the court. In exile, he wandered the countryside writing poetry about his concern for his country and people until he ultimately drowned himself in the Mi Lo River.
Legend has it that local fisherman raced out to the river to try to save him, but unfortunately failed. To prevent his body from being eaten by fish, they beat the water furiously with their paddles. When they were unable to find Qu Yuan, they threw rice dumplings, wrapped in silk, into the water as a sacrifices to the spirit. Since then, every year on the fifth day of the fifth month, teams of paddlers re-enact that frantic rush to save Qu Yuan. Powering long, narrow boats with the ferocious heads of the dragons mounted on the prow through the water to the frenzied, rhythmic beating of drums at the Tuen Ng (Dragon Boat) Festival in Hong Kong, also known as Poet’s Day. It is not known how the dragon boat prow came into being, but it is thought that, over the years, the fierce-looking boat-heads were added to ward off evil water spirits.

The drummer or callers may be considered the “heartbeat” of the dragon boat, and leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the timing and frequency of paddling strokes (that is, the cadence, picking up the pace, slowing the rate, etc.) The caller may issue commands to the crew through a combination of hand signals and voice calls, and also generally exhorts the crew to perform at their peak. A caller/drummer is mandatory during racing events, but if he or she is not present during training, it is typical for the sweep to direct the crew.

Event Details

• Start Time: 1:00 PM (please arrive by 12:50 for check-in). There is a snack bar above the pier serving burgers, fries & beer, etc. if you wish to come early to lunch.
• End Time: 3:30 PM
• Wear: Non-cotton clothing. Polypropylene/DriFit, etc., quick-dry pants and top; windbreaker or fleece if it is chilly. Shoes with tread that you don't mind getting wet. You will get wet!
• Bring: A mouse pad to sit on (seats have no padding), gloves, dry change of clothes, snack, water to drink, sunscreen, hat.
• Location: World Fair Marina - Pier 1, 125-00 Northern Blvd, Flushing, New York
• Directions: Take 7 train to ‘’Willets Point-Shea Stadium" stop. Walk past Citi stadium, along parking lot towards the highway (towards the black parking gates). Walk under the overpass (Van Wyck Expressway) and bear right to Pier 1. The group will meet here.
• Note: check Hopstop.com for exact subway travel times from your location. It is about a one hour trip from Manhattan.
• Paddles and PFD's (life jackets) will be provided for all participants.

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