What is a Dragon Boat?
Dragon boats are long narrow boats that can vary in size from 12 to 37 metres (40 to 120 feet) with 20 to 48 paddlers per boat. Traditionally, the boat is made from teak and can weigh up to 590kg. The dragon head adorns the front of each vessel and the rear carries the tail. The crew consists of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a steersperson at the rear and a drummer who sits or stands at the head of the boat and beats out a paddling rhythm for the crew.
(Source: Montreal International Dragon Boat Race Festival)
Dragon Boat as a modern sport:
Dragon boat is among the fastest growing and largest water sports, with over 60 million participants in over 50 countries, and the largest festival racing events outside of Asia happening in Canada. As co-operation plays an important role in successful dragon boat racing crews, Dragonboating has also become a very popular corporate and charitable sport, during which friendship, strength and endurance are developed among the participants.