Entries about dragon boats

In a bid to get away from the tourist route, I wanted to see the 2015 National Championships - Dragon Boat Racing, held at Champion Lakes.

The $37 million Champion Lakes Regatta Centre is a world-class venue for rowing, canoeing, dragon boating, triathlon events and other national and international water sport competitions.

With a 55 hectare lake, 2000 metre international standard rowing course, warm up lake, boat shed, storage area and clubhouse, the centre is home to a number of sporting groups and hosts national and international competitions.
Since opening in April 2007, the centre has hosted Dragon Boat, Kayaking, Rowing and Radio Sailing National Championships as well as State Championships in Rowing, Kayaking, Outrigger Canoes, and Radio Sailing/

A dragon boat is a human-powered watercraft. They were traditionally made in the Pearl River Delta region of China's southern Guangdong Province out of teak wood (mostly imported from Pontianak, Indonesia) to various designs and sizes. Currently, boats are being made for competitive purposes out of carbon fiber and other lightweight materials.

Dragon boats are the basis of the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing, a watersport which has its roots in an ancient folk ritual of contending villagers. While competition has taken place annually for more than 20 centuries as part of religious ceremonies and folk customs, dragon boat racing has emerged in modern times as an international sport, beginning in Hong Kong in 1976.

For competition events, dragon boats are generally rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails. At other times (such as during training), decorative regalia is usually removed, although the drum often remains aboard for drummers to practice.
The majorifty of the races were 500m. The teams headed up to the start line,

and raced back following their team beating drum to the finish line

there were up to 8 boats racing at any one time, and the other team members were on shore to cheer them on

or maybe gain some tactics from the other teams

When the race was one, the winners were cheered by the other teams

later in the day, the races changed to a 2km distance with a staggered timed start

It involved going round the course twice, so cornering was vital!
A great sport to watch on a sunny day

regardless of this very Australian sign!