What is Dragon boating?

Dragon boat racing is a traditional Chinese sport which has grown in popularity over the last 30 years, being practised now in over 60 countries around the world. There are nearly 50 million participants in China; and hundreds of thousands across Europe, Canada, the USA, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere. The International Dragon Boat Federation is the sport’s worldwide governing body, and sets down the rules, regulations and policies under which affiliated clubs operate.

A dragon boat is a 22-person boat, with twenty paddlers, a helm at the back and drummer at the front. The paddlers use short paddles (like Canadian canoes seen on Hawaii5 O). It is a very inclusive sport – friendly but competitive at race times. With 20 paddlers, it is easy for a new person to give it a go. Unlike rowing, if you pull your paddle in to rest, it will not affect the flow of the boat. Dragon boating also has huge health benefits and allows people with varying levels of ability to take part simultaneously.

There are currently only two teams in Dublin and both paddle on the Grand Canal Dock: The Plurabelles, a breast cancer survivor team, and our club, The Dublin Vikings, an open club.