Wear comfortable clothing and foot wear that you are prepared to get wet. Bring a towel, a change of clothes, a cap, water bottle and wear sunscreen. We will provide you with a paddle and PFD. Most of all, come prepared to have a great time! Our Club offers 4 x free paddling session within a 28 day period. In addition we offer 10% discount on fees for two adults residing in the same household.
A Dragon Boat:
A standard dragon boat is 12.8 metres long (42 ft) accommodating twenty paddlers. There are ten 'bench' seats in a boat, each holding two paddlers. One on the left side the other on the right side. We also have a drummer at the front and a steerer or helm at the back. In total, there are twenty-two crew members in a standard boat. We also have a “small boat” with five benches accommodating ten paddlers, drummer and steerer/helm. Our dragon boat has an ornately carved head and tail. The “paddles” in action represent the claws of the dragon, the drum symbolises the heartbeat of the dragon whilst the helm controls the direction . A dip of the helm’s oar represents the flick of the dragon’s tail.
Fitness Levels:
Everyone has to start in the same place. If you have reasonable mobility, we train you in the skills of paddling. Even the fittest of individuals still need to be trained to paddle effectively, therefore everyone is treated equally. We cater for all ages and sizes, there is a seat for you. Every single dragon boat paddler started as a beginner. The beauty of our club is that we provide all the basic instruction whilst you get the feel for what you are doing then we progress to more technical instruction.
Qualified people in our Club:
We pride ourselves on having highly skilled, fully accredited coaches and sweeps; all are regularly re-assessed for competency. Our primary focus “safety for all on board” is paramount in our club’s mission statement.
Swimming Competency:
We are a water sport and conform to safe maritime practices. We need you to confirm that you are capable of swimming 100m. If not, you will be asked to wear a Personal Flotation Device (PFD). We do have capsize procedures and drills we can acquaint you with without having to purposely flip or swamp our boat. We work on a seat buddy system so you will never be alone on the boat or in the water. Our priority is to keep you safe and dry, in the boat!!
Competition Opportunities:
Our club caters for paddlers who would like to paddle for enjoyment, friendship and fitness, and those who would like to compete at State, National or International affiliated events. In addition, there are many dragon boat festivals with a cultural focus, many in exotic places. There is absolutely no pressure to do any more than you feel comfortable with. The opportunities are endless should you decide to take on a personal challenge for your own personal enjoyment and development.
Participation:
We participate in many local regattas held on Lake Kawana and other nearby venues. These are focussed on team building and bonding as a Club. If you register to paddle at one of these regattas, we guarantee you will get to paddle with your teammates and be supported all the way!
