YMCA DRAGONS ON THE LAKE
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TEAM INFORMATION

Dragon Boat Racing has rapidly gained popularity as the 8th fastest growing sport in the world. The growth stems from participation of various groups and corporations using it as an opportunity to build their internal teams. Teams bring their best to become Grand Champion for the most unique, fun and unforgettable experience! ​
Team Info
  • Team Captains and/or Co-Captains lead the team effort and informs team members.
  • Teams race with 20 paddlers, a drummer and steerer (provided). Teams may have 4 alternates, for a total of 25 team members, or can race with minimum of 16. Must have at least 8 female paddlers. Minimum age for adult teams is 15, with parental signature.
  • Race management provides dragon boats for each team. They are stable and safe.
  • Each team gets an on-water practice session with registration.
  • Each team races on Saturday, September 24, 2022 – two times, with top teams racing in a Final round.
  • Races are 200 meters – about two football fields, which will take just over a minute at full speed.
  • Practices and racing will NOT be canceled or postponed due to rain.
  • Your team should bring a tent, if desired, competitive spirit, water, food, tent decorations, etc. It’s a company picnic, community & cultural festival and adrenaline-pumping racing action in one.
  • Awards & Medals for Gold, Silver & Bronze winners, and for divisional winners.
  • Almost anyone, regardless of size and fitness level, can paddle in a dragon boat race.
Boat Info
  • Dragon boats are about 46 feet long, 3.5 feet wide, and weigh about 550 pounds. The 20 paddlers are divided into left and right paddlers. The middle eight paddlers are the “engine room” for the boat. The drummer sits at the front of the boat facing the paddlers.
  • The steersman guides the boat from the rear position. The steersman is provided by race management.
  • The boat crew is broken into three sections, the front or strokers are the first six paddlers, the engine room is the middle eight paddlers and the back or turbo section is the last six paddlers.
  • Side to side and front to back weight distribution must be taken into consideration when setting up the boat. The lightest people should be seated in the front and the very back of the boat. The heaviest people should be placed in the middle.
  • The drummer is seated at the front of the boat and gets the cadence from the lead paddlers.  This is your lightest, sprite-est, loudest and most rhythmic person on your team.  
  • The front six paddlers are the main focal point of the boat. They set the initial stroke rate or pace which the rest of the team follows.
  • The middle eight or the “engine room” is usually reserved for the heavier, stronger paddlers. During the middle of the race the engine room dictates the pace.
  • The back six paddlers of the boat should be the strongest people on the boat, this is the “muscle” or turbo section of the boat.
  • Responsible for the safety of the team, our knowledgeable steersmen reserve the right to move paddlers around to improve the balance of the boat.
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From the moment you pick up the paddle, you’ll love dragon boat racing! You will feel connected to it and in turn, you will connect with us as we empower our community to thrive.​
The YMCA of Cumberland is a 501(C)-3 charitable organization
  • 2022 Results
  • Register Now
  • Information
    • Team Information
    • 2019 Results
    • 2021 Results
  • 2022 Teams
    • 2022 Pictures
  • Sponsorship
    • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Contact