Dragon Boats
Dragon boats are the largest flat-water racing canoes in the world. These traditional Hong Kong-style boats are decorated with dragon heads and tails. A crew of 20 paddlers, paced by a drummer at the bow and guided by a steersperson at the stern, combine power and rhythm to achieve maximum acceleration and speed over a 500 meter course. A perfectly synchronized team is not only visually spectacular but almost always defeats a stronger, less coordinated competitor. The race stroke averages between 90 and 100 strokes per minute with the drummer beating the cadence.
Photo courtesy of Shakil Haider
The most important color on the boats is red because red symbolizes heat, summer, and fire. It also represents the number 5, which correlates with the fifth day of the fifth month, the traditional date of the dragon boat celebration.
Boats can range in length from 30 to 100 feet, but the width is just enough to fit two people side by side.
Photo courtesy of Judy Cortinaz
