Quick Look at Technical Race Rules

  • All dragon boats and equipment (including paddles) will be provided.
  • Each paddler must wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. One is provided. However, you may bring your own.
  • Every paddler must sign a waiver.
  • Each team will have a trained dragon boat steerer/coach.
  • Minimum age for adult boat is 15.
  • Your team will race with 20 paddlers and a drummer, but you may race with a minimum of 16 people.
  • Must have 8 female paddlers (drummer does not count).
  • The drummer must actively beat the drum during the race.
  • If you have a race day protest, you should be communicated it to the Chief Marshaler.
  • The race heats will be a straight course of approximately 250 meters. Four boats race at a time in lanes marked by racing buoys.
A complete rules and regulations file will be distributed to all team captains. For info about race day schedule and format, visit the race day schedule page.