Dragon boat words · Beginner
The words you will hear in your first match, grouped the way you meet them.
B · Beginner · 14 words · Step 1 of 2General terms
Dragon boat racing
A sport in which crews paddle long dragon boats over a set course in the shortest possible time. A crew that, in the chief official's opinion, does not race its course as fast as it can may face disciplinary action and disqualification.
Dragon boat (Long Zhou)
A long, open, narrow boat that originated in southern China, traditionally made of teak, with a dragon head on the bow and a tail on the stern. It is driven by a crew sitting facing forward and using single-bladed paddles, and is guided by a long steering oar at the back. A drum sits in the bow.
See also: Crew
Crew and roles
Crew
The group of competitors who race together in a boat, collectively responsible for its conduct. Crews must be registered with or affiliated to a governing association, and a club is responsible for its crews.
Paddler
A crew member whose job is to move the boat forward with a single-bladed paddle.
Drummer
The crew member who sits on the drummer's seat in the bow and beats the drum to keep the stroke. Once the boat is 50 m past the start line the drum must be visibly struck at short, regular intervals for the whole race. The drummer also raises a hand if the crew is not ready at the start, and tells the crew to stop after a false start.
Also called: Gu
See also: Crew, False start
Steerer
The crew member who steers with a steering oar, used like a rudder, or a large paddle. The steerer may not use it to propel the boat.
Standard boat and small boat
The two IDBF racing boats, named for their crew size: the standard boat (DB22) takes 18 to 20 paddlers, a steerer and a drummer, and the small boat (DB12) takes ten paddlers, a steerer and a drummer. Up to four reserve paddlers may be named for a standard crew, and two for a small crew.
Classes and eligibility
Open, women's and mixed classes
Open is the main class, with no limit on crew make-up. Women's crews must be female. Mixed crews need both genders among the paddlers, in set combinations such as 10 men and 10 women, 9 and 9, or 10 and 8 in a standard boat, and 5 and 5, 5 and 4 or 4 and 4 in a small boat; the drummer and steerer may be of either gender. Everyone must be at least 12 in the year of competition.
Boats and equipment
Paddle
A single-bladed paddle, the only means of propulsion. It may not be fixed to the boat. At championships competitors may use their own paddles if they meet the IDBF racing paddle specification. Crews are advised to carry two spare paddles, used only if a paddle breaks in a race.
Also called: Jiang
See also: IDBF
The course and distances
Racing distances
World championship races can be 200 m, 250 m, 500 m, 1,000 m or nominally 2,000 m. A championship regatta lasts at least two consecutive days and always includes 200 m (or 250 m) and 500 m races.
See also: Regatta
Racing lane
The strip of water in which one boat races, at least 9 m wide. Lane 1 is the nearest to the finish line judges. Lanes are marked by buoys not more than 50 m apart, with lane numbers at the start and finish.
Starting
Start procedure
Crews gather behind the start line at least three minutes before the start and are called into their lanes no later than two minutes before. The foremost parts of the boats (dragon heads included) are lined up. The starter says Are you ready, then Attention and Go (or a gun or other sound), with no more than five seconds between Attention and Go. A crew that is not ready raises the drummer's hand.
Racing rules
Correct course and clear water
Each boat must race in a straight line down the middle of its lane, and keep at least two metres of clear water, measured paddle blade to paddle blade, between itself and other boats. An overtaking boat must give clear water, and the boat being overtaken may not change course to make it harder. In races over 1,000 m crews may leave their lanes if they impede nobody.
See also: Paddle
Finish and results
Finish
A boat has finished when the foremost part of the boat, the dragon head included, crosses the finish line with the same number of racers in it as started the race.