Can crews bring their own dragon boat?
Officials' detail · Crews and boats · 1 of 1At IDBF championships, crews race in boats provided by the organisers and allocated by the lane draw, and may not bring or choose their own. Boats used in a race should differ in weight by no more than 10 kg. Crews may use their own paddles if they meet the IDBF specification, and are advised to carry two spares.
How it works
- Boats: provided at championships; no own boats.
- Allocation: by the lane draw; the boat number is the lane number.
- Weight: boats within 10 kg of each other.
- Number board: at the bow, visible from the finish.
- Paddles: single-bladed, to the IDBF specification.
- Non-conforming paddles: a warning, then disqualification.
- Spares: two advised, for use only if a paddle breaks.
- Crew check: boat and equipment checked before embarking.
The glossary has the provided boats, the paddle, the boat and lane number, the equipment and seat pads, the Dragon boat (Long Zhou) and the racing colours.
Tricky cases
A paddle breaks mid-race. Can a crew carry on?
Yes. Spare paddles may be used for a breakage.
Who is responsible if a boat fails during the race?
The crew; the organiser is not responsible once the crew has embarked and left.
Can a crew pick a lighter boat?
No. Crews may not choose or reserve a boat.
Can paddles be fixed to the boat?
No. Only the steerer's oar may be supported in the boat.
Why the rule exists
Provided boats of matched weight remove any edge from better equipment. Allocating by lane stops crews picking a favourite boat.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| IDBF championships | Boats provided; weighing equipment on site | RR 5.4; CR 5.11 |
| Other IDBF races | Weighing on request | CR 5.11 |
| Own-boat races | Crews provide their own number boards | RR 5.5 |
From the rule book
IDBF, Competition Regulations (Part 1, Edition 9.0, 2025), regulations 5.6 to 5.11, with IDBF, Rules of Racing (Part 2 of the Competition Regulations and Rules of Racing, Edition 9.0, 2025), rules 5.1, 5.2, 5.4 and 5.5. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the IDBF Competition Regulations and Rules of Racing.