The Nowra Waterdragons and Outrigger Canoe Club inc attended the fourth regatta for the Dragon Boats NSW season on Sunday with outstanding results.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Nowra was hoping to retain the Perpetual Trophy for best team in the first four regattas of the season but with Newcastle ahead on points and Bei Loon equal with Nowra, the task was going to be difficult.
Nowra performed well in the two heats winning both by several tenths of a second from the always strong Pittwater team in the first heat and then Bei Loon in the second heat.
The Senior B final is always a hard fought race and this one didn’t disappoint with the Nowra Waterdragons coming home 0.4 seconds ahead in first place.
The team then competed in the afternoon events – the Open A (men’s event over 40) and the women’s open (women over 40). Due to the lack of members both sides teamed up with other clubs to make the full boat.
The men teamed up with a Wollongong club Sudu Dragons and the women with their long time partners Port Hacking.
The women’s event was a really tough race with six strong sides not giving an inch. The result was Nowra/Port Hacking being inched out of second on the line for a third place.
The men’s event again was also tough with some serious teams involved. The Nowra/Sudu team gave their all to come home in third; a great result.
A Senior C race (over 60) race was run with Nowra joining Sudu again to come in third against the stronger Sydney mixed sides.
A big and special thanks to all those paddlers who gave everything in their races, especially the newer paddlers who have less experience and gave their hearts in the races.
A special thanks to our volunteers who again made the club proud with their tireless work. Mick Evans as one of the boat handlers getting the competitors into the boats and away on time all day; with Dana Freemen overseeing the whole event from the office making sure it ran smoothly.
What is dragon boating?
Dragon boating involves 20 paddlers, 2 abreast in a long boat. There is a steerer at the back and a drummer at the front who keeps the paddlers in time, motivating and encouraging the paddlers to pull the boat forward in unison.
Dragon boating requires precise timing as each paddler strokes the water at the same time to accelerate to top speed from a standing start. Races are between 100m and 2km which requires some endurance, but the races are spectacular and adrenaline charging!
Dragon boating is, by nature, a very social sport which develops strength, endurance as well as friendships.
Come and try on a Monday or Wednesday evening at 5pm or Saturday morning at 8am. Check times on Nowra Waterdragons website.