Dragon Boats NSW presents the 2023 Sydney Lunar Festival Dragon Boat Races

More than 3,000 dragon boat racers will hit the water as crowds of spectators line Cockle Bay Wharf to see the spectacular dragon boats battle it out.

The largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, this exciting regatta returns to Darling Harbour Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th January 2023.

Orginiating in the rivers of Southern China as a way to encourage prosperous rains, today dragon boat racing has evolved into a fast paced water sport with a passionate following. Feel your heart race in time with the on-board drummers as the fierce dragons slice through the water!

WANT TO ENTER A TEAM?

Entry to Day 1 of racing (Sat 28 Jan) is open to Dragon Boat (Sport) Clubs. Day 2 of racing (Sun 29 Jan) is open to Corporate Organisations, Social Groups, Registered Charities and Cancer Survivor Teams.

NSW based and Interstate Dragon Boat Clubs enter via RevSport. While Corporate Organisations, Social Groups, Registered Charities and Cancer Survivor Teams use the REGISTER button above.

International Clubs interested in competing should contact DBNSW directly at events@dbnsw.org.au

Get your crew of co-workers, friends, family or team mates together and REGISTER TODAY!

CATEGORIES & ENTRY FEES

Saturday 28 January

DRAGON BOAT (SPORT) CLUBS

• Adult - $41 per person
• Young Adult (18-23 yrs) - $33 per person
• Junior (U18yrs) - $17.50 per person

Sunday 29 January

CORPORATE/SOCIAL [*Early Bird Price*] - $700 per team

CORPORATE/SOCIAL - $920 per team

REGISTERED CHARITY/CANCER SURVIVOR - $540 per team

• Early Bird Entry Ends - 23:59 Wednesday 14th December 2022
• Training Booking Deadline - 23:59 Sunday 15th January 2023
• Race Entry Deadline - 23:59 Sunday 15th January 2023
• Marquee Booking Deadline - 23:59 Sunday 15th January 2023

Individual sport injury insurance is provided to all Corporate Crew Members. Individuals must register as a Corporate Paddler for 2022/23 season HERE

TRAINING

All Corporate, Social and Charity Teams MUST complete a minimum of one (1) training session prior to race day. All training sessions booked directly with DBNSW will take place at Bank Street, Pyrmont Sydney.

DBNSW will not charge any teams for session organsied outside of Pyrmont and it is the responsiblity of the team contact to liaise and organise payment with the local club that is providing the external training session.

Please submit how many training sessions will be required on the REGISTER page. Training booking deadline Wednesday 15th January 2023.

TRAINING SESSION - $250 per boat/per session

CORPORATE RACE DAY

All crews are guranteed a minimum of three (3) races with potential of four for those that qualify for the finals.

All Corporate, Social and Charity Crews will all be raced against each other in MAJOR and MINOR divisions. Times from the 2022 races will be used to determine these placings. Cancer Survivor racing will remain seperate.

All teams must consist of a minimum of 16 paddlers to a maximum of 20 and may include up to 4 reserves. A maximum of 50% of a crew may be made up of male paddlers.

Further team composition rules can be found at the bottom of this page.

MARQUEE HIRE

Secure a marquee space (3m x 3m) inside the Corporate Team Village for your team at Darling Harbour on race day. Please submit how many marquee spots will be required for your team on the REGISTER page. Booking deadline Wednesday 18th January 2023.

MARQUEE HIRE - $520 per marquee

COMING TO WATCH?

Get up close to all the action and watch this heart-stopping competition, as spectacular dragon boats race through the waters to pounding drums and cheering spectators.

Come and see a unique Taoist ceremony and the blessing the waters. Through a traditional eye dotting the dragons are awoken and a safe weekend of racing ensured.

Racing on Saturday 28 January - Day 1 (SPORT CREWS) will kick off at 8:00am and is expected to wrap up around 6:00pm.

While on Sunday 29 January - Day 2 (Corporates, Socials, Charities, Cancer Suvivors) will resume racing at 8:00 am and will finish late afternoon.

Watching the event is free and open to the public on both days.

CREW COMPOSITION RULES

(CORPORATE/SOCIALS/CHARITY)

• All teams must consist of a minimum of 16 paddlers to a maximum of 20 and may include up to 4 reserves
• A maximum of 50% of a crew may be made up of male paddlers
• Teams must have a minimum of twelve (12) employees from the business organisation that the team represents. Team mangers may be required to submit evidence of employment/ownership for crew members upon request
• Registered sports paddlers* are permitted to compete as part of the team as long as they are employees of the organisation
• Teams may have a maximum of four (4) paddlers who are not employees, or deemed employees, of the business organisation (i.e. family, friends) but they cannot be a registered sports paddler*
• Sweeps will be provided by DBNSW, drummers can be provided upon request

CREW COMPOSITION RULES

(CANCER SURVIVORS)

• Paddlers and sweeps in the team must be made up of cancer survivors
• Teams may have a maximum of four (4) paddlers who are not cancer ssurvivors (i.e. family ,friends) but they cannot be a registered sports paddler*
• Drummers can be provided upon request
• Registered sports paddlers are permitted to compete in a cancer survivor crew as long as they are cancer survivor

*"Sports Paddler" means a paddler who; a) is a registered member of DBNSW or its interstate equivalent or b) a member of DBNSW affiliated club or (c) is a member of an established dragon boat or outrigger canoe club or d) has been a registered member of DBNSW or its interstate equivalent in the previous two (2) seasons.

OFFICIALS AND VOLUNTEERS

DBNSW relies on dedicated, valued officials and volunteers to conduct the event. Without their skills, expereince and gernerous support this event would not be possible.

If you would like to volunteer at this event you can nominate here.

For more details contact events@dbnsw.org.au

FORMAT:

• 200m

CATEGORIES:

• Junior Mixed 20s
• Junior Women 20s
• Junior Open 20s
• Premier Mixed 20s
• Premier Women 20s
• Premier Open 20s
• Senior A Mixed 20s
• Senior A Women 20s
• Senior A Open 20s
• Senior B Mixed 20s
• Senior C Open 20s

ENTRY DEADLINE: 23:59 Wednesday 18th January 2023

CREW LIST ENTRY DEADLINE: 08:00 Friday 27th January 2023

PAYMENT DEADLINE: 17:00 Wednesday 25th January 2023