Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boats Festival 2024

Entry to Day 1 of racing (Friday 16 Feb) is open to Dragon Boat (Sport) Clubs. Day 2 of racing (Sun 18 Feb) 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 REGISTER HERE.

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!

DBNSW is excited to announce that for 2024 Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival, the Opening Ceremony and Corporate, International & Interstate Race Day will be held on Friday 16 February.

An opening ceremony that pays tribute to the Australian and Chinese cultures coming together to promote a cultural celebration of diversity and inclusion. 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.

The Corporate, International & Interstate races will range from 3pm - 8pm to kick off our dragon boat festival.

WHEN: 3pm Friday 16 February 2023

WHERE: Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour Sydney

COST: Free, the Dragon Boat community, our corporate guests and the general public are welcome to come down and be part of the festivities.

All crews are guaranteed a minimum of two (2) races with potential of third for those that qualify for the final.

All Club Crews will all be raced against each other in their selected division (Premier, Junior, Senior A, Senior B, Senior C).  Racing will commence at 8am and race times and finish time is subject to entry numbers and conditions on the day.

All teams must consist of a minimum of 16 paddlers to a maximum of 20 and may include up to 4 reserves. 

Further racing rules can be found here under "Competition"

WHEN: 8:00am Saturday 17th February 2024

WHERE: Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour Sydney

COST: See entry fees below

FORMAT: 200m Straight Line Racing, Standard Boat (20s)

RACE 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

WHEN: 08:00am Sunday 18 February 2024

WHERE: Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour Sydney

COST: See entry fees below

FORMAT: 200m Straight Line Racing, Standard Boat (20s)

RACE CATEGORIES:

• All day racing
• Racing Classes: Mixed
• Championship Races:
• • Sydney International Grand Championship: Invitational race based on Saturday performance.
  • Regional Championship: Available only for Regional NSW teams to compete for the Regional Championship
  • Pink Championship: Available only for Breast Cancer Survivor (BCS) crews to compete for the Pink Championship (includes International & Interstate crews)
  • .International & Interstate Racing: Available to all international and interstate crews who don't qualify for one of the above Championship races.
  • Fancy Dress Race: Available to 6-crews who submit their fun & crazy costumes!
• Closing Party

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 the opening ceremony, 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.

Get front row seats to all the racing action as you watch the heart-stopping competition, as spectacular dragon boats race through the waters to pounding drums and cheering spectators. 

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

Applications are now open for our Fancy-Dress Race at the 2024 Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival.

On Sunday 18th February, The 6 crews with the best costume/idea will be selected to face off in an equally fierce yet hilarious battle at Darling Harbour in front of the crowds. It will be a race for the ages.

If you would like to enter a crew into this year’s Fancy-Dress Race, please fill out this form - https://www.dbnsw.org.au/surveys/5333/

Dragon Boats NSW and Team Elite Merchandise have released an exciting new merchandise range for the 2023 Sydney Lunar Festival Dragon Boat Races.

Order your race single, event t-shirt or cap today before they sell out.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER

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

Dragon Boats NSW is seeking passionate and committed volunteers for the 2024 Sydney Lunar Festival Dragon Boat races, to be held at Cockle Bay, Darling Harbour Feb 16th - 18th. The festival provides exciting opportunities to represent your community as part of the performing team for the Opening Ceremony, the Race days and the Closing Ceremony.

Roles include Drummers, Dragon operators, Race Officials and support staff. All volunteers will be issued with VIP access to the Opening Ceremony and ensuing function, food and beverage for volunteered sessions and official Dragon Boats NSW issued apparel.

The iconic event attracts more than 50+ teams of Dragon Boat racers and 50+ Corporate/Social Teams from around Australia, comprising of high-end professionals and corporate representatives.

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

For more details contact events@dbnsw.org.au

DRAGON BOAT TEAMS REQUEST

Dragon Boats NSW is seeking 12 Dragon Boat teams to feature in the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Lunar Festival, to be held at Cockle Bay Darling Harbour on January 27th.This is an exciting opportunity to represent your community and showcase the virtuosity, skill and teamwork associated with Dragon Boating to the public.

Accomplished teams will be required to attend scheduled practice sessions on January 15th and January 22nd, 2023. Teams will also need to commit to a final practice session during the afternoon of January 27th in preparation for the performance of the Opening Ceremony at 6:30pm later that evening. Please register your interest with Dragon Boats NSW. SIGN UP AS A VOLUNTEER

RACE OFFICIALS

Hold a Level 1, 2 or 3 Officials accreditation and want to play a part in the delivery of the race days? DBNSW is looking to appoint experience officials into a number of important roles from Chief Official, Starter, Head Marshal and Water Umpire. Indidivudals can nominate for 1 or both days of racing. SIGN UP AS A VOLUNTEER

EVENT VOLUNTEERS

Want to part of the action from an event delivery perspective? DBNSW is after some skilled and dedicated event volunteers to assist in the planning and delivery of the event. Looking to gain event experience or just love the social connections you get from volunteering at events then register today. From Boat handlers to Event Assistants there are roles to suit everyone. SIGN UP AS A VOLUNTEER

Volunteering Benefits

• Volunteer alongside some AWESOME people and GIVE your AMAZING skills to make a GREAT event.
• Be part of one of the biggest Lunar New Year events in Australia
• Lunch pack provide for each volunteering shift
• Limited edition 2024 Sydney Lunar Festival Dragon Boat Races Volunteer T-shirt
• Exclusive ticket to the Club & Corporate Function after the Opening Ceremony on Friday 27 January
• Certificate of participation and volunteer reference provided on request 
• A guaranteed smile on your face!

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 organised outside of Pyrmont and it is the responsibility 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 14th February 2024.

TRAINING SESSION - $250 per boat/per session

Marquee hire is now available across the 2024 Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival weekend.

.

Cost breakdown:

1-day hire - $600

2-day hire - $1000

3-day hire - $1200

If you would like to hire a marquee please follow the above link's and select your preferred days. 

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

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 survivors (i.e. family, friends).
• 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