CDBF_Brochure A4_Digital

BASICS ABOUT UK CHINESE DRAGON BOAT RACE

Ĵģĩıİ ĤıģĶ Ĵģĥħ īĵ ģ Ķħģį ljģĦĦĮīİĩ ĵljıĴĶ ıĨ ĦĴģĩıİ ĤıģĶ Ĵģĥīİĩ˸ Ķ̎ ĵ İıĶ ģ ĥıįljħĶīĶīıİ ıĴīħİĶħĦ ħĸħİĶ˹ ģİĻ įģİ ıĴ Ĺıįģİ ĥģİ ħİĶħĴ ĶĪħ Ĵģĥħ ĹīĶĪ İı ħĺljħĴīħİĥħ ĴħijķīĴħĦ˸

Steersman The sweep, known also as the steersman, steers the dragon boat with a sweep oar rigged at the rear of the boat, generally on the left side. This is done by using the oar as a rudder, while the boat is moving, or by sweeping the stern of the boat sideways by pulling or pushing water with the oar as the boat is moving slowly or stationary.

Dragon Boat Crew Each team has ten paddlers, one drummer and one steersman who is assigned by event organiser. The pulsation of the drum beats produced by the drummer may be considered the “heartbeat” of the dragon boat. The drummer leads the paddlers throughout a race using the rhythmic drum beat to indicate the frequency and synchronisation of all the paddlers’ strokes (that is, the cadence, picking up or accelerating the pace, slowing the rate, etc.)

Paddlers

The paddlers sit facing forwards in the boat, >˜` ÕÃi > ëiVˆwV ÌÞ«i of paddle which, (unlike rowing sweep, or scull), is not rigged to the racing water craft in any way. Therefore, Dragon boaters are paddlers not rowers or oarsmen/women.