|
Dragon boats are slim, traditionally
teakwood (often now fiberglass) racers with
a hand-painted dragon's head at the prow and
a flashy tail at the stern.
Decorated in brilliant Chinese colors, each boat holds
a crew of 18 sitting side by side, a
steersperson at the rudder, a drummer whose
beat sets the pace for the crew and a
flag-catcher at the head of the boat. Dragon
boat racing is unique for the speed of fast
paddling.
Dragon boat racing originated from China
some 2 300 years ago as a traditional
ceremonial sport; today, it is being raced
worldwide to test sportspersons' physical
strength, challenging spirit and group bond. |
