Preparation for this year’s DRAGON BOAT CLASSIC is well underway.

Training can get underway emailing admin@gycwa.com.au at the Yacht Club for training sessions.

• Cost of hire of the Boat is $20/ training session and payment methods have to be arranged with the Secretary prior to the first session. That is less than $2 dollar a person!

• Arrangements can be made to provide an experienced Yacht Club member for coaching or sweeping if necessary so please indicate your requirements at time of booking well in advance.

Please find below the guidelines to ensure a fun event:

• The races will be conducted over an approximate length of 200m.

• Teams are to consist of a minimum of 16 to a maximum of 18 paddlers.
• Each team must have a drummer onboard for the duration of the Race.
• The Sweep and Drummer does not form part of the team as for the following rules;
  • In a Mixed Team the proportion of men/women must be equal
  • Crew members may interchange between categories but the teams need to understand the schedule may then cause paddlers to be in back to back events.
  • A Junior Team will consist of those youths who are 18 and under on the day

• It is recommended that each Team has a Team T-Shirt. SunSmart has promoted the use of long sleeve rash shirts and wide brim hats in the past. (This not only creates comradeship among the crew, it also helps the Race Caller and provides excellent exposure facility for your organisation/company/sponsor.)

• The Event will be fully catered for with food, drinks, icecream and entertainment and a Bar will operate in the Yacht Club at the end of the day.

The Yacht Club does not encourage the consumption of alcohol on the beach and particularly by the participating crews. Alcohol and Sport don’t mix safely.

Competitors are invited to use the friendly and comfortable facilities of the Geraldton Yacht Club both after training sessions and on the day.

• A briefing will be held in the Geraldton Yacht Club lounge on the Friday evening before the event to finalise the rules and any other relevant information for the event. Team captains must attend. Race programs will also be available.
• All Teams will abide by the Rules and Regulations as laid down by the GYC Organising Committee and no negotiations will be entered into.

You can choose from the following categories representing a group / company /organisation.

JUNIORS - any combination of youths 18yrs and younger (sweep & drummer exempt) on the day

MIXED - equal number of men/women

WOMENS - all women paddlers

MENS - all male paddlers

OPEN – any combination of gender and age 

Trophies will be awarded for each Category and for each member of those categories that have more than 5 teams, each 1st, 2nd & 3rd place in the Final Races will receive medallions.

If there are sufficient Teams representing a particular type of organisation (eg Banks, Hotels, Shopping Centres or Fitness Groups etc) an attempt will be made to have at least one heat where they would all compete against each other so stir up your competitors in Business and sort them out on the water.