Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

Dunedin events

Otago had a thriving DB scene until about 2002 when "It withered on the vine for a number of reasons".

But in November 2008, Otago Museum staff approached Aoraki Dragons about running a festival in conjunction with a major Chinese Cultural display they had planned. Aoraki agreed to showcase Dragon Boating as part of their exhibition...

THE EMPEROR’S DRAGONS
Precious Collections from the Shanghai Museum

Members of Aoraki exec and several Christchurch Paddlers will drive down Thursday to Saturday to compete, and to organise the racing.

Local teams were "DCC Dragon Boat Team", "Pacific@ Otago University", an Otago Museum team, a team from the "Otago Southland Chinese Association" and Deloittes ("Barbarians")

Click here for more details...

Background:

Peter Woods of Dunedin City Councils DB (Captain, Manager from 1994 to 2002) has been very helpful at providing background. There has been no Dragon Boat scene in Dunedin since 2002; "It withered on the vine for a number of reasons but the venue on the inner harbour is very good".

In those days they raced in the harbour basin from east to west. It is sheltered but not so much for an easterly wind. Strategically positioned barges help prevent a sizeable swell running up the course.

The lanes were laid out by the organisers (Dunedin Lions Club) under the supervision of the then franchise holders Paul McDonald and Ian Ferguson, with a high level of liaison with the Harbour Board. The local surf clubs were also brought on-board with their IRBs for safety reasons.

The teams trained anywhere in the harbour they felt confident and the water conditions permitted. The most frequently used area was along the northern shore between the boat harbour and the fertilizer wharf.

The boats were stored in the rowing shed (perhaps owned by Kaikorai Valley High school?) directly above the slipway into the boat harbour.

The main teams in Dunedin were the DCC, Cadburys, MWH, Delta Electricity, Post Office.

Catch live Dragon Boat racing, as enthusiastic teams duel it out on the Otago Harbour this Waitangi Day!

Have you submitted a team list? Click here to download a spreadsheet.

Regattas are run under NZDBA Race Rules