Aoraki Dragon Boat
Association (Inc)
Christchurch, NZ

Dunedin mini-regatta 2009

The first Otago event in seven years was held on Waitangi Day, Friday 6-Feb-09 in Steamer Basin, Otago Harbour (Custom House Quay).

In November 2008, Otago Museum staff approached Aoraki Dragons to help run 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"

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

Local teams were:

• DCC Dragon Boat Team
• Pacific@ Otago University
• Otago Museum "Exhibitionists"
• OSCA (Otago Southland Chinese Association)
• Deloittes "Barbarians"

Approximate Schedule of Events:

7.30am - Event set up begins incl Boats moved to Otago Yacht ramp on the Harbour then towed to the ramp.
9.30am – Teams and rescue crew arrive for safety/capsize briefing by Aoraki DBA
10.30am – Boats positioned for ‘eye dotting’
11am – Welcoming formalities, ritual eye dotting by the Mayor of Dunedin.
11.30am – Round One – Race 1
12.00pm – Round One – Race 2
12.30pm – Round Two – Race 1
1.00pm   – Round Two – Race 2
1.30pm   – Round Three – Race 1
2.00pm   - Round Three – Race 2
2.30pm –  B Final
3.00pm –  A Final
3.30pm –  Prize Giving
4pm  -      Pack up
Boats back to U shed for the night
6.30pm - Post event debrief the Wharf Hotel

Pics:

Click for photo gallery.

Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin performs the eye-dotting - (another) - Aoraki Board take a Photo Op

The Dragons are on the water; 484 - 487 - 489 - 496. Scruff returns to Dunedin!

Boats were stored in "Holcim's" shed overnight (detail)

At a coffee stop at Rakaia on the way home.

The story according to the ODT:

"I think we ate too many sausages," said Naomi Ma, after her Pacific Islands dragon boat team won the prize for most spectacular capsize at the inaugural Emperor's Dragon Boat festival yesterday.

Six teams took part in the festival on Otago Harbour at Steamer Basin yesterday, but the contest was cut short before the last round and final races, due to rising swells.

Miss Ma, a human nutrition student, said her team of 22 Pacific Islanders competing for the University of Otago enjoyed their first dragon boat festival, especially as the boat began taking on water: "We all just started laughing."

Festival spokesman, Cathryn Edwards, of Otago Museum, said despite the cancellation of the last round and final, the crowd of more than 1000 people enjoyed three rounds.

"The teams are inexperienced, so at 1.30pm with the swells getting up we decided to cancel the racing and go straight to the awards."

The festival, held to promote the museum's Emperor's Dragons exhibition, may be turned into an annual Waitangi Day event, she said.

"I think people really enjoyed themselves."

Aoraki Dragon Boat chairwoman Meri Gibson, of Christchurch, said while the conditions were some of the roughest she had experienced, "it was a great festival".

The Christchurch-based club, which supplied the dragon boats, would leave one in Dunedin so the sport could become established in the city.

"It is a great location, good atmosphere; it has the potential to hold an international event here," she said.

Ms Gibson, a breast cancer survivor, said she took up the sport to aid her recovery and it had been "invaluable".

Results: DCC Dragons 1, OSCA (Otago Southland Chinese Association) 2, Otago Museum Exhibitionists 3

Regattas are run under NZDBA Race Rules