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A Dragon Boat is a really long boat used by team of paddler for the Dragon Boat Race in June. For the race the Dragon Boat are riggedwith Chinese decorative Dragon Head and tail and must carry a drum aboard.
The crew for our race, was composed of 21 people:

• 18 paddlers
• 1 steerer
• 1 drummer facing the crew
• 1 flag catcher (only in Taiwan)

The drummer is the heartbeat of the Dragon Boat (no showing off but that's me :-)). He has to indicate the timing of the paddle stroke and and exhorts the crew to perform at their best.


The paddlers are facing forward. The leading pair of paddler (first row) are called the "pacers" or "timers".

The steerer controls the boat with a steering oar as if a tiller. The steerer have the power to override the caller at any time in the race if the safety of the crew is at stake. As you can see the steerer can also paddle when we need power more than direction.


The Taiwanese Flag Catcher must catch a lane flag as the boat crosses the finish line.


For more info see Wiki