Bring on the Dragons

Robert flexed his remaining muscles and volunteered to crew on a dragonboat for the Lake Illawarra Sports Festival. Up early with the dragons, we found the boats down by the lakeshore surrounded by occasional jellyfish.

It turned out that Dragonboaters have a whole culture and social scene where the strokes, tactics, and finer expertise of the pastime is kept live and breathing fire. Teams had come from all over: Hawkesbury River, Newcastle, and other parts of New South Wales. Each team had its own marquee and most limbered up with group stretch and twist routines en masse. Physiques ranged from long and lean, to round and clearly indulged in good drinking fun.

Robert's team competed in two races. The aim is to get the 20-(wo)man crew paddling in exact unison. Well, that was the idea, however most of our team never having practised nor been dragonboating before, we clashed paddles, splashed everyone, drove the bossy captain to apoplexy, vaguely followed the drummer upfront, and trailed in last. One thing I will say, we didn't win, but neither did we sink as happened to one unfortunate crew!

For our next appearance, we will have to entice the dragon to bring us better luck.