No rowing boats or swimming caps, but dragon heads: the Bosbaan in the Amsterdamse Bos will once again be the setting for the annual Dutch Dragon Boat Sailing Championship on Saturday.
A dragon boat is a twelve-meter long canoe, with a dragon’s head on the bow. The occupants paddle to the beat and a helmsman sits in the back who determines the course. Although the sport is very similar to rowing, it is not a rowing or canoeing discipline. The fanatical sport comes from an age-old Chinese tradition, which is still popular there.
A total of 14 teams are participating, most of which are mixed. One team consists exclusively of men and one other team consists only of women. Internationally, dragon boat racers form a large community, but with around three hundred active members, the sport is still quite small in the Netherlands.
Unique sport
“René, member of the competition committee, came up with all this,” says participant Ashley Beringer. The rules at the National Championships are different than at international tournaments. At international tournaments there are fewer races and there is a battle for a place in the final.
Ashley Beringer is a member of the KLM Blue Dragons, with which she has been participating in the National Championships for years. ”I am active in two associations, the Dragons on Fire and KLM Blue Dragons. KLM Blue Dragons trains less, but I am more committed to that,” says Ashley.
“It’s just a party. The people, the dragon heads, the accessibility and so on”
“Collaboration and social interaction with all participants and attendees at such a tournament makes the sport special,” explains Ashley. ”In addition, you only have influence on yourself and not on the opponent, which you do in football, for example. It’s just a party. The people, the dragon heads, the accessibility and so on.”
Special day of the year
”The National Championships always have something special. This year the mayor of Amstelveen will open the spectacle,” says René de Block, member of the NK competition committee. Ashley calls it the end of the year: “It is a test of strength, you can see how far you have come.” Because accurate equipment is used, the race can be thoroughly analyzed afterwards. “That is why you can immediately see what is better is possible and what goes well.”
The accessibility makes the National Championships ‘an extra beautiful day’, says Ashley. Everyone can participate, no matter how big (or small) the budget. The location provides a bit of extra professionalism. ”Time registration is done by photo finish. During tournaments in canals, for example, this is still done with the naked eye. That is less easy to control.”
Text continues.
Also read
North Holland
The National Championships take place every year in the Amsterdamse Bos. “The facilities of the Bosbaan are top,” says René. “The Bosbaan is closed water, so you are not bothered by other rowers or people sailing a boat.”
Since last year there has been a new ceremony in which the dragons are ‘warmed up’. “Then we make the dragons’ eyes red, so that you can see that the dragons are ready,” René explains. Once the eyes are colored red, the boats are ready for the races.
In the prizes
Teams are expected to perform in multiple races, as the points from all 200-meter races and 500-meter races are added together. The two kilometers is again a separate classification. Ashley hopes to win prizes with her team. ”I have every confidence in it, especially on the smaller distances. We’re going to do well.”
The National Championships start next Saturday at 10.15 am. Three distances are sailed in a straight line, the 200 and 500 meters and the three kilometers. Of which the 200 and 500 meters are sailed three times. The entire festival lasts until approximately 5:00 PM.
View images below of a Dragon Boat Race in June in the Alkmaar canals.
Dragon boat races Alkmaar – Alkmaar Central