Eight people paddle per boat. There is a drummer who sets the rhythm. And on the boat is also a helmsman. Those are the ingredients for today’s dragon boat race in Erica’s sailing.
Seventeen teams participated. From groups of friends to sports clubs and choirs. Each time, two teams on Chinese dragon boats compete against each other.
“Especially last night was a fierce preparation,” says participant Erwin Savenije. “We sat together for a long time. We had a drink. We discussed tactics in a jacuzzi and put the finishing touches on our clothing. And the result is our Hawaii team.”
The organization thinks that for many teams it could be harder than it appears. “It’s 200 meters of paddling,” says Patrick de Jonge on behalf of the organization. “It’s a lot of gas. It’s very heavy.”