Nowra Waterdragons was formed in November 2005. Our club members are from a wide variety of backgrounds, ages and fitness levels. We joined together because of our passion for Dragon Boat Racing as well as the enjoyment of each other's company.

Our purpose is training for dragon boat competitions; however the club also has a diverse range of sporting and social activities going on, such as fundraising, promotions, cross-training paddling and, oh yeah coffee!

Our Mission

Nowra Waterdragons value teamwork, passion, achievement and friendship. We aim to continually improve through committed training, to grow our club and to support each other in friendship.

What is Dragon Boating?

Dragon Boating involves 20 paddlers, 2 abreast in a long boat. There is a steerer at the back and a drummer at the front who keeps the paddlers in time, motivating and encouraging the paddlers to pull the boat forward in unison.

Dragon Boating requires precise timing as each paddler strokes the water at the same time to accelerate to top speed from a standing start. Races are between 100m and 1km which requires some endurance, but the races are spectacular with adrenaline charging!

Dragon Boating is, by nature, a very social sport. With the large number of people working together, it develops strength, endurance as well as friendships.

Dragon Boat History

The Dragon Boat legend involves a famous Chinese patriot poet named Qu Yuan. In the year 278 B.C., upon learning of the upcoming devastation of his state (in China) from invasion by a neighbouring state, Qu is said to have waded into the Miluo river holding a great rock in order to commit ritual suicide as a form of protest against the corruption of the era.

The common people, upon learning of his suicide, rushed out on the water in their fishing boats to the middle of the river and tried desperatedly to save Qu Yuan. They beat drums and splashed the water with their paddles in order to keep the fish and evil spirits from his body. Later on, they scattered rice into the water to prevent him from suffering hunger.

However, late one night, the spirit of Qu Yuan appeared before his friends and told them that the rice meant for him was being intercepted by a huge river dragon. He asked his friends to wrap their rice into three-cornered silk packages to ward off the dragon. In commemoration of Qu Yuan it is said, people hold dragon boat races annually on the day of his death. Today, dragon boat festivals continue to be celebrated around the world.