Sudbury Rowing Club’s 128^th annual regatta takes place this year, maintaining the tradition of one of the town’s oldest sporting events. The Rowing Club are pleased to once again hold a day of dragon boat racing on the Sunday of the weekend.

The Dragon Boating event has proved extremely popular, attracting crews from around the region and further afield.

What is dragon boating?

In ancient China the Dragon Boat was used for religious purposes as a way of appeasing the rain gods. Now Dragon Boat Racing in traditional style boats has become a major part of Chinese culture, representing patriotism and group integrity. It is Britain’s fastest growing corporate activity and is heading towards being an Olympic sport.

Why would I be interested?

Dragon boating is an ideal team building exercise and superb motivational activity for sports clubs and corporate crews. It’s a challenging, rewarding event for groups of friends or colleagues, and it’s great fun for all.

Who can enter?

Dragon Boating can be pursued by men, women and children over the age of 12, of any and all abilities, who are able to swim in light clothing.

Do I need to have been dragon boating before in order to race?

Previous experience of dragon boating is not necessary as training will be given at the safety briefing, with further coaching from the helmsman during each race.

How many in a crew?

Your squad must consist of sixteen paddlers plus a drummer to beat out the rhythm. Crews can be mixed, all female or all male and organisations may enter more than one crew. Squads who are interested but short of a few crew members may be seeded with members of Sudbury Rowing Club.

How much will it cost?

Maximum entry fee per boat is £250, regardless of

squad size.

see entry form for full details.

What is included in the entry fee?

The dragon boats, paddles, buoyancy aids and

water safety cover, full training and professional,

qualified helmsman. A minimum of three races

is guaranteed for each crew, with the fastest

teams progressing to the semi-final and final.

What will I need to bring with me?

Light clothing, team spirit and lots of enthusiasm.

For further information e-mail sudbury.regatta@sudbury.rowing.org.uk, ring 078 9999 4314 or 01787 464344 or visit our website - www.sudbury.rowing.org.uk

Entry Fees Total entry fee for the regatta is £250 per boat, payable in full by 26^th July 2008. To reserve your entry e-mail your completed form to sudbury.regatta@sudbury.rowing.org.uk Confirmation of entry plus deposit of £100 must be forwarded to: Regatta Secretary, c/o 2 Mulberry Cottages, High Street, Acton, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 0AT All remaining balances will be payable by: 26^th July 2008 latest. Please make cheques payable to Sudbury Rowing Club	Team name
	Representing
	Contact name
	Email address
	Address
	Postcode
	Tel (day)
	Tel (eve)

Please read carefully before signing the entry form The deposit is non-refundable. Team Size Teams can select 16 paddlers and 1 drummer for each race. The Helm will be provided by BA Hurricanes. Experience The competition is open to all comers. Previous experience of dragon boating is not necessary to enter a crew, but all crew members MUST BE WATER COMPETENT IN LIGHT CLOTHING. Their parent or a nominated adult must supervise competitors under the age of 12 years old, when in a dragon boat. Safety All competitors are to attend their team safety briefing before racing commences. All competitors must wear a buoyancy aid provided by the race organiser.

No alcohol – consumption of alcohol by any participant is strictly prohibited until racing has finished. Any participant who is thought to have consumed alcohol or is not in a fit state to participate will not be allowed to race and their green wrist band will be removed. The unlawful use of any banned substance is not permitted at any time. Medical restrictions Each participant must be reasonably fit and able to swim in light clothing. Must be of a minimum age of 8 and not vastly overweight to their height. If you are unsure whether you can take part If you have any medical condition that the Race Organisers should be aware of, please speak to the Race Official before your first race of the day. Notice The event is an adventure sport and as such involves a risk of injury regardless of the standard of training, supervision and equipment involved. Each participant will be required to sign the team sheet following their safety briefing on the race day by signing the team sheet each participant voluntarily accepts all risks involved and is fit and able to swim as per the medical restrictions above and will not hold Sudbury Rowing Club or Dragons Alive liable for any claims arising from any accident resulting in any loss or damage including bodily injury or death.

Declaration By signing this application form I confirm that I have read and understood the terms and conditions. I undertake to be bound by the event rules which will be sent to me with confirmation of my entry. I understand that I should advise my team members to seek medical advice from their GP if they are in any doubt as to their physical ability to take part in this event. I acknowledge that Sudbury Rowing Club and Dragons Alive will not be liable in any way for any injury or loss that might occur as a result of our participation. I understand that Sudbury Rowing Club will hold the data provided by me in connection with this event for administration purposes, to keep me informed of its activities.

Signed (Team Captain)

Name

For further information e-mail sudbury.regatta@sudbury.rowing.org.uk, ring 078 9999 4314

Or 01787 464344 or visit our website - www.sudbury.rowing.org.uk

COMPETITION FORMAT Crew Manager Every crew must nominate a Crew Manager on their crew list. The Crew Manager has overall responsibility for the conduct and actions of the crew. The Chief official and other Race Officials will only communicate on official matters with the Crew Manager. Experience The competition is open to all comers. Previous experience of dragon boating is not necessary to enter a crew, but all crew members MUST BE WATER COMPETENT IN LIGHT CLOTHING. Their parent or a nominated adult must supervise competitors under the age of 12 years old, when in a dragon boat. Equipment All boats and necessary equipment will be provided. Buoyancy aids All competitors must wear a buoyancy aid provided by the race organiser when on the water. RACES Teams Teams are to consist of a maximum of 18 participants, which must include a drummer and a helm. The number of paddlers is 16. Teams may race with less than 16 but the number in the boat at the finish of the race must be the same as at the start. Only the number of paddlers in the Team may be reduced, a drummer and the helm must be present in the boat throughout the race. Helms (steerers) BA Hurricanes will arrange helms for each team. The Drummer The drummer must sit on the drummer’s seat provided and actively beat the drum throughout the race. Embarking Teams must report to the marshalling area, when called forward by the chief boat marshal or over the public address. However irrespective of any ‘call forward’, teams should report to the marshalling area at least 20 minutes before the race start time. Teams failing to report on time may be barred from taking any further part in the competition. Starts Teams must be in the dragon boats and be at the start area, at least 5 minutes before their start time. All races will be started without reference to absentees. Starting position The position of the dragon boats on the start line shall be that the front most part of the boats (including the heads) is aligned. Starting signal When the starter is satisfied that all the boats are correctly aligned, the starter shall alert the teams by saying ‘ARE YOU READY?’ When the starter is happy that all teams are ready the starter shall give the starting signal by shouting ‘ATTENTION’ followed by the word ‘GO’. False starts If the starter considers there to be a false start the starter will immediately recall the teams by shouting STOP, STOP, STOP teams should stop padding and return immediately to the start line. Finishes A boat has finished the race when the foremost part of the boat, which normally includes the head, crosses the finish line with the same number of participants in the boat as started the race. After finishing a race, each participating team must return immediately to the embarking area. Disembarking After disembarking from the dragon boat the team is responsible for the safe return of all paddles and buoyancy aids to the place designated by the boat marshal and for bailing out any water from their boat.	Race control Teams must paddle a straight line and keep within their allocated lane/line from the start to the finish of their race. It is forbidden to knowingly impede other boats. Helms must order their paddlers to ‘STOP PADDLING’ if a collision is imminent. Teams that do not stop paddling and cause a collision will be disqualified from the competition and may face a further ban from racing in the future. Any team that causes a boat to collide with another one, whilst racing, or that damages a boat or paddles of another team, or that deliberately swamps or causes another boat or their own boat to capsize will be disqualified from the competition. Officials All the officials appointed for the competition are responsible to the Chief Official for the conduct of the races and for ensuring that the Rules and Regulations are fully complied with. Crews must follow the directions of the Race Officials at all times. Failure to do so may result in disqualification of the crew or participant concerned. The chief official’s decisions on all matters affecting the races are final. SAFETY ON THE WATER Safety The safety of a dragon boat crew on the water is the prime concern of everyone associated with the event, not least of which is the crew itself, who have a responsibility to conduct themselves properly, in both a competitive and social sense. All competitors are to attend their team safety briefing before racing commences, after which they will be issued with a green wrist band. All competitors will be provided with a buoyancy aid which must be worn whilst on the water. Medical restrictions Each participant must be reasonably fit and able to swim in light clothing. Must be of a minimum age of 12 and not vastly overweight to their height. If you are unsure whether you can take part If you have any medical condition that the Race Organisers should be aware of, please speak to the Race Official before your first race of the day. No ALCOHOL Consumption of alcohol, by any participant is strictly prohibited until racing has finished. Any participant who is thought to have consumed alcohol or is not in a 'fit state' to participate will not be allowed to race and their green wrist band will be removed. The unlawful use of any banned substance is not permitted at any time. Notice The event is an adventure sport and as such involves a risk of injury regardless of the standard of training, supervision and equipment involved. Each participant will be required to sign the team sheet following their safety briefing on the race day by signing the team sheet each participant voluntarily accepts all risks involved and is fit and able to swim as per the medical restrictions above and will not hold Sudbury Rowing Club or Dragons Alive liable for any claims arising from any accident resulting in any loss or damage including bodily injury or death. Leptospirosis & Weils Disease It is stressed that Leptospirosis and Weil’s Disease are both rare but can be caught by anyone engaged in a water sport. An infection of Leptospirosis resembles a cold and influenza infection is the initial stages. The incubation period is from 4-10 days. If you should show the above symptoms after taking part in a water sport activity, you should contact your doctor and tell him you have been participating in water sports and you suspect Leptospira infection. On average each year, 9 people contract Leptospirosis through water sports. The instances of infection are therefore very rare and its deterioration into Weil’s disease even rarer. However, Weil’s disease is a very serious illness and must be diagnosed and treated quickly. Please note that racing will not be delayed for any latecomers
For further information e-mail sudbury.regatta@sudbury.rowing.org.uk, ring 078 9999 4314 or 01787 464344 or visit our website - www.sudbury.rowing.org.uk
Introduction The dragon boat regatta is being organised by Sudbury Rowing club in conjunction with BA Hurricanes. Timings – Registration All crew members should be onsite between 8.30am – 9.00am. On arrival crew members should register at race control to collect their day’s race pack. Your whole team is required for a safety briefing before racing can commence so please let race control know as soon as all your team members are on site. Team lists Each crew member will be asked to sign a crew list on completion of the crew safety briefing. Each crew member will then be given a green wrist band to wear for the duration of the day, to confirm they have received the briefing and signed the team list. Racing Racing will commence as soon as all teams have received their safety briefing which will be approximately 10.00am. Crews are required until their race programme completes. Race Programme The race programme will be available on the day. Team Size Teams can select 16 paddlers and 1 drummer. The Helm will be provided by BA Hurricanes. Clothing All participants should wear T-shirt/sweatshirt, shorts/tracksuit bottoms, soft soled shoes (which are likely to get wet so don’t wear your best pair!). Please do not wear denim. It is advisable to bring a towel and change of clothes with you. Safety All competitors are to attend their team safety briefing before racing commences. All competitors must wear a buoyancy aid provided by the race organiser. No alcohol – consumption of alcohol by any participant is strictly prohibited until racing has finished. Any participant who is thought to have consumed alcohol or is not in a fit state to participate will not be allowed to race and their green wrist band will be removed. The unlawful use of any banned substance is not permitted at any time.	Dogs Dogs are allowed on the meadow but we ask that their owners act in a responsible manner by clearing up any mess. Please bear in mind the feelings and safety of other competitors and keep your dog under control at all times. Refreshments There is a Hospitality tent on site providing refreshments including tea, coffee, soft drinks, cakes and sandwiches. There is also a BBQ and a licensed bar (for the use of spectators and those competitors that have finished racing!). Please note that for safety reasons private barbecues are not permitted. Team Gazebos Teams are permitted to erect gazebos on the meadow. Other Entertainment Live music, children’s activity tent, children’s bouncy castle, Punch and Judy Directions Sudbury is located on the; A134 between Colchester and Bury St Edmunds A1071 from Ipswich Signs will be posted in the town to direct competitors to Friars Meadow via Edgworth Road. Car Parking Cars will be allowed to park on Friars Meadow unless the ground condition is deemed to be too soft. Alternative car parks can be found in close proximity (next to Sudbury’s Kingfisher Leisure Centre).
For further information e-mail sudbury.regatta@sudbury.rowing.org.uk, ring 078 9999 4314 or 01787 464344 or visit our website - www.sudbury.rowing.org.uk