what is the most important thing to do if you want to win in "Dragon Boat" racing?

Question

Do you put your strongest rowers at the front or the back?

Do you need someone shouting out the rythmn?

Should you all paddle frantically fast or slowly but together?

Answer 1

One person to beat the rhythm, to increase the rhythm and all paddle rhythmically, steadily and keep beat.

Answer 2

All the rowers need to be synchronised!
See this video: http://www.gio.gov.tw/info/festival_c/mpg/dragon_boat.mpg

It is critical that each paddler follow the paddle in front of them exactly, matching their stroke exactly. There are several components to a dragon boat stroke:
1. The "catch" at the front of the stroke. The blade should enter the water at a 45 degree angle.
2. The "pull" begins when the blade reaches a vertical angle. A paddler's outside arm should remain straight through the pull, until the blade reaches a 45 degree negative angle, usually when the outside arm is at the mid-thigh.
3. The "release" or "return" is the final stage of the stroke. To release, the outside arm should slightly bend and the blade should release to the top of the stroke. It is important for the blade to return as vertically as possible, with the top hand staying outside the boat.

Each of these components of the stroke are equally important and must be done in synchronization with the paddle directly in front of you which should, at the front, be in time with the lead strokes.

If paddlers are not synchronized, the result is a caterpillar or centipede effect whereby each successive pair of blades hits the water a fraction of a second behind the blades in front, with the collective stroke of the boat falling out of synchronisation. During a race the sounds of other drums may also make it confusing or unreliable to time off the drum beat.

First a quick description of what Dragon Boat racing is:
A Dragon boat is a very long and narrow human powered boat rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails and are required to carry a large drum aboard Paddlers are seated two per row and paddle continously on the same side for the duration of the race. A drummer and steersperson accompany the paddlers to motivate the crew and keep the boat on track.

The paddlers sit facing forwards, and use a specific type of paddle. The leading pair of paddlers, or "strokes" or "strokers", set the pace for the team.

The drummer or "cox" may be considered the "heartbeat" of the dragon boat, and leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the timing and frequency of paddling strokes

The steerer controls the dragon boat with a steering oar similar in function to a tiller which is mounted at the rear of the boat. The steerer may work with the drummer to call out commands during a race. The responses of the oar are opposite to the direction they take - if the steerer pulls the oar right, or into the boat, the boat will turn left, and if they push out, or left, the boat turns right. The steerer has the power to override the caller at any time during the race (or the coach during practise) if the safety of the crew is threatened in any way.

Answer 3

The biggest challenge of dragon boat racing is managing synchrony. To do that, teams that spend more time practicing on water tend to have an advantage.

Some teams that emphasize stroke rate might put their strongest members in the front to set the stroke rate for the team. Some others that emphasize the mechanical science of propulsion put their strongest members in the back to deal with water resistance. There are also those who theorize on the centre of gravity of the boat and the best lineup to lower the centre of gravity. Whatever the lineup, there is a rationale for it. Yet, basic execution, including flawless strokes and synchrony, is the most important part of competitive dragon boating.

Though a dragon boat race course could be 500 metres or longer, how much endurance and strength you and your teammates have is a key factor determining whether your team can sustain multiple heats and beat a close rival at the right moment which may put you in the final race. This is where physical conditioning plays a role in addition to on-water practice. Your team also needs to carefully plan the conditioning exercises not only to build your strength and cardiovascular capacity but also stimulate the muscle movements, breathing pattern and heart rates during a race.
In the weeks leading to a race, it is important to tailor your exercises to your team’s stroke energy. Common stroke strategies begin with a launch sequence.

The launch sequence generally includes a couple of short strokes (with ¾ of the normal sweep range), followed by 3 or 4 regular strokes and then by a series of ultra fast, short strokes.

After this launch sequence, some common stroke series used in races are:-
1) Incrementing stroke speed every 25-30 seconds
2) Alternating slow and fast strokes
3) Keeping stroke speed constant but varying the pressure applied to the paddles every 15-20 strokes. For instance, alternate 20 regular strokes with 20 high-pressured “power strokes”.
4) A combination of the (2) and (3) as above.

Many teams also have a “finish series”, which is a series of ultra fast strokes in the last 50-100 metres.

Answer 4

I was in a semi-final finishing dragon boat tournament once, we had the strongest at the back. You'll do best going slower but all together, slow & powerful. It's critical to be rowing together, or you get disruption in the water & paddle collisions. Ideally have a cox banging a drum or shouting at the front.

Answer 5

There is a drummer beating out a rthym. The rowers all row simultaneously. Keep your backs straight and go for it. Don't put your arms in the air when you win as you'll cope the boat. Pace yourself if your racing over heats. The team we had set a British record in a charity event, we beat the favourites who had set the record previously and were from the army ha ha ha ..........

Answer 6

Never mind any of that, if you REALLY want to win, make lots of tiny holes in your opponents boats. That way, you can take the race at a leisurely pace, perhaps whilst enjoying a pint, and enjoy the spectacle of seeing your rivals and arch enemies slowly sink into the murk.

Bwaaa-ha-haa-haaaa!

Answer 7

Well, to me it seems as if the powerhouse of the boat is towards the center and the pace setters including the drummer are at the top.

Answer 8

cross the winning line first no other action is important

Answer 9

Buy a boat :)

Answer 10

go find st george to tame the beast?