Teams will race in dragon boats provided by our dragon boat event's supplier.  Along with all the boats, paddles and buoyancy aids for all competitors whilst on the water will also be provided.  Each boat will also have a helms person provided by the dragon boat company, who will steer your team's boat (teams are NOT expected to steer their own boat).

The day is expected to start around 10:00 and finish around 16:30 - 17:30 depending on final numbers.

A dragon boat team is made up of between eleven to seventeen team members (the odd number being the team drummer, whose job it is to beat the big drum so that the team can all paddle in time and together). ​ 

Before each team's first race, everyone will be given a full safety briefing and also instruction on the technique used. Over the course of the event, teams will compete in three timed qualifying heats, where your single fastest time only will count for Grand Final qualification. (So one or two disasters during the qualifying heats no problem, as long as out of your three heats, you get at least one good time).

Team work is vital if a fast time is going to be achieved and for this reason, the instructors will also give further 'on the water' training to help with technique. Over the distance we race (200 meters), fitness is not a key factor - technique however is because it's a team sprint where team work and timing is everything.  

What you will be aiming to achieve is an opportunity to compete in the last race of the event ... the Grand Final. This will be a race where all the dragon boats that can be safely raced together will race one last time and first across the finish line will be declared: Dragon Boat Champions of Manchester 2023.

The event will finish with our award ceremony where team trophies will be awarded to the Captain's of the top three teams and Winner's Medals to each member of the winning team.  

Most teams will enter using the "Charity Route", where they are able to nominate and fundraise for their chosen registered charity, are required to set up an online fundraising page and challenged to raise a minimum £1,000 for their charity.

There is also a Corporate Entry Route or teams wanting to help sponsor the event, where a proportion of each team entry fee also gets distributed between the partner charities in the afternoon Multi Charity event.

All teams entering via the Corporate Entry Route will have their company logo displayed on a 'Corporate Sponsor's Panel' on the webpage.

Partnering with the 2023 event are four Partner Charities:  

The MFT Charity, comprising ten NHS hospitals in the Greater Manchester area, 

Barnabus, who do such amazing work helping the homeless in Manchester.

Wood Street Mission, a children’s charity helping children and families living on a low income in Manchester and Salford.

Seashell Trust, a charity in based Stockport for children, young people and adults with sensory impairment, profound and multiple learning difficulties, and profound communication difficulties.

Should your charity also wish to be included as a Partner Charity for this event, please click on the purple button below and complete the online form.