THE Port Stephens Dragon Boat Club is hailing their recent Try Dragon Boating day a success with over 20 locals heading along for a paddle.

The club has come a long way from its humble beginnings and now has three dragon boats and 35 members.

Hosting the event on the shores of Salamander Bay, the Dragon Boat Club enjoyed meeting members of the community and showcasing their sport.

Andrew Downey was one of the founders of this club who the NOTA first met in 2017 after he had secured a donation of boats and equipment for the club.

Downey told News Of The Area, “We participated in a regatta at Forster last week and did really well taking out a couple of second places and there were only a couple of seconds between the first and second place crews.”

The club has a beautiful new boat which they purchased through grant funding and fundraising.

Club members are looking forward to an event at Penrith in December and Chinese New Year at Darling Harbour.
Dragon Boat Paddling is something anyone over twelve can try.

Each dragon boat has paddlers, a drummer and a sweep, who steers the boat.

Dragon boating is a fun team activity which builds fitness and can be either competitive or a social activity.

Paddles are generally 200 to 500 metre sprints with longer paddles going for up to two kilometres.

Club members engage in paddles with other clubs up and down the coast, and meet regularly for pizza nights, breakfasts and cheese and biscuit events on the beach.

The club houses one of its boats at Soldiers Point Marina and the Port Stephens Sailing Centre.

You can find out more about this club and getting involved on their Facebook page.

By Marian SAMPSON