Safety
Before you paddle: safety procedure
Safety is everybody's responsibility! Speak up if you become concerned while on the water.
Medical issues – Your fitness and health are your personal responsibility. If you have a medical issue, you must take appropriate medication with you when paddling and advise the Coach and/or Sweep before paddling. If it worsens during the paddle, stop paddling and notify the Coach and/or Sweep straight away.
Numbering off – When the full team is in the boat (including the Drummer and Sweep) the Sweep will call for a Head Count starting with the Drummer then the front left hand paddler (the Stroke) then number down the boat. It's the total head count that is important.
Know your buddy – Your buddy is the person sitting next to you in the boat. Always remember who they are. if the boat capsizes, make sure they are okay. Your buddy’s personal safety depends on you. The first pair in the boat is responsible for the Drummer and the last pair for the Sweep. You don't need to remember your number, only the total number.
Remain seated until you are asked to move by the Coach or the Sweep.
Capsize – If the boat capsizes:
- Stay with the boat
- The sweep will ask you to number off around the boat
- Find your buddy
- If you come up underneath the boat, there will be air and light will shine through the hull. Take a breath and come up outside the boat.
Safety strokes
Dig it in - the emergency stop. When the Sweep calls “dig it in” all paddlers place their paddles into the water and hold them steady against the current. The vertical paddle acts as a brake stopping the boat.
Brace aka paddles on, paddles flat - the support stroke - stabilises the boat and prevents capsize. To brace, hold the paddle with the blade flat on the water, with your outside arm reaching out across the length of the paddle. Use it:
- when people are getting into and out of the dragon boat
- when moving around in the boat (at the sweep's instruction only)
- after a race, a sprint or a practice set
- at all times when not paddling.
Getting into a dragon boat
- Be alert and ready to help others.
- Two people (the Strokes) hold the bow of the boat and make it steady as the rest of the team enters the boat.
- Know your seating position before getting into the boat. It is advisable to line up on-shore in the correct position. The Sweep gets in first followed by two paddlers at a time holding their paddles. (If the stern is on the shore then the order is reversed).
- As soon as you are seated, brace the paddles on the water.
- Strokes and Drummer push off and enter the boat last.
- Before paddling a “Head Count” is carried out and the Sweep ensures that the dragon boat is well balanced. That is, paddlers paired together are of similar weight and height.
Dragon boat commands
Are you ready – the first call from the starter, Drummer holds up both arms if crew is not ready
Attention – move paddle to the start position
Go – start paddling
Dig it in (or stop the boat) – hold the blade of the paddle vertically in the water. Leave it there until the Sweep tells you otherwise.
Draw left (or right) – the nominated seats, front or back, pull the dragon boat in line while the opposite side holds their paddles flat
Head count – performed at the beginning before leaving the bank
Hold water – paddlers hold their blades still in the water to halt the boat's motion and to keep the dragon boat stationary
Let it run (or paddles out) – paddles come out of the water and let the dragon boat glide
Paddles behind – paddles are placed in a backward position for paddling backwards. Watch the storkes to keep time
Paddles flat (or blades on) – paddlers press the blade of the paddle flat on the water to stabilise the dragon boat.
Paddles forward – Move paddles to start position just above the water and wait for Sweep to call “Go”
Easy / Rest / Relax – crew members stop the activity, rest the paddle across the gunwale and prepare for “paddles flat” call
3, 2, 1 – Most on-water training routines are preceded by the calls 3, 2, 1 in time with the strokes and the action comes in on 1
