Dragon Boating

We provide a complete Dragon Boat experience for a perfect team building corporate event in the heart of London.

We run up to six boats racing at a time, providing not just great racing, but a great spectacle for the spectators too. This ancient and fascinating sport requires no previous experience and caters for all ages and abilities in one crew. Dragon Boating is exciting, motivating, social, fun and competitive.

A typical event consists of two or three heats per team racing down the dock. The fastest teams will qualify for the final, where they will race head to head. Qualification is based on a teams fastest, not average time.

Expert commentary from our in house PA adds a great atmosphere to your event.

Event Summary

The Dragon Boat event can be competition based only or packaged with a BBQ, drinks and even an after-party event or disco in our hall and bar area. An event requires a minimum of 20 participants to run, and teams are made up of 10 if using the Baby Dragon boats, or 16 if using the Big Dragon boats. We can cater for over 400 participants, with ample time.

As a guide, an event for 40 people (4 teams) will take approximately 1 hour, and for 100 people (10 teams) will take approximately 2 hours, excluding BBQ.

Sample Dragon Boat Event

In the summer, events can start late in the day, suitable for professionals and corporates. Below is a sample programme for about 100 to 200 participants.

1700 – Participants register and get changed
1745 – Safety Briefing
1800 – Racing begins
2000 – Racing finishes
2010 – Prize-giving
2030 – BBQ
2300 – Programme ends

The downstairs Bar can open from 1730 and participants and spectators may start purchasing alcohol. However, if we feel a participant is too intoxicated to race, we will have to prohibit them from racing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Book a Training Session?
Please contact us at info@dswc.org is you wish to book a training session.
What happens on the water?
After the briefing, racing begins as teams start competing in the heats. Boats are loaded and teams paddle down to the start line. Teams are given additional instruction by the helms on the way to the start to aid with technique.
The race course is 250 metres long and should take approximately a minute and a half to complete. Each team will race either two or three times during the heats, with individual times recorded. Teams with the fastest qualifying times will go head to head in the final.
Will there be a safety briefing?
Once changed, everyone is gathered together to have a safety briefing and be instructed on how to paddle the dragon boats. All our staff are qualified helms and first aid trained.
When you arrive?
On arrival at the Centre, participants are greeted by our staff and directed to the changing areas. We have 115 coin-operated lockers available, which are 20p per use and non-refundable. Once participants have changed, the team captain will register the team at the main reception.
What to wear?
All participants will get wet, we encourage everybody to bring a change of clothes and shoes just in case! There are changing rooms and shower facilities at the Centre so participants can bring towels and toiletries as well.