Day 1 of the 2011 Hong Kong Intenational Dragon Boat Races started with the recognizable drumbeats going out over the race-venue just off The Avenue of the Stars.

I took a picture of the boats doing some warm-up runs from my lounge here in Hung Hom.

However, minutes after taking the picture… the heavens opened up.

An hour later and it hasn’t stopped.

According the the Hong Kong Observatory this is what we can expect for the weekend.

Hopefully we will have some racing over the weekend.

The race venue at 10:30am

One of my family’s eagerly-anticipated beach event takes place on Lamma Island this weekend.

Organisers of the 5th annual Laracy & Co Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival being staged on 15th May at Tai Wan To Beach, Lamma Island, Hong Kong announced today that a big turnout of forty-seven dragon boat teams, including a record of ten women’s teams, would be competing in this year’s race series.

“It’s a fantastic turnout of both local and expatriate teams,” said Event Director Brad Tarr of Thirsty Horse Premium Wines, “the beach is going to be rocking!”

“The Lamma 500 is one of the most exciting, colourful and friendly sporting events in Hong Kong but gives away nothing in competitive spirit.” said Mr Damien Laracy, at title sponsors Laracy & Co. “With forty-seven teams competing there’s going to be another wonderful day on the beach and the water.”

First staged in 2007 the Lamma 500 is one of the newest dragon boat races on the Hong Kong race calendar, but has quickly established itself as a firm favourite among paddlers for both its highly competitive racing over a full international race distance and it’s carnival atmosphere.

“The Lamma 500 is without doubt, one of the best Dragon Boat races in Hong Kong” said Antony Michell, Captain of last years finalists the Tai Tam Tigers and Chairman of sponsors The Henley Group. “We’re really looking forward to it!”

In addition to the 500 metre races, the Lamma 500 also features a 1,000 metre race which up to forty of the teams will also compete in. The 1,000 metre race was introduced in 2009 as an experimental fun race. Now most teams participate in the gruelling 1km race which offers first-place trophies for Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed team champions.

Dragon Boat Racing for Good

Children’s charity the Make A Wish Foundation are the official charity of the Lamma 500 and activities will be held during the day to raise funds for the fantastic work in Hong Kong of the Foundation.

The 2010 Laracy & Co Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival (Pic: Mike Jansen)

Laracy & Co Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival, Schedule – May 15th 2011

9am First race

12.30pm 1,000m race

4pm Men’s, Women’s, Mixed finals

5pm Awards presentation

5.30pm Lamma 500 Beach Party

Entry for spectators is free and food and drinks are available at the beach.

Here are some images from last year’s Festival:

(Additional picture: LammaDragonBoat.com)

One of the iconic pictures of Hong Kong is undoubtedly the sight of junk boats in Victoria Harbour.

Although the junk is an ancient Chinese seafaring vessel, it is still in use today.  While the larger junks are very much part of the party-scene in the SAR with scores of weekend party-goers taking to the seas around Hong Kong on party-junks, there are still many fisher folk using smaller junks to ply their trade.

The older junks were of course fitting with massive red/maroon sails, while these days they are all diesel-powered.  Some of the corporate party-junks like the one in the picture below, even have faux-sails for added effect.

Two of the city’s icons: the junk framed by the famous Hong Kong island skyline

I took the following pictures of a fisherman’s junk working the waters of Victoria Harbour near my apartment:

The new and the old. A junk bobbing in the choppy waters of Victoria Harbour with the North Point/Kowloon Bay ferry (orange) in the background (Pics: Mike Jansen)

The organisers of the 2010 SaSa 2010 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races yesterday announced that the races were to be down-scaled from a 3-day to a 2-day event due to the effects of the tropical storm Chanthu.

However, as we have always forecasted here at Howzit-HongKong.com, once again this tropical storm warning proved to be just another storm-in-a-teacup.

We we got home at about 1pm this afternoon, conditions in Victoria Harbour proved to be ideal (a flat,calm harbour) for Dragon Boat racing.

When we passed Tsim Sha Tsui East in the vicinity of the Kowloon Shangrila Hotel, there was some activity on the water.

It may have been the various teams getting in a practice run or two before the big event tomorrow, we don’t know.

So, if you’re in the mood for some great international Dragon Boat racing, head out to the Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront tomorrow.

Read all about the Race on Howzit-HongKong.com here

The SaSa 2010 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races moves back to Victoria Harbour this year.

This year, the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races celebrates its 35th anniversary and at the same time marks the 20th anniversary of the International Dragon Boat Federation. Hong Kong is the birthplace of modern international dragon boat racing and is well respected as the ideal place for international dragon boat racing. Modern competitive dragon boat racing began back in 1976 in Hong Kong and is now practised in over 65 countries/ regions. To mark this auspicious and remarkable milestone, it was decided to move the international races back to iconic Victoria Harbour for 2010.

This outdoor fun-fest, organised by the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Association and co-organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board, is the biggest event of the Hong Kong Summer Spectacular. This is going to be a wild carnival filled with sports, culture and culinary treats that you won’t want to miss!

Paddlers from around the world will descend upon the waters of Victoria Harbour vying for international glory during the 35th staging of the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races.

Meanwhile, on land, participants can indulge in great food, beer and entertainment at the nearby San Miguel Beer Garden. It’s great way to experience the living culture of Asia’s world city.

Date: 23-25 July

Venue: East Tsim Sha Tsui

(Click HERE for a map on how to get there)

(Video and pictures from Discoverhongkong.com)

Yesterday we reported about the Stanley Dragon Races that are taking place on Tuen Ng Festival tomorrow (Wednesday, June 16).

WikiPedia has the following to say about Dragon Boat Racing:

A dragon boat is a human-powered boat traditionally made of teak wood to various designs and sizes. It is one of a family of Traditional Long Boats found throughout Asia, Africa and the Pacific Islands. It is now used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing which originated in China over 200 years ago.

While competition has taken place annually for more than 20 centuries as part of folk ritual, it emerged in modern times as an international “sport” in Hong Kong in 1976.

For competition events, dragon boats are generally rigged with decorative Chinese dragon heads and tails. At other times the decorative regalia is usually removed, although the drum often remains aboard for training purposes. In some areas of China, the boats are raced without dragon adornments.

In addition to Stanley, there are races taking place all over the region.  Here is the complete list from Hong Kong Tourism:

Stanley International Dragon Boat Championship 2010

8am – 6.30pm

Admission: free

Venue: Stanley main beach

How to get there:

MTR Hong Kong Station Exit D, then take bus 6, 6A, 6X or 260 at Exchange Square bus terminal to Stanley;

Or take bus number 14 from Sai Wan Ho Ferry Pier to Stanley;

Or take mini bus number 40 or 16M from Causeway Bay, Tang Lung Street to Stanley.

2010 Aberdeen Dragon Boat Race

9am – 4pm

Admission: free

Venue: Seafront of Aberdeen Promenade

How to get there:

MTR Hong Kong Station Exit D and take bus 70 from Exchange Square bus terminal to Aberdeen.

Sha Tin Dragon Boat Race 2010

7.30am – 1pm

Admission: free

Venue: Shing Mun River, Sha Tin (starting close to Banyan Bridge)

How to get there:

MTR Sha Tin Station Exit A, walk through New Town Plaza to Sha Tin Park. Then walk to the left along the riverside for about 10 minutes

Tai Po District Dragon Boat Race 2010

8.30 – 1pm

Admission: free

Venue: Promenade at Tai Po Waterfront Park, Tai Po

How to get there:

Take bus 275S from MTR Tai Po Market Station. Alight at Yuen Shin Park and walk across Yuen Shin Road

Tuen Mun District Dragon Boat Races 2010

8am – 1pm

Admission: free

Venue: Castle Peak Bay Typhoon Shelter, Area 44, Tuen Mun

How to get there:

Take LTR No. 505, 614 or 507 or bus to Tuen Mun Ferry Station and then walk 5 minutes to the Race venue

2010 The Sai Kung Dragon Boat Races

8am – 2pm

Admission: free

Venue:

Races: Sai Kung Town waterfront, Sai Kung

Carnival: Sai Kung Waterfront Park, Sai Kung

How to get there:

MTR Hang Hau Station Exit B1 and take green minibus 101M, or MTR Choi Hung Station Exit C2 and take green minibus 1A to the Sai Kung town terminus.

Lamma Island (South) Dragon Boat Race Celebration for Tin Hau

10.30am – 2.30pm

Admission: free

Venue: Sok Kwu Wan, Lamma Island

How to get there:

Take ferry from Central Pier 4 (MTR Hong Kong Station Exit E1, walk through ifc mall) to Sok Kwu Wan.

Southern Lamma Island Invitational Dragon Boat Race

10.30am – 2.30pm

Admission: free

Venue: Lok Chau Wan, Lamma Island

How to get there: Take a boat to Lok Chau Wan at Aberdeen Waterfront.

Mui Wo Dragon Boat Race Open 2010

8am – 4pm

Admission: free

Venue: Silvermine Bay Beach, Mui Wo, Lantau Island

How to get there:

Take ferry from Central Pier 6 (MTR Hong Kong Station Exit E1, walk through ifc mall) to Mui Wo. Or MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B, then take bus 3M to Mui Wo.

Discovery Bay Dragon Boat Races & Carnival 2010

8am – 5pm

Admission: free

Venue:

Races: Tai Pak Beach, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

Carnival: DB Piazza, Discovery Bay, Lantau Island

How to get there:

Take ferry from Central Pier 3 (MTR Hong Kong Station Exit E1, walk through ifc mall) in Central to Discovery Bay.

Or take bus DB01R from MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B

Or bus DB03R from MTR Sunny bay Station Exit A.

Cheung Chau Dragon Boat Races

10am – 4.30pm

Admission: free

Venue: Cheung Chau Pak She Praya, Cheung Chau

How to get there:

Take ferry from Central Pier 5 (MTR Hong Kong Station Exit E1, walk through ifc mall) in Central to Cheung Chau.

Tai O Dragon Boat Race in Celebration of Tuen Ng Festival 2010

10am – 2pm

Admission: free

Venue: Tai O Sheltered Boat Anchorage, Tai O, Lantau Island

How to get there:

MTR Tung Chung Station Exit B, then take New Lantao Bus No.11 to Tai O.

Or take ferry from Central Pier 6 (MTR Hong Kong Station Exit E1, walk through ifc mall) in Central to Mui Wo. Then take New Lantao Bus No. 1 to Tai O.

Summer is upon us here in Hong Kong and if you are looking to wet your toes in the Hong Kong waters after a long week at the office, why not head to Lamma Island’s Tai Wan To (Power Station) Beach this Sunday for the Laracy & Co Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival 2010. 

Organiser Mark Burns, who sometimes wears his other hat as the Tournament Director of the successful Hong Kong Cricket Sixes (won by South Africa last year) tells us that forty teams, including the athletic Boracay Bumshells team from the Philippines have entered this weekend’s Festival.

“It’s a fantastic line up of teams.” said Race Director Brad Tarr. “With strong teams such as defending champions the Island Paddle Club, plus the likes of the Boracay Bumshells, Stormy Dragons and the Lamma Dragons it’s going to be another really competitive Festival.”

First staged in 2007 this is the fourth annual Festival, also known as the “Lamma 500” due to its international race standard 500m course length. 

“The Lamma 500 is one of the most exciting, colourful and friendly sports events in Hong Kong but with a real competitive edge,” said Mr Damien Laracy, Principal at title sponsors Laracy & Company. “We’re delighted to continue our support for the event. “

The Lamma 500 is one of the most challenging and competitive races on the Hong Kong dragon boat calendar with deep, fast water on a course set against the incredible backdrop of one of the territory’s highest peaks, Mount Stenhouse, and the dramatic industrial landscape of the Hong Kong Electric Power Station. 

Securing its reputation as one of the most challenging races of the season, the Festival also features the only 1,000 metre dragon boat race to be held in Hong Kong. A record number of teams are expected to compete in this extreme race.

The Make A Wish Foundation children’s charity is the Official Charity of the Lamma 500 and will be organizing activities during the event to raise funds for their activities. 

The Laracy & Company Lamma 500 will take place from 9am to 6pm on May 16th 2010 and will be followed by the popular Lamma 500 Beach Party.

Entry for spectators is free and refreshments are available at the beach.

I heard that the coldest beer in Hong Kong can be found at Tai Wan To Beach on Sunday so I’ll be taking the kids to Lamma this weekend.  Hope to see you there!

Here is some footage from last year’s Lamma 500:

(Additional picture from RoyalX Team)