Royal Australian Navy Dragon Boating Association
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| Contact | navysport.dragon@defence.gov.au |
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The RAN Dragon Boat Team was formed at HMAS Cerberus in 1996. The original concept was to provide opportunities for sailors under training to pursue higher levels of personal fitness, to experience the disproportionate effects of synergy, to develop teamwork and coordination, and to engender pride in the Navy. The initiative was so successful that during the next few years, the team achieved domestic and international victories, recording spectacular wins in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Hong Kong and China. The best result to date has been setting a world record 1300 metre title at the 1998 Championships in Gui Lin, China. This race occurs only once every four years, as per the Olympics, and the Royal Australian Navy still holds that record.
Benefits of the Sport
Dragon boating is an ideal sport for the Navy. It requires strength, flexibility, great endurance and superb team spirit. There are no individual heroes - each paddler's contribution is essential. It engenders respect for your team mates, encourages you to constantly exceed your own limits and expectations, and gives you the opportunity to represent your Service and your country at the highest sporting levels on the world stage. It requires absolutely no prior experience of paddling in order to join up, is equally suitable for males and females, can be commenced at any level of fitness, and avoids the injuries associated with contact sports.
Vision for the Sport
The RAN Dragon Boat Team is committed to growing the sport Navy-wide, to having dragon boating recognized as a superb team-building tool, and to encouraging all Navy personnel to get involved, especially those who are not attracted to traditional contact sports, such as Rugby Union and Australian Rules Football. The Navy team is assisting Army and Air Force to establish their own teams, with the long-term goal of having dragon boating approved as an official ADF sport. Navy aspires to remain the pre-eminent Defence Force team, to uphold its reputation as a powerful force on the domestic and international circuits, and to enable all members to recognize and achieve their potential.
