Dragon Boat Races 2021

After an enforced break last year because of Covid, the Dragon Boat Races were back on in Saltaire's Roberts Park, albeit in a much reduced format. There were considerably fewer teams competing, so that they only had two boats in each race. That meant long waits between heats, as the boats emptied and had to be filled by the following teams. The races only last just over a minute too, so it's a frustrating experience trying to get photos... a brief burst of frantic activity and then a very long wait before the next burst. 

It's all about team work and co-ordination. Some crews are calmly synchronised, everyone dipping their paddles in time to the beat of the drum. Others thrash about and can't find their timing, and they do markedly less well. 

It's a lot of fun though, and raises money for the Lord Mayor's chosen charities, as well as other good causes. And if you have any doubt as to how seriously the teams take it, you only have to look at those expressions!