Get out on the water in your own Dragon Boat Regatta!
For over ten years, 150 Year 10 students from Mercedes College have waged a fierce and friendly inter-house competition on the Swan River – in dragon boats!
Run by the Perth Pirates Dragon Boat Club of Maylands, the girls descend upon the boats for a fantastic day of racing, team spirit, lots of cheering and a fair amount of splashing.
With 16 to 20 student paddlers to a boat, we provide skilled ‘sweeps’ who will guide each team, keep them focused and entertained and spur the students on to paddle to victory. We’re also happy if a teacher wants to jump in the boat as well!
Lyn Davis, Mercedes College Year 10 Co-ordinator has seen well over a thousand students participate in the regatta over the years. “The Mercedes College Dragon-Boat regatta is a major event on the Year 10 girls’ calendar. The annual trophy is hotly contested between the houses and the very nature of dragon-boating encourages participation, camaraderie and a strong sense of team spirit. I’d highly recommend dragon- boating to any school to include in their inter-house calendar. The Pirates certainly make it a fun and well-run day out.”
A typical School Regatta day can run from 9.00am to 2.30pm, providing many races in a round robin format. We provide lifejackets and a safety boat and we co-ordinate the whole day from the time that your students arrive. The package also includes a healthy lunch and water.
Experienced Pirate paddlers will visit your school over two lunchtimes prior to the regatta day to give your students a ‘dry-land’ training session. This is always lots of fun and gives the students an idea of the teamwork and co-ordination required and ensures they enjoy the regatta day that little bit more.
Held at the centrally located Maylands Sport and Recreation Club, there is ample parking for buses and fully accessible toilet facilities.
At a cost of $27 per student, this day provides a unique experience for any WA student.
To find out more about holding a school regatta dragon-boating day, contact Dominique Mecoy, Perth Pirates on 0417 986 281 or dmecoy@westnet.com.au