This is a fun regatta. It is not a requirement to have ever paddled in a dragon boat prior to the safety/paddling instruction/training sessions. At the practice sessions we will teach you the basics. It is very easy to learn basic competency in dragon boating. The races will be 240m - from under the Pyrmont Bridge towards Tumbalong Park. All teams will race 2 heats, Industry Challenge and/or final - that’s 3 races for your team. Any group of 20 (don't have to be cancer survivors) may make up a team, plus 4 reserves if possible. This could be a corporate group, your local sporting or community club, a mothers group - the possibilities are endless. See Rules and Regulations which apply to different categories. Dragons Abreast will supply drummers and Fully Accredited Sweeps for all teams. By getting your registration form in early and gathering your 20 team mates together, as space is limited. Registration is confirmed once the registration application is received by Dragons Abreast Australia AND your team has raised at least $2000 for Dragons Abreast Australia. It is recommended that teams line up some reserve paddlers as race rules will not allow any team with fewer than 16 paddlers on the water. Race slots will be allocated on a first come/first served basis until the race is full. Anyone can round up a group of 20 friends, co-workers etc to form a team, then they can register that team in the normal way. This is about having some fun and raising some funds - doesn't matter if you have never paddled before! We will give you a training session. Each team will have a Dragons Abreast Team Manager to communicate updates and information to the Team Captain (one of your paddlers). Each Team Captain can then communicate race information to the team members. Any paddler who cannot swim 50 metres lightly clothed is required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD) when on the water and must make this notation when registering for the race. Loan PFDs will be available for paddlers who have indicated their need for one. Funds cannot be returned but you may arrange a substitute paddler. Entry in the Dragons Abreast Inaugural Corporate/Community/Social Dragon Boat Regatta is gained via raising a minimum of $2000 or more per team for Dragons Abreast Australia, which is a registered charity.

You may choose to run a fundraising campaign - in which case all donations $2 and over to Dragons Abreast Australia are tax-deductible, or you may prefer to have a company sponsor your entry fees, in which case we are able to issue a tax invoice.

Entry fees, insurances, practice session costs, paddles, (and PFDs for those who cannot swim 50 metres lightly clothed) will be provided by Dragons Abreast. Then a single tax-deductible receipt will be supplied to that organisation in the name supplied on the registration form. The team captain (someone on your team) needs to collect up and supply the appropriate details of each individual's donation so that individual tax-deductible receipts can be supplied.

A Team Registration - Individual Tax-Deductible Receipt Information form is provided. For individual receipts to be suplied, the completed form must be submitted prior to race day. The success of Dragons Abreast is based on the fact that we operate under a national model. The national framework ensures that members are kept up to date with and have access to the services and support facilities provided by the national body as well as to information and services supplied by those who are experts in the sport of dragon boat racing.

Dragons Abreast Australia develops and maintains educated and informed regional representatives and subcommittees to actively, effectively and ethically sustain member groups. This is a vital and integral part of keeping the focus on the Dragons Abreast message of increasing breast cancer awareness, giving hope to the newly diagnosed and helping women to improve their fitness and lead full and active lives despite breast cancer.

Skills of our representatives need to be honed and this is done through workshops, and, in some cases, attendance at conferences or courses specific to the skillset required. This comes at a price - but these representatives are what gives the credibility and sustainability to our organisation - and why more and more women want to avail themselves of the benefits of Dragons Abreast. Funds raised allow us to meet the rising costs of providing the service that is increasingly recommended by medical professions to those travelling the breast cancer journey. All team members are requested to attend their team's training/safety session. This ensures that all team members are advised of safety issues relating to participation in the race and to the race venue. Individual paddlers who have paddled in this race in previous years but who are unable to attend the training session agree that they have been apprised of all relevant safety issues. Teams which have trained together prior to the race will invariably paddle more effectively as a team in a race. Additional training sessions can be arranged upon request for extra-keen crews however charges will be incurred (which can be made via donation). Every participant will be covered by personal accident insurance offered by DBNSW Inc. Parking is very limited at Bank Street so car-pooling is strongly advised. Some metered parking is available in surrounding streets and parking is also available in the Sydney Fish Market. There is a light rail stop at the Fish Market, approx 200m from the practice venue. Comfortable clothing which can get wet - eg shorts and Tshirt with non-slip shoes which can get wet. Also wear sunscreen. A plastic bottle of drinking water and some dry clothes and shoes to go home in as sometimes clothes get wet from splashing. Every effort will be made to complete the practice session within two hours of commencement. Again, water to drink, plenty of sunscreen plus comfortable clothes which can get wet. Teams may choose to race in a team shirt, cap or uniform for clearer identification. DO NOT BRING any valuables unless you also bring a friend or family to guard them while you are on the water. No responsibility will be taken by the organizers for paddlers' personal possessions.