Annual Dragon Boat Challenge
Details of our fantastic annual Dragon Boat Challenge! Put next year's event in your diary now - Sunday 24th May 2020!

This is the 'flagship' charity event for the Medway Sunlight Rotary Club and one that everybody involved in really enjoys. It is held on the Whitsun Bank Holiday Sunday in May and races run throughout the day over a short course of 250 Metres of Basin No 2 in Chatham Maritime.
The Dragon boats are forty foot long, elaborately decorated, Chinese war canoes with a dragon's head and tail attached. You provide 16 "volunteers" to paddle a boat plus a drummer to beat out the rhythm for everyone to paddle to (which everyone tends to ignore!).
Teams seek sponsorship for their efforts in aid of our charities and can nominate 50% to a charity of their choice.
All the teams that enter each year have a brilliant time and provide a fantastic spectacle for the thousands of spectators who throng the side of Basin 2 to cheer on their favourite team and to enjoy the wide range of food and drink available at the Food and Drink Festival. A close run finish between the top six fastest teams in 2019 saw the winners lift a magnificent trophy and contributed to over £13,000 raised for charity.
In 2020 we aim to make the event even bigger and more successful for all taking part and already a great deal of interest has been expressed in entering teams.
See the other pages listed to the right hand side for more details - go on enter a team! E-mail dragonboat@medwaysunlightrotary.org.uk for more details.
Why not get a flavour of all of the fun of the event by clicking on here for a short video?
Related pages:
2020 Dragon Boat Challenge news (4th July 20)
Regretfully we have had to cancel the 2020 Dragon Boat Challenge BUT read on .......
detailsAre you ready for the 2020 Charity Dragon Boat Challenge?
Entry Forms are now available elsewhere on this site but see here for a summary of what it is all about - come and join us this year - it is great fun!
detailsThe 2020 Charity Dragon Boat Challenge entry forms are out!
Are you ready to play a part in this year's Medway Sunlight Rotary Club Charity Dragon Boat Challenge on Sunday 24th May, as part of the Chatham Maritime Trust Three Day Food & Drink Festival?
detailsWant to promote your organisation in our Dragon Boat Challenge programme?
We produce 4500 copies of a high quality, colour programme that is delivered to every house on St Mary's Island and given away to thousands of spectators on the day.
detailsEntry for the 2020 Charity Dragon Boat Challenge opens shortly!
Be sure to email us your expression of interest form to ensure that you are amongst the first to receive the entry form !
detailsThank you for another fantastic Dragon Boat Challenge !
2019 Dragon Boat Challenge another success! Fancy a go in 2020?
detailsThe 2020 Charity Dragon Boat Challenge is coming!
The Entry Forms and information for this year's Challenge will be sent out before the end of January and also be posted on this website - get your form back quickly to be in this year's races!
detailsPhotos from the Dragon Boat Challenge 2019
Just a few from Sunday's event to wet your appetite until we have gathered the rest - do you have any that you would like to share with us?
detailsDragon Boat Challenge team's times
Find out how your team managed in their three timed heats to decide on the top 12 to progress to the finals
detailsThe results of the 2019 Dragon Boat Challenge !
A very close 6 boat final race saw Team GBE win by under half a second from Medway Rowers - well done to both of them and to all the teams that took part!
detailsLost Property
We have a few items left behind at the Dragon Boat Challenge on Sunday - are they yours?
details2019 Dragon Draw winning tickets
Details of all winning tickets in our Grand Dragon Draw 2019
detailsDragon Boat Captain's Pack with all the information you need for the 26th May
Copy of the Captain's pack which has been sent to all registered Team Captains - contains sponsor forms, team registration, flag details and lots more.
detailsNew video of last year's Dragon Boat Challenge
With the kind help of Mid Kent College students we are pleased to present a short video of last year's fun - this year's event will be even bigger and better!
detailsEntry Forms for the 2019 Charity Dragon Boat Challenge - now out!
Our ever popular and growing Dragon Boat Challenge takes place on Sunday 26th May 2019 - find out how to enter here
detailsAnother brilliant Dragon Boat Challenge !
The 2018 Dragon Boat Challenge ended in another great final race between the top 6 fastest teams from the heats.
detailsWant to donate to the Charity Dragon Boat Challenge ?
26 teams will be thrashing it out on the water on Sunday 27th May 2018 - why? - for fun, for the bragging rights of being the winner and of course to raise funds for Charity !
detailsThe Minor and Major final - team times and positions
See the winners of both the President's Trophy for the Minor final and for the Clive Lawrence Memorial Trophy for the Main Final
detailsMedway Sunlight Rotary Charity Dragon Boat Challenge on TV !
Our thanks to KMTV for inviting us into their studio today to talk about the Dragon Boat Challenge
details2018 Dragon Draw Winners
All the winning tickets from yesterday's very successful Dragon Draw at the Dragon Boat Challenge. Thank you so much to all those generous people and businesses that donated prizes and to everyone who bought tickets.
detailsDragon Boat Challenge Heat Times
For all those stat nuts out there - here are all the times of all the teams in the three heats - fastest 12 went into the finals.
detailsDragon Boat Challenge Site Map
A map of the site showing where to register, team village etc
details2018 Dragon Boat Captain's Pack
All the information sent to Captains to help them press gang their crews!
detailsTeam list for the 2018 Charity Dragon Boat Challenge is released!
26 teams will be battling it out on the water between 10:30 and 4:30pm on 27th May 2018 in aid of charity - see who is taking part and come on down to cheer them on !
detailsCongratulations to Kent Boat and Ski Club - the Winners of the 2018 Dragon Boat Challenge
All final race positions and times together with photos will be posted as soon as possible!
detailsInterested in entering the 2018 Charity Dragon Boat Challenge?
NEWS! Application forms and details of the 5th Anniversary Charity Dragon Boat Challenge have now been released - links to everything you need to enter are given below. Have a look at this short video for a flavour of the fun!
detailsPhotos from the 2017 Dragon Boat Challenge
Spot your team in action or just enjoy the fun of the day in pictures.
detailsWinners of the Dragon Draw !
Many thanks to everyone who supported us by buying Draw Tickets to help raise money for Rotary Children's Hospice Holidays and other Rotary supported charities.
detailsDragon Boat Challenge 2017
Planning for our fourth annual Dragon Boat Challenge is well under way - keep checking here for new information.
detailsLine up for the fourth annual Dragon Boat Challenge is announced
The list of teams taking part in this coming Sunday's Dragon Boat Challenge has been published.
detailsWe are on KM Online!
The Dragon Boat Challenge is mentioned as a main attraction in this article in this week's What's On.
detailsEntry Forms for the 2017 Dragon Boat Challenge are now out!
Entry forms for our fourth annual Charity Dragon Boat Challenge are now out and can be downloaded here.
detailsDragon Boat Captain's Pack
All the forms and information sent to the Captains of our 30 teams ready for the big day.
detailsDragon Boat Challenge - 29 May 2016 - UPDATED
All the information you need as we approach this year's great event!
detailsDragon Boat Challenge 2015
All the news and pictures of our second Annual Dragon Boat Challenge
details2014 Dragon Boats - What a fantastic day!
Some early thoughts on the great Dragon Boat Challenge on Sunday May 25th
details