The Hong Kong Dragon Run 2024

The date for the 2024 event is set for 9th November 2024 – please join our Facebook group to receive updates.

Please see below for race information for 2023.

The 2023 Steelcase, The Dragon Run took place in November 2023 and was a great success. Please see our Gallery for photos of the event. (coming soon!)

 

Saturday, 11 November 2023– 10:00 – REGISTRATION CLOSED

  1. Steelcase, The Dragon Run 2023  (22km approx) – read more
  2. Steelcase, The Dragon Run 2023 – Short Course (10km approx) – read more
  3. NEW! Steelcase, The Dragon Run 2023 – Sprint Course (6km approx) – read more

Note that registration closes 30th November , 2022 18:00 (GMT+8)

 

about

Visit our Facebook page  for more race updates, videos and photo galleries

The Dragon Run will feature three races for surf skis and OCs: the full Dragon Run, the out-and-back short course race and the novice range with cash prizes for the top five men’s and women’s spots in Surfski and OC1 for Steelcase, The Dragon Run.

Conditions at this time of the year in Hong Kong are great for paddling. The North East monsoon – the prevailing wind at that time of the year in this part of the world – should provide for some excellent down-wind paddling conditions.

If the prevailing winds blow, the proposed race course should consist of mainly down-wind paddling. If “normal” conditions prevail, we would expect a steady NE wind and waist/chest high swell through the down-wind sections.

Water temperatures will be around 23 degrees Celsius, with air temperature between 18 and 27 degrees.

 

rules

Steelcase, The Dragon Run 2023 Competition Rules have been adopted from the International Canoe Federation canoe ocean racing competition rules that took effect on 1 January, 2017.

Please download / view the rules here.

prizes!

Cash prizes will be awarded for both surfski and OC1 equally this year, in men’s and women’s categories with a total prize pot to be confirmed.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please contact Brad Tarr to request our sponsorship pack.

registration

Steelcase, The Dragon Run 2023

Saturday, 11 November  2023 – 10:00 (GMT+8)

This event is an international surfski and outrigger championship which takes place in Hong Kong on Saturday, 11 November 2023. The course will start at The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club and will then proceed SE to the Ninepins Islands, then SW past Cape D’Aguilar and then to the finish line at St. Stephen’s Beach in Stanley Bay. The course will cover approximately 23km and, with the seasonal NE monsoon winds hopefully blowing, should see 10-20 knot winds and great downwind but very technical conditions for the majority of the race.

 

SAFETY BRIEFING (required attendance), 

DATE: Friday, 10th November, 2023
TIME:  ZOOM safety briefing 7pm.
Final boat and safety equipment check will take place before the race start at the marina at The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club  on 11th November.

Race numbers, shirt, cap and goody bag must be collected prior to the event from APA OUTDOOR SHOP  between 11am – 7pm, from Wednesday 8th November to Friday  10 November.

 

Fees: HK$1,300 per paddler pay before 1/10

HK 1,500  after 1/10
Fee includes: Race entry PLUS event race shirt, event race cap, tracking device, safety boats, dry bag, transport of boats from designated pick up to the start line, bus to the start line and post-race food and beverages.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

 

Steelcase, The Dragon Run 2023 – Short Course

Saturday, 11 November 2023 – 09:30 (GMT+8)

The short course race is open to single and double surf skis, OC1s and OC2s and Ocean Kayaks. The course is 10km in length and will start at St. Stephen’s Beach and proceed to  a buoy near the yellow marker at Cape D’aguilar and then finish in front of St. Stephen’s Beach HKFYG.

SAFETY BRIEFING (required attendance), 

DATE: Friday, 10th November, 2023
TIME:  ZOOM safety briefing 7:45pm.
Final boat and safety equipment check will take place before the race start on Race Headquarters at St Stephen’s Beach on  11th November.

Race numbers, shirt, cap and goody bag must be collected prior to the event from APA OUTDOOR SHOP  between 11am – 7pm, from Wednesday 8 November to Friday  10 November.

 

Fees: HK$880 per paddler – before 1/10 HK$1000  after 1/10
Fee includes:  Race entry PLUS event race shirt, event race cap, tracking device, safety boats, dry bag, and post-race food and beverages. Fees does not include transport to race start.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

 

Steelcase, The Dragon Run 2023 – Sprint Course

Saturday, 11 November 2023 – 14:00 (GMT+8)

The sprint course race is open to single and double surf skis, OC1s and OC2s and Ocean Kayaks. The course is 6km in length and will be raced in the calm waters in Stanley Bay off St. Stephen’s Beach.

SAFETY BRIEFING (required attendance), 

DATE: Saturday, 11th November, 2023
TIME:  12:30pm
VENUE: St. Stephen’s Beach
Final boat and safety equipment check will take place before the race start on 11th November.

Race numbers, shirt, cap and goody bag will be given out at before race briefing for the Sprint course at St. Stephen’s Beach.

 

 Fees:                                              HK$700 per person
Fee includes: Race entry PLUS event race shirt, event race cap, tracking device, safety boats, dry bag, and post-race food and beverages.
REGISTRATION CLOSED

 

Please follow us on Facebook to keep up to date, and if you have questions not answered on this page, please email the race organisers.

safety information

As seen on the map above the Dragon Run tracks a course that runs due SE changing to SW changing to W and finally a heading of NW. The geography of HK as a cluster of islands greatly affects wind patterns and as such it is very difficult to fully predict and describe the conditions that paddlers will face, making this a technical course to paddle.

November brings some of Hong Kong’s best weather and also paddling conditions, the predominant N to NE winds will make the extended SW leg an exciting and fast run. But also this time of year can bring our most rapid changes in weather. Winter Monsoon winds and rapidly changing swell patterns can bring cold and VERY technically challenging conditions

safety rules

All paddlers must wear a GPS tracking device supplied by the Race Organisers.

All paddlers MUST attend the safety briefing delivered as part of registration.

All paddlers MUST wear a ‘vest’ design Personal Flotation Device (PFD) with inherent buoyancy, manually inflating devices are not allowed.

All paddlers MUST have a whistle attached to their PFD.

All paddlers MUST wear a leg leash, attached to both themselves and their surf ski or outrigger canoe, throughout the race. Paddlers starting the race without a leg-leash attached and wearing their PFD will be DISQUALIFIED and notified at the end of the race.

All paddlers ARE ADVISED to carry a mobile phone or VHF radio in a secure ‘dry-bag’. Paddlers can call the Dragon Run Safety Officer or make VHF distress calls via Channel 16 or call up the Dragon Run safety team using the following call sign ‘DRAGON RUN SAFETY TEAM’.

Paddlers who pull-out of the race before the finish and are not escorted or removed by a safety boat MUST contact the Dragon Run safety officer on or report their withdrawal in person to Brad Tarr at the HKFYG St. Stephen’s Beach. Failure to do this may result in the Maritime Rescue Control Center being requested to search for them. Paddlers will be liable for any search and rescue costs incurred by a paddler who pulls out and fails to inform either the Safety Officer or race officials.

RECOMMENDATIONS

  • All paddlers are recommended to paddle the course before the event and ensure they have adequate knowledge, skill, experience and fitness to complete the event.
  • All paddlers are recommended to carry a handheld position indicating flare with them at all times during the race.
  • All paddlers are recommended to dress appropriately for the race conditions and remember that cold wind is likely. Extended exposure to these conditions and/or extended immersion in cold water can lead to hypothermia.