Every dragon boat race is unique. So you can actually customize the provisions to suit your budget and needs. Your race can therefore be sport competitive or the get together for cohesion fun kind. You set your goal and we will help you achieve it. To help in your planning:
1. You will require,
a. Approval and Sanction from the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) – the national sport authority for the sport of dragon boat. The sanction fee is SG$1,000
b. Approval from PUB, other relevant authorities and venue stakeholders. Note that certain authorities and venue stakeholder will charge some fee for their permit or permission to use their venue. You may engage SDBA to apply. Admin fee up to SG$1,500 is applicable
c. Public Liability insurance (PL) for the event. If you already have your own PL for events, please check with your insurer whether can activate for a dragon boat racing event
2. Pick a venue,
a) Venues with existing racing course. Note that some venue owners will charge a fee for their land/water sites.
Water site (owner) |
Land site (owner) |
Land site suitable for supporting mass activities |
Marina Channel 1,000m race course (Singapore Canoe Federation) |
Bay East Gardens Shears Bridge (Gardens by the Bay) |
Up to 1,000 pax (1/2 bridge space) Up to 2,000 pax (full bridge pace) Up to 3,000 pax (full bridge + open green) |
Bedok Reservoir 1,000m race course (Ministry of Education) |
Bedok Reservoir Park (NParks) |
Up to 3,000 pax or more (sprawled over few open greens) |
Kallang Basin 500m race course |
Sports Hub Water Sports Centre (Sports Hub) |
Up to 1,000 pax Up to 2,000 pax (if extended into OCBC Square or Stadium Waterfront Promenade) |
Jurong Lake* 200m race course (PA Water Venture) *expected to come on line mid- 2019 |
PA Water Venture |
Up to 1,000 pax |
Punggol River 200m race course (PUB) |
Anchorvale CC (People’s Association) |
Up to 500 pax |
b) Venues without race course
You will be required to install a suitable race course on top of the venue fee. You may engage SDBA to install the race course for a fee. Note that racing distance and no. of racing lanes will determine the costs of the race course
Water site (owner) |
Land site (owner) |
Land site suitable for mass activities |
Kallang River Up to max. 200m race course (PUB) |
Kallang Riverside Park (NParks) |
Up to 1,500 pax |
Marina Bay Up to max. 500m race course |
Marina Waterfront Promenade (URA) |
Up to 3,000 pax or more (Promenade space) Up to 5,000 pax or more (Promenade + Promontory space) |
3. Select type of Boats,
a) SDBA has two types of boats – the Training and Racing Boat.
b)The Training Boat is bigger, heavier and more stable than the Racing Boat and is better suited for 1st timers and novices.
c) For an additional fee, the Racing Boat can be fully equipped with dragon boat accessories – dragon head, tail, drum, drummer seat and racing number plate.
Type |
Max. No of Boats |
SDBA Affiliate |
Non-SDBA Affiliate |
Comes with Paddles |
Comes with Personal Floatation Device |
Additional Fee |
Training Boat 12-crew “small” |
20 |
$ 32.10 |
$ 64.20 |
10 each boat |
10 each boat |
i. For dragon boat accessories ii. Launch/recovery from storage iii. Towing and/or transportation to any venue |
Training Boat 22-crew “standard” |
18 |
$ 53.50 |
$ 107.00 |
20 each boat |
20 each boat |
i. For dragon boat accessories ii. Launch/recovery from storage iii. Towing and/or transportation to any venue |
Racing Boat 12-crew “small” |
10 |
$ 250 |
$ 500 |
10 each boat |
10 each boat |
Towing to venue inside Marina Reservoir only |
Racing Boat 22-crew “standard” |
11 |
$ 500 |
$ 1,000 |
20 each boat |
20 each boat |
Towing to venue inside Marina Reservoir only |
4. Mandatory requirements,
a) Rescue Boats
One(1)*Power Boat to function as the rescue boat. If you have four(4) or more racing lanes, the number of power boat to function as rescue boat need to increase to two(2). The power boat will come with MPA licensed boat driver and petrol. The Rescue Boat may double-up as the Race Umpire Boat for race judging.
b. Race Umpire Boat
If you have four(4) or more racing lanes, there is a need to deploy and additional one(1)*Power Boat to function as the Race Umpire Boat for race judging. The power boat will come with MPA licensed boat driver and petrol. This will be on top of the two(2)*Power Boats that functions as the Rescue Boats.
b) Lifeguards
One(1)*Lifeguard. If you have four(4) or more racing lanes, the number of Lifeguards will need to increase to two(2).
c) Race Officials
Depending on nature and size of event, (i.e. sport competitive or get together for cohesion fun), size of Race Officials ranges from minimum 6 pax to 40 pax.
5. Please decide,
a) Do you require additional paddles and/or personal floatation device
b) Do you require SDBA to provide one(1) steersperson per boat?
c) Do you require SDBA to provide one(1) coach/trainer per boat to conduct crash course in dragon boating immediately before your race?
6. Write to us,
Write to admin@sdba.org.sg, cc to raizal@sdba.org.sg, for a quote. Note that we will need to arrange a meeting to discuss in a little bit more detail before we are able to provide a suitable quotation.