Paddler's Guide to Dragon Boat Canada Rules of Racing Open Age 2026

• Division I racer: anyone on a Club Crew List for the current Canadian Championships, a racer at the previous Club Crew World Championships or World Dragon Boat Racing Championships (any division or class), or a racer currently registered as a DBC member.
• Division II racer: a paddler or drummer on a Club Crew List for the current Canadian Championships, or a racer currently registered as a DBC member.
• Division III paddler or drummer: anyone on a crew list at a festival or the current Canadian Championships, a DBC member, or someone not registered with DBC at all.
• No crossing over at the Canadian Championships: a Division I paddler or drummer cannot paddle or drum in Division II or III. A Division II one cannot in Division I or III. Division III paddlers and drummers cannot race in Division I or II. (Steering is more flexible: see the steersperson question.)
• Division II crews may include a maximum of four Division I paddlers.
• Membership: all racers in Division I and II must be current DBC members, or hold current affiliation with another organization recognized by the IDBF, to race in Race Series Regattas and Divisions.
• One club: racers may be a member of and race with only one club. Exceptions allow crossover for eligible University, BCP, BPS, ACP, PD1, PD2 and Transplant racers from clubs without a crew in that category.
• Points: Division I and II crews are eligible for Canadian Championships club and crew points. Division III crews are not. Only Division I crews can earn CCWC points if they meet the CCWC Protocol criteria.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 6.1, 6.2, 16.1.

All ages are as at December 31 of the given year.

• Junior B: all paddlers and the drummer 16 or younger.
• Junior A: all paddlers and the drummer 18 or younger.
• 24 and Under (PS): all racers 24 or younger. Alternatively, any number of paddlers, the steersperson and the drummer may be registered full-time post-secondary students (fall and/or winter terms of the prior academic year) from a single academic institution. Those crews must be a member crew of a DBC registered club, be an affiliate student group or club at a Canadian university, college or CEGEP as at April 1, and bring printed proof of enrolment for each athlete.
• Senior A: steersperson and all paddlers 39 or older.
• Senior B (Grand Dragon): paddlers 49 or older, steersperson 39 or older.
• Senior C (Great Grand Dragon): paddlers 59 or older, steersperson 49 or older.
• Senior D: paddlers 69 or older, steersperson 59 or older.
• Breast Cancer Paddler (BCP): all racers (any gender) must be breast cancer survivors, and all crew 18 or older. All Cancer Survivor (ACP): all racers diagnosed with any form of cancer, and all crew 18 or older. A release form from the registered club must go to the Chief Official before the event.
• PD1 and PD2 (Para): all crew members 12 or older, with a sighted drummer and steersperson. PD1 paddlers must all be Para paddlers. In PD2 the number of non-Para paddlers may equal but not exceed the number of Para paddlers.
• No age restrictions: Premier Open, Division II and Division III.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rule 6.2.

• Open: no gender restriction (Premier Open has no restrictions).
• Women: an all-female crew. In Premier Women the steersperson must be female too, and no male steersperson is allowed in a Women's crew. Division III Women: all paddlers and the drummer must be female.
• Mixed (Premier, Junior, 24 and Under, Senior and Division II): a standard boat needs a minimum of 8 and a maximum of 10 paddlers of each gender. A small boat or small crew needs a minimum of 4 and a maximum of 5 of each gender.
• Division III Mixed: at least 10 female paddlers in a standard boat, or at least 5 in a small boat or small crew.
• Para: PD1 and PD2 have no gender restrictions.
• Checks: boat marshals check the number of each gender in a Mixed crew before you embark.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 3.8.1, 3.8.8, 6.2.

• Accreditation: steerspeople must be accredited through DBC's Safe Steering Accreditation to take part in any DBC-sanctioned event or race, including the Canadian Dragon Boat Championships, Race Off Regattas and Club Crew Events. Non-Canadian club steers may provide an attestation of their accreditation from their national federation or an equivalent sanctioned body.
• Divisions: a Division I or Division II racer may steer in the other divisions (Division I may steer in II or III, Division II may steer in I or III) at the Canadian Championships, even though they cannot paddle or drum there.
• Women's crews: Premier Women crews must be all female including the steersperson, and no male steersperson is allowed in a Women's crew.
• Age: Senior A crews need a steersperson aged 39 or older (as at December 31). Senior B, C and D have steersperson minimums of 39, 49 and 59 respectively (paddlers 49, 59 and 69 or older). Junior and 24 and Under categories apply their age limits to the drummer and paddlers (24 and Under to all racers).
• On the water: the steersperson holds the start rope in a held start, keeps buoys on the left in turns, and in long races keeps at least 6 metres from the buoys on the left unless overtaking. In races of 2000 m and more, passing inside a turn buoy brings a time penalty of up to 10 seconds.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 3.8.1, 6.1.3 to 6.1.5, 6.2, 9.4, 13.3, 13.5.

• Seat: the drummer sits on the drummer's seat provided and stays seated during racing until the boat returns to the dock to disembark.
• Drumming: once the boat has cleared the Starting Area (deemed to be 50 metres from the start line), the drummer must actively beat the drum throughout the race. The drum must clearly be seen struck with a stick on the drum skin (top or side) at short, regular intervals, and be audible to officials. Failing to do so may lead to disciplinary action against the crew.
• False starts: it is the drummer's responsibility to watch the boat holder, aligner and officials and tell the crew to stop when a false start is called.
• Lost position at the start: the drummer may raise a hand over their head to tell the Starter the crew has lost position.
• Division: at the Canadian Championships a Division I or Division II drummer may not drum in another division, and Division III drummers may not race in Division I or II.
• Age limits: in Junior B (16 or younger) and Junior A (18 or younger) categories the drummer must meet the age limit as at December 31. In 24 and Under categories all racers must be 24 or younger (or qualifying post-secondary students).
• Para: in PD1 and PD2 the drummer will be sighted and must be 12 or older.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 6.1, 6.2, 7.4, 9.6, 9.9.2.

• Be there early: crews assemble behind the start line at least 3 minutes before their start time, and are called forward into their lanes no later than 2 minutes before. The Starter may give a late crew a warning (with the same effect as a false-start warning) and a time penalty of up to 5 seconds.
• Commands: "Are you ready?", then "ATTENTION", then "GO" (which may be replaced by a gunshot, electronic signal or other distinct sound). The gap between "ATTENTION" and "GO" is no more than 5 seconds. Once the Starter has alerted the crews, all paddle movement in the water must stop, and movement is penalised as for jumping the start.
• False start: starting after "ATTENTION" and before "GO". A red flag is raised and the Starter recalls the boats ("STOP", "STOP", "STOP" or a second gunshot). It is the drummer's job to watch the officials and tell the crew to stop. The Starter then gives the responsible crew a warning, excludes it from the race, or awards a time penalty.
• Jumping the start: where a false start cannot be called but the Starter considers a crew gained a material advantage, the Starter may award time penalties of 2 to 5 seconds.
• Equipment failure: if a drummer's seat or steering arm/oar breaks off the start and up to 50 metres after it, the race is restarted if the crew stops paddling immediately and the paddlers and drummer raise their arms fully in the air. This does not cover a paddle.
• Damage before the start: if a crew tells officials in the start area, before being called forward, that its boat or equipment is damaged, the Starter may delay the race for up to 5 minutes for repairs.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 9.1 to 9.12.

• Lane: race in the lane allocated to your boat, on a straight line down the middle of it. Crews are responsible for their steering and leave the lane at their own risk.
• Clear water: keep at least 2 metres of clear water around the boat, measured paddle blade to adjacent paddle blade. Give clear water when course officials tell you to.
• Penalties: a time penalty of 1 to 5 seconds may be assessed for leaving the lane or impeding another crew, whether or not the result was affected. A penalty is not assessed for an involuntary steering error that is corrected, unless another crew is impeded or the result is materially affected. If warnings are ignored you may get a penalty, or be disqualified if the Course Umpire's opinion is that you impeded another boat or gained an advantage that materially affected the result.
• Wash riding: in races of 1000 m or less it is forbidden to gain an advantage from the wake or wash of another boat. Officials following the boat decide. The penalty is disqualification from the race at national events (Canadian Championships, Race Off), and a minimum 5 seconds at festivals and sport races. If an advantage is deemed gained, the penalty may be assessed without a warning from the umpire. Keep to the centre line of your lane to avoid it.
• Finish: a boat has finished when its foremost part (the dragon's head counts) crosses the finish line with the same number of racers in it as started.
• Races of 2000 m and more: separate rules cover turns and overtaking (race anti-clockwise, pass turn buoys to port).

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 9.3, 10.1, 10.2, 11.1, 13.

• Stay with the boat: in an accident, crews are instructed to stay with the boat rather than swim for safety, however strong a swimmer. Unless seriously damaged, the boat is a life raft. In cold water, get as much of your body out of the water as possible by draping over the upturned hull, and buddy up in twos until rescued.
• Distress signal: wave the red flags carried in the boat vigorously above head height. With no flags, use the international distress signal: arms out horizontal, raised to vertical above the head, back to horizontal, repeated until rescue boats respond. A signal without just cause may get the crew disqualified from the whole competition.
• Head count: the Safety Officer must personally ensure a head count of crew from a capsized boat on return to land before rescue craft are stood down.
• Event cover: at least two safety or official motorboats with four people ready to act must be on the water at all times, and organizers must be able to pick up 22 people after a capsize. Minimum venue equipment is a first aid kit, throw ropes, life rings or buoy and line, PFDs and thermal blankets or exposure bags.
• Collisions: if boats collide or are touching, all paddlers in the affected boats must stop paddling immediately and not resume until there are at least 2 metres of clear water around each boat.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 3.9, 4.2 to 4.4, 10.3.

• Paddles: must meet the most current IDBF standard. A crew may carry up to two spare paddles per boat, used only if a paddle breaks during a race. Spares may not be attached to any racer (including the steersperson and drummer), or tucked between a racer and a PFD. They may be secured inside the boat with a non-damaging quick-release such as Velcro.
• Straps: no straps or fittings that fasten a racer to the boat or seat, and nothing that attaches a paddle to a racer. The Chief Official can approve an exception before racing if there is a quick-release mechanism and adequate safety systems. It must be requested through the registration process for each event, with a medical note and photos where relevant.
• Pumps: carrying any pump designed to clear water from the boat during a race is prohibited.
• Performance gear: equipment added to enhance performance is not permitted. Exceptions are onboard communication systems that work only between crew members, and individual seat cushions (neoprene or similar soft material, maximum 15 mm thick).
• Clothing: team uniforms, protective headgear, footwear and eyewear are permitted. Decorative items such as costumes are not.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 8.2 and 14.1 to 14.5.

• Report time: be at the Crew Assembly Area ready to embark at the time in the Race Program, normally 20 to 30 minutes before race time.
• ID: officials may check identity, and you must be able to produce your current DBC membership card on request. Failing to do so may get you disqualified from that competition class, at the Chief Official's discretion.
• Boats: you cannot supply your own boat. Organizers provide boats and you race in the one assigned.
• Crew changes: once a crew has loaded and left the boarding area, changes or additions are not permitted unless the Chief Marshall agreed before the boat left.
• Waiver: every crew member on the official crew list must have signed the online or paper assumption of risk waiver before stepping in a boat. A paddler racing without one adds a 0.25 second penalty to the crew's time for every race, and the crew risks disqualification.
• Alcohol: consuming alcohol before and during racing is strictly forbidden. A crew member caught before finishing all their races is banned from further racing at the event, and the team risks elimination from the whole event.
• Following officials: failing to follow race officials' directions can mean a time penalty or disqualification. Outside help or coaching during a race can lead to disqualification from the race or competition.

Source: Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 7.1, 7.3, 8.3, 8.4, 8.7, 17.4, 17.5.

Only the Crew Manager lodges a protest, with the Chief Official.

• Protest: in writing, to the Competition Committee, within 15 minutes of the end of the race. A protest against a result must be made within 15 minutes of the result being officially posted.
• Fee: $50.00, refunded if the protest succeeds.
• Decision: the Committee should not normally take longer than 30 minutes on a protest. It must give its decision and reasons in writing, and the Crew Manager signs for it and notes the time received.
• Appeal to the Jury: addressed to the Chairman of the Jury and handed in within 15 minutes of the Crew Manager being told the decision in writing (disqualification or dispute). The appeal fee is also $50.00, refunded if successful.
• Final: the Jury's decision is final.

Source: Dragon Boat Canada Rules of Racing, January 2026 Edition, rules 12.1 to 12.11.