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Countdown to Swiftsure

Stay the course! May 27, 2024

A year of great contrasts, from a pile of wind to pretty much breathless. Broken gear but no broken people. Spirits were up in the stratosphere – and sometimes that’s what keeps you going when others have run out of steam. Until the last moment on Sunday, inching toward midnight, four boats just kept going and going, ghosting right to the end. It paid off for  North Star  who crossed the finish line at 23:37:00 with moments to spare and, in doing so, took first place in Cape Flattery PHRF Division 1 while also officially being the Last to Finish! The three other boats that raced right to the end are worth noting;  Jugo  in Cape Flattery ORC,  Moonglow  in Cape Flattery PHRF, and  Bardo  in Juan de Fuca Race. They exhibited the spirit it takes to race Swiftsure – Bravo Zulu all.

Swiftsure Lightship Classic race has many stories of victories and challenges. This 2024 race was no different – seven yachts began in a big blow and finished in a whisper. By the time the clock was winding down it became apparent, as Adam Serediuk of  Planet Express  wrote, “the math is mathing” and finishing within the time limit wouldn’t happen. Two boats did finish in fine form.  Mach 2 , Dan Sinclair’s newly-acquired Andrews 77 came across the finish line at 13:16:20, taking Line Honours for 2024.   Will-O’-The Wisp , Jeff Eckard’s venerable Petersen 41, crossed at 18:07:36, correcting ahead and taking First Place Overall. Jeff, a 1992 Olympic competitor in the men’s two-person dinghy category, has a fine touch on the tiller of his modified-IOR racer.  Will-O’-The Wisp  crew included Ross Jespersen-navigator, Eric Jespersen-former Olympic medalist in the Star Class, Brent Jacobi, Matt Schinbein, Hugh Owen, Emma Maynard, and Stephanie Bacon – mighty deep talent here. Only the second time in the 79-year history of Swiftsure Lightship Classic that a Royal Victoria Yacht Club entry has been the Overall Winner!

Snakes, Ladders, and Apps May 26, 2024

• 7 in Swiftsure Lightship Classic
• 23 Cape Flattery PHRF
• 41 Cape Flattery ORC
• 5 Juan de Fuca Multihulls
• 32 Juan de Fuca Monohulls
• 9 Inshore Racing
• 9 Inshore Cruising

The Swiftsure Lightship Classic had a clean start bang on 1000 PT on Saturday, May 25 th . The following start, in which Cape Flattery PHRF and ORC boats started together, 64 boats massed near the committee boat and, with no clear view of the handful of ‘Over Early’ boats in the largest fleet, Principal Race Officer Dugald Smith made the call – General Recall of the fleet. The Cape Flattery boats reassembled, got into their desired ‘slot’ and at 1029 their race began with an ‘All Clear’. No need to seek clear air – a term used for finding unimpeded wind for each boat – there was lots for all. This was an upwind start under white sails, though many boats now sport dark grey 3Di sails, a three dimension membrane fabric with 5 layers fused to become the specific desired sail shape. Next up, Juan de Fuca Multihulls had a clean start at 1040. Juan de Fuca Monohulls were next out, and got away cleanly at 1100, followed, after a slight delay, by the Inshore Racing division at 1123 and Inshore Cruising division at 1134.

Not long after all races were started, some boats experienced challenges. A dramatic shredded mainsail sent one boat back to the docks. Of the 5 starting multihulls, 3 soon found the conditions overwhelming and withdrew from racing. The smallest boat in the Long Courses, No Dress Code, had hit something unknown just before the start but kept racing until they discovered water below decks and had to be assisted back to Fisherman’s Wharf by the RCM-SAR 35. In all cases, crew were safe. Clearly the safety protocols were pressed into service; crew, craft, mission.

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Sydney to Hobart yacht race — how to watch and what to look for

From its beginning in 1945, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race remains one of the pinnacles for sailing competitors.

Dismissed by some as "rich people and their toy boats", the race is actually a gruelling test of skill, teamwork and boat design — with the weather thrown into the mix. 

If you know what to look for, the S2H can be an enjoyable experience, so here are some tips as to getting the best out of it.

When does it start?

Around 90 boats ranging from 100ft Super Maxis to smaller 30 footers will be ready to go at 1pm AEDT on Sydney Harbour, Boxing Day.

Even though the race fleet will be fewer in numbers due to COVID (more on that later), there will still be a gazillion sails — competitors, officials, media and spectators — running around the water ahead of the firing of the starting cannon.

Once the race is on, it's a bolt to The Heads and into the open water of the South Pacific.

The fleet then begins to make its way down the east coast of Australia to Hobart.

How can I watch it?

The Seven Network, through 7Mate, will broadcast the start of the race live around Australia. Their coverage starts at 12:30pm (AEDT).

ABC TV will also be following the fleet down the eastern seaboard and provide all the in-race news footage that is used by the various Australian and International news networks.

For those who can't get to watch the live broadcast of the start of the race on the Seven Network across Australia, Seven West Media will webcast the program.

You can also watch a webcast of the live broadcast on the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race website .

If you are in Sydney and on the water, sponsor Rolex advises "if you only plan on watching the start, and don't wish to follow the fleet, then stick to the western side of the harbour".

Good vantage points for spectator boats include "Taylors Bay, Chowder Bay, Obelisk Bay and North Head on the west and Rose Bay, Watsons Bay, Camp Cove and South Head to the east".

Rolex says the harbour will be "very crowded and traffic can be chaotic, so stay alert, follow the advice of race officials and remember to keep well clear of the exclusion zone between 12pm and 2pm".

Rolex also notes the "Clearview glass boat is the only public spectator vessel permitted within the Sydney Harbour exclusion zone".

How can I follow the boats online?

The race sponsor Rolex has a tracker on their website , which plots the course of yachts as they move south.

The position of yachts is transmitted by a GPS device on each vessel. You can follow your favourite boats easily by clicking on the heart symbol.

As the race goes on, you can see the course charted by crews and marvel at how each team plots and schemes their way to the finish.

Unless of course the boat's GPS device gets switched off, rendering it invisible to spectators and other competitors — an accusation which was levelled at Wild Oats XI in 2018 by the owner of Black Jack.

Skulduggery on the high seas! We told you it could be fun.

What should I look out for?

Apart from GPS shenanigans, the wild card is always the weather.

All jokes aside, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race is taken seriously for good reason — people have died when the seas get rough.

The 1998 race has gone down in history as a maritime disaster that cost lives and changed marine forecasting practice .

Six sailors died, five yachts sank, more than 60 yachts retired and 55 participants had to be rescued by helicopter.

In 2015, a squall hit the fleet off the News South Wales coast, ending the race for 29 competitors.

Even in calm conditions, boats under stress break stuff and crews retire for a host of reasons.

In 2016, a slew of boats had to call it quits due to shredded sails and steering problems.

Then there are the underdog v supermaxi battles which pit the hopefuls against the cashed-up crews.

As race sponsor Rolex says, the race is made up from "weekend club sailors to professionals from the America's Cup and Volvo Ocean Race circuits".

Lots to watch out for!

When does the race finish?

With the very fast boats (Wild Oats XI, Comanche) not in this year's race, the lines honours winner is likely to come in around 48 hours after the start — noonish or thereabouts on Tuesday, December 28, but who knows what part the weather might play.

It is also important to note there are two prizes at stake in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race .

The finish line proper is 12 nautical miles (22.2 kilometres) up the Derwent River off Battery Point, where a cannon signals the first across the line.

The reigning line honours victor is Comanche. It won in a time of 1 day, 18 hours and 30 minutes in 2019.

The first yacht across the line wins the JH Illingworth Trophy, but the overall winner on handicap wins the Tattersalls Cup.

The overall victory is considered the major prize for sailors and a testament to skill and tactics.

Most of the time, handicap honours are won by a smaller, slower boat, which outdoes its larger opposition when time is adjusted for size and other factors.

The reigning overall winner is Ichi Ban. It finished in 3 days, 4 hours and 11 minutes in 2019.

As a result of the pandemic, the 2021 fleet will be smaller than previous years due to a lack of international entrants, and other flow-on effects.

Good luck to all racers!

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Round-the-world racing yachts dock at The Wharf in DC — see them up close

Neal Augenstein | [email protected]

June 17, 2024, 12:03 PM

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The more than 40,000 mile “Clipper Round the World Yacht Race” made an impressive arrival before docking at The Wharf in Southwest D.C. Monday morning.

Eleven clippers will remain there for a week before setting off on the final leg back across the Atlantic Ocean.

Hannah Brewis and a first mate are the only professional sailors on the yacht sponsored by Events DC, which was the first of 11 identical 70-foot racing yachts to dock at The Wharf on Monday morning.

“The rest of the crew is made up of total amateurs, with a wide difference, variety of sailing experience,” Brewis said, standing on the dock, shortly after the D.C. team was welcomed by several dozen early-morning supporters. “Some have never sailed, some have sailed a little bit.”

The trip began Sept. 3, 2023, in Portsmouth, U.K., where the race will finish.

“We’ve been to Spain. We’ve been to Uruguay, South Africa, Australia, Vietnam, China, Seattle, Panama — that’s our route so far, and now, finally into Washington, D.C.,” Brewis said.

The race leg from Panama ended near the Woodrow Wilson Bridge on Friday and Saturday. Monday morning’s travels to The Wharf was a short commute for the yachts, which also caused an approximately 15-minute delay for commuters in vehicles.

“We had to wait for it to be opened. The tricky part was we had to make sure the fleet was there at exactly 4:45 in the morning,” Brewis said. The Virginia Department of Transportation has warned commuters to expect a brief delay.

🚧Traffic Alert – #Alexandria : Woodrow Wilson Bridge (I-495/I-95) to open at approx 4:45 am today and tomorrow, Mon 6/17 & Tues 6/18, to allow passage of 11 yachts as part of Clipper 2023-24 Round the World Yacht Race. Expect delays. #DMVTraffic More: https://t.co/Tq21o3rWry pic.twitter.com/eYu15PxIom — VDOT Northern VA (@VaDOTNOVA) June 17, 2024

“We got there with perfect timing. We all transited through, no stress. It was really great, it was really cool,” Brewis said.

The yachts will remain docked at The Wharf all week. On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, “you can actually come onboard, and see what it’s like to be on one of these big ocean racing yachts,” Brewis said.

On Tuesday, the clippers will set off on the race’s final leg across the Atlantic, heading toward Portsmouth, U.K. The send-off will be open to the public and include fireworks.

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© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

Neal Augenstein has been a general assignment reporter with WTOP since 1997. He says he looks forward to coming to work every day, even though that means waking up at 3:30 a.m.

• @AugensteinWTOP

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WJAR produced first live broadcast of America's Cup race

by NBC 10 NEWS

WJAR made television history in 1983 in the waters off Newport. We produced the first live telecast of an America's Cup race.

It was the seventh and deciding race between the Royal Perth Yacht Club's Australia II and the New York Yacht Club's Liberty.

Broadcast live worldwide, everyone was eager to see if the Americans' 132-year win streak would end.

• 75TH ANNIVERSARY: 'Gold in the Wind' chronicled Newport sailing event ahead of 1980 Olympics

Australia II won the race, with credit given to a secret keel design that was not revealed until after the race.

Reluctantly, the U.S. handed over the trophy.

"According to the wishes of syndicate head Alan Bond, the trophy, no matter what turf it rests on, will still be called the America's Cup," NBC 10's Beverly Schuch reported.

American teams have since won back the cup, but the marquee race has never returned to Newport.

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Hong kong tourism board.

The 2024 Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races returned to Victoria Harbour with thousands of the world’s top dragon boat athletes for the adrenaline-pumping races on 15-16 June. This action-packed two-day event has concluded successfully, filled with the thunderous rhythm of drums as paddlers raced their majestic dragon boats to the finish line and exhilarated cheering fans cooled off with refreshing specialty drinks and sweet treats at the new Summer Chill Food Lane. Spectators also enjoyed fun encounters with the beloved BROWN and CONY from the LINE FRIENDS meet & greet.

However, the festivities don’t stop there - you can still come down and grab some Hong Kong limited edition LINE FRIENDS merchandise or take selfies at the LINE FRIENDS Hong Kong Summer Chill Photo Spots until 1 July!

Thank you for your support in making this year’s dragon boat races a roaring success. We look forward to seeing you again next year!

LINE FRIENDS Hong Kong Summer Chill Photo Spots

LINE FRIENDS are coming back to Hong Kong this summer! A year after their last visit, BROWN, CONY, SALLY and CHOCO are returning with even more friends to explore different landmarks around the city. They are also donning dragon boat outfits to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival. Get ready to take selfies with the Instagrammable LINE FRIENDS displays in front of Victoria Harbour, and don’t forget to visit the LINE FRIENDS POP-UP STORE to grab the Hong Kong limited-edition merchandise! 

Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Acknowledgement

Explore more

Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong: origin, traditions and festivities

From eating rice dumplings to watching dragon boat races, read our complete guide to celebrating Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong.

Your guide to zongzi , the Dragon Boat Festival dumpling

Eating zongzi is one of the most important Dragon Boat Festival traditions in Hong Kong. What exactly are these sticky rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves? How many types are there, and where can you enjoy them in Hong Kong? Find out all about these tasty delights in our guide to zongzi .

Must-do activities to enjoy the Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong

Celebrate the annual Dragon Boat Festival with a diverse range of activities. Experience the thrill of international dragon boat races alongside traditional rituals and modern festivities.

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We spent $20,980 to see the Formula 1 Grand Prix live. The luxury yacht party and epic balcony views weren't even the best parts.

• My fiancé and I splurged on a trip to Monaco for our very first Formula 1 Grand Prix.
• For about $20,980, we stayed in Nice, France , and attended the races all weekend.
• We also attended a luxurious yacht party and soaked in views of Monaco during the race.

My fiancé and I saved up to celebrate our recent engagement in style during one of the year's most iconic, expensive weekends: the Formula 1 (F1) Monaco Grand Prix.

The F1 Monaco Grand Prix is an annual race for drivers in the highest class of international racing for single-seater formula cars.

Though the sport is popular in Europe, it gained the attention of international audiences with the release of Netflix's Formula 1 documentary series, "Drive to Survive." In a 2022 poll from Morning Consult , 53% of nearly 1,900 F1 fans said the series contributed to their interest in the sport.

However, we've been dedicated F1 fans long before the series launched in 2019, and have always considered the Monaco Grand Prix the best race on the calendar.

Like many fans, we were willing to splurge to see some of our favorite drivers and were excited to attend the event this past May. We purchased a package from F1 Experiences for £15,220, or about $19,370, with a $1,610 yacht party add-on. The package for my partner and me included a hotel stay , two days of live racing, and transportation to and from the event.

From an unbelievable balcony view of the racetrack to cheering on a historic win, here's what the experience was like.

We stayed at a hotel in Nice, France.

We stayed four nights at the Hyatt Regency Nice Palais de la Méditerranée on the French Riviera, a 30-to-40-minute drive from Monaco.

Our hotel-room balcony overlooked the stunning Côte d'Azur region, and we were within walking distance of Nice's historic and charming old town.

We prepared for the high-energy weekend by celebrating at a yacht party.

To fully experience the glamorous lifestyle in Monaco, we indulged in a yacht party on Friday night. This experience was an add-on to our overall package, and it cost £1,265, or about $1,610.

We boarded the boat and were greeted with glasses of Champagne. The bottomless drinks and canapés flowed as the onboard DJ pumped music, drowning out the sounds of nearby boats.

As dusk turned to nightfall, the partygoers seemed to buzz with anticipation for the excitement the weekend had to offer — and we couldn't wait.

On Saturday, I was excited to finally attend the main event, the Grand Prix. 

On Saturday, we boarded a coach bus to Monaco and headed to the Ermanno Penthouse to watch the race. There, we climbed up 12 flights of stairs for a taste of Monégasque luxury.

The Penthouse's balcony terrace — overlooking the Port Hercules marina, stacked with at least 250 yachts — gave us an unbelievable panoramic view of Monaco's shimmering blue coastline and at least two-thirds of the racetrack.

From our viewpoint, we could see the start and finish line, up the hill toward the Casino de Monte-Carlo, the racetrack's tunnel exit, around the marina, and even the champions' podium. 

We felt the thrill of the race from our balcony.

Saturday's qualifying session was electrifying. Throughout the day, we saw the Formula 3 and Formula 2 sprint races, which typically feature aspiring F1 drivers . Then, we saw the F1 free practice three, which served as a practice round for F1 drivers to fine-tune their skills.

Lastly, we saw the F1 qualifying race, which determined each driver's place on the grid for Sunday's event.

I did notice, however, that my fiancé and I seemed to be two of the very few true F1 fans on the balcony. Many of our neighbors appeared to be new to the sport and seemed more interested in selfies or sparkling wine.

We enjoyed food and drinks as well.

Not only could we see much of Monaco from the balcony, but also we enjoyed warm hospitality from the staff.

The staff members served various snacks and offered as much Champagne, spirits, and soft drinks as we wanted. For breakfast, we had croissants and pain au chocolat with coffee, followed by finger sandwiches, sliders, canapés, and tasty desserts.

We even had a few celebrity sightings.

Celebrating the same event as A-list celebrities like John Legend , Anya Taylor-Joy, and Kylian Mbappé felt like a real pinch-me moment — though we only caught glimpses of them in the VIP area on TV screens showing sports coverage, the same way viewers would see them on television.

The celebrities at the Grand Prix, which took place just after the star-studded Cannes Film Festival, made it feel like the spot to be.

We saw a race-car collision from our balcony.

Unfortunately, the weekend wasn't all positive. During the first lap of Sunday's F1 race, we saw a massive crash involving several drivers who couldn't continue in the event.

On a more positive note, we saw our favorite driver win the Grand Prix.

The highlight of the weekend was cheering Ferrari F1 driver and Monégasque Charles Leclerc on to his first-ever victory at the Monaco Grand Prix.

As Leclerc's bright-red Ferrari zoomed by with a clear lead on his last lap, a symphony of boats blared their horns, and the crowd erupted in cheers. Leclerc is also the first Monégasque driver to win the race in over 90 years.

We watched the Champagne showers and celebrations on the podium, and my fiancé and I shared a kiss (and a few happy tears). It was the perfect end to an unforgettable weekend.

Overall, we were so glad we got to attend the Monaco Grand Prix.

Overall, attending the Grand Prix in person was worth the money for us. We saw our favorite driver achieve a historic F1 milestone on a legendary track along a beautiful European coastline.

Though I wouldn't say it's worth the splurge for those who don't follow F1, plenty of guests on our balcony were there for the vibes, the flowing drinks, and the lush atmosphere.

We'd consider attending another F1 Grand Prix in the future. Still, our first taste of Monaco had our hearts racing — and the experience will be incredibly tough to top.

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Frontrunner in Charleston County sheriff's race rejects call to drop out

CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - The candidate who earned the most votes in Tuesday’s Republican primary for the Charleston County sheriff’s race says he will not drop out of the race.

Greg Kitchens, a former Charleston County Sheriff’s deputy, pulled in the most votes in the Republican primary, beating second-place vote-getter, former Mount Pleasant Police Chief Carl Ritchie, by 3%. But because Kitchens did not secure more than 50% of the total vote, he and Ritchie will face off again in a runoff on June 25.

Ritchie called for Kitchens to drop out of the race after a report that Kitchens was accused in a lawsuit of beating a suspect while he was a deputy in 1995 . The victim claimed in court documents that another deputy had to stop Kitchens from continuing. Kitchens resigned soon after the suit was filed.

Ritchie reacted Monday to the report of the lawsuit as well as an internal investigation that he said “further described the actions of another deputy, then-Lt. Chevalier Harris, to stop Kitchens during the incident:”

I am appalled not only by the actions alleged in the lawsuit but also by the smug and ignorant response of Greg Kitchens to it. The victim received a monetary settlement. For Greg Kitchens to claim he was exonerated shows just how out of touch he is. The only person who was cleared for his actions that night was Lieutenant Harris, who not only had to forcibly knock down Kitchens but also punched Kitchens in the face after the incident. Again, Lieutenant Harris was cleared for his actions and subsequently rose up the ranks of Captain. Greg Kitchens resigned shortly after the lawsuit was filed and hasn’t served in law enforcement in over 25 years.”

Charleston County deserves a sheriff they can trust to serve and protect. While Kristin Graziano lacks the leadership ability to do just that, the information in this lawsuit will give her the ammunition to win re-election if Greg Kitchens is the Republican nominee. Charleston County cannot have Kristin Graziano as Sheriff any longer. If Greg Kitchens is truly concerned about fixing the Sheriff’s Office and replacing Graziano with a competent Republican Sheriff, he should drop out of the race today.

Kitchens’ campaign released a statement Monday afternoon in response to Ritchie’s:

Col. Kitchens is a principled leader with a long track record of leadership excellence and he enjoys a solid reputation for his citizenship here in the Lowcountry. The voters of Charleston County chose Col. Kitchens on June 11 and will again chose his vision to transform the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office into the finest law enforcement agency in South Carolina on June 25. Our second-place opponent demanding us to drop out of the race seems desperate and out of touch. His suggestion to do so is a slap in the face to the voters who chose Col. Kitchens, not to mention to Capt. Rick Keys who finished third place and endorsed the Colonel this past Friday. Acts of desperation aren’t what we need from our elected officials. The voters of Charleston County know that and will choose Col. Kitchens’ vision of transforming the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office into something great. Greg Kitchens has strong backing from local law enforcement and remains the best candidate to unseat the incumbent this November.

Kitchens said in response to questions about the lawsuit last week that he was exonerated and faced no punishment, which he said “says for itself that somebody’s trying to dig it up and turn it into something that it’s not.”

He also said, “any good cop gets into a lawsuit.”

“Law enforcement does involve a good bit of unfortunate violence. Some people do not want to go to jail. And some things get blown out of proportion. Some people sue when they don’t really have a case,” Kitchens said.

The winner of the primary runoff on June 25 will face incumbent Democratic Sheriff Kristin Graziano in November.

Copyright 2024 WCSC. All rights reserved.

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Taiwan nighttime dragon boat racing puts a modern twist on an ancient tradition

Amateur athletes competed in dragon boat races in Hong Kong and Beijing to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival on Monday.

Drones light up Hong Kong sky to mark Dragon Boat festival

Residents watch a dragon boat race during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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Rescuers help the dragon boat racers following a crash during the Dragon Boat festival at a canal in Tongzhou, on the outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu festival, also known as the Dragon Boat festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by celebrations like eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A team of dragon boat racers paddle their boat during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Competitors fall as the boats overturned following a crash during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Teams of dragon boat racers crash after one of the boats paddled off direction during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Teams of dragon boat racers paddle their boats as they compete in the Dragon Boat festival at a canal in Tongzhou, on the outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu festival, also known as the Dragon Boat festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by celebrations like eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Competitors take part in a race during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A woman carries an umbrella to shield from the sun as residents watch the Dragon Boat race during the Dragon Boat festival at a canal in Tongzhou, on the outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu festival, also known as the Dragon Boat festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by celebrations like eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People watch the dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People stand on a bridge to watch the dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

A woman uses a smartphone to film the Dragon Boat festival at a canal in Tongzhou, on the outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu festival, also known as the Dragon Boat festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by celebrations like eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Competitors take part in a dragon boat race during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Children climb on a pavilion to watch the dragon boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival at a canal in Tongzhou, outskirts of Beijing, Monday, June 10, 2024. The Duanwu Festival, also known as the Dragon Boat Festival, falls on the fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar and is marked by eating rice dumplings and racing dragon boats. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Across the Chinese diaspora , racing in dragon boats has been a tradition reaching back thousands of years.

But change is afoot, most recently in central Taiwan where the races were switched to the evening to take advantage of cooler temperatures, a refreshing breeze and the sight of the boats lit up with LED lights running the length of the low-lying watercraft.

A drummer pounds out a rhythm behind the elaborately carved dragon head in the bow, while a navigator sits in the stern, where a tail rises to complete the look of the mythical animal, a traditional Chinese harbinger of prosperity and good luck.

It is mainly an amateur sport and crews are formed among groups of neighbors and co-workers. Emily Lin, 31, who works as a sales executive in Changhua county, said training sessions at a local junior high school were an excellent way to strengthen friendships outside of work.

“This dragon boat race allows us to meet, exchange and take part in something,” Lin said Monday following qualifiers the previous night.

Daytime racing means dealing with the intense central Taiwan sun reflecting off the river, leaving you feeling unwell, said Chen Ta-tzung, a 28-year-old machinery maintenance specialist.

“But in the evening, you don’t have the sun,” Chen said.

“When we focus on rowing during the race, we cannot enjoy the beautiful scene. But when we row back, we can really enjoy the beautiful sights,” he added.

This year’s races hold a special meaning for many participants and observers as they are the first after a three-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sizes of the boats vary and the numbers of rowers can range from 10 to 20 or more. The festival generally falls at the start of June based around the summer solstice according to the Chinese lunar calendar.

In recent decades, the sport has spread in popularity around the world and standards have been imposed on rules and equipment, including the size of paddles and requirements that the drummer, playing a similar role to the coxswain in college and Olympic rowing, maintains a constant beat.

“Racing at night is special for rowers,” said Huang Yi-kai, 21, who is a coach for standup paddleboard rowers. “This allowed rowers to focus on the moment. It’s a refreshing experience.”

Dragon boat races are also being held in Hong Kong and Macao, as well as around mainland China, where lax safety standards have occasionally led to deadly accidents . At least one person was killed after a dragon boat capsized in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing on Sunday, the local government reported.

At a competition on a canal in the east of Beijing on Monday, participant Shi Shulei cheered the event as a celebration of traditional Chinese culture, devoid of commercial or foreign influences.

“Nowadays people celebrate many festivals invented by merchants or by other countries. We sometimes forget about Chinese traditional festivals. This event should be promoted because it helps to rejuvenate Chinese traditional culture,” Shi said.

Twenty-five teams representing companies, universities and residential compounds raced over the 200-meter (650-foot) canal, where two boats collided in the preliminary round after one of them veered from its lane. The 24 participants were swiftly rescued from the water and no one was reported injured, while organizers called for more life vests and rescue boats.

Despite temperatures of 35 degree Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit), crowds from around the city of more than 20 million lined the canal and cheered from a reproduced Chinese ship from the imperial era.

In Hong Kong, a former British colony where political and civil liberties have been increasingly restricted in recent years, the emphasis among racers was on working together to achieve a common goal.

“Dragon boat is a team sport. It’s important we share a team spirit,” said Andy Ng, the coach of a local team. “Each member strives with the same objective, which is being the fastest to the finish point. Everyone in my team enjoys it and we enjoy the workout together.”

The races are connected to the tale of Qu Yuan, a loyal adviser to a Chinese emperor some 2,500 years ago who drowned himself in a river after his sage advice was rejected. According to legend, to prevent fish from eating his body, supporters tossed in rice cakes, a tradition that continues to this day as observers mark the fifth day of the fifth lunar month by eating sticky rice dumplings. ___

Associated Press video journalists Wayne Chang in Beijing and Alice Fung in Hong Kong contributed to this report.