Please be informed that the Singapore Dragon Boat Association will be the SDBA Basic Helm Award (Personal Skills Level 1) Course from 10th to 12th September 2009.

Interested applicants are requested to submit the duly completed form with payment to the Singapore Dragon Boat Association latest by 6th September 2010.

Thank you.

Read a media publication of our SDBA Men's National Team.

Please ensure that your members and affiliates comply with the Code of Conduct of that area for water activities and danger zone in Marina Reservoir. All Coaches & Steersmen are also reminded to bring along their mobile phone when they set out for their water activity so that they are contactable for emergencies or bad weather. (Available for downloaded from: http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/reservoir/Documents/Code of Conduct for water-based activities in Marina Reservoir.doc

Rocky and Shallow Areas in Marina Reservoir:
PUB have installed a marker buoy to indicate the rocky and shallow area at Kallang Basin (see attached map above). Please take extra care when they are conducting non-motorised water activities in that area. PUB have observed some instances where water users move/shift the buoys. Please do not to touch/move any buoy in the Marina Reservoir as these buoys are markers for the safety zone and facilities, etc.

Continue to Check Marina Reservoir Notices Regularly:
All users of Marina Reservoir are to check Marina Reservoir Notices regularly for construction activities, water activities, out-of-bound areas and any updates at the following website:
http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/announcements/Pages/default.aspx

For the subscription for Lightning Warning Service, the contact person is Janice_Tan@nea.gov.sg, from Meteorological Services Division. Her no. is 65431764.

The Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) dragon boat rental rates were last revised in 2003 and since then the rates have remained constant.

However during the past six years, the administrative and operating costs and in particular the dragon boat maintenance charges have increased significantly.

Unfortunately due to the escalating costs, the SDBA Management Committee reviewed and reluctantly passed a resolution on 20th August 2008 to revise the dragon boat rental rates to take effect from 1st January 2009. However this revision was held back due to the financial crisis at the beginning of this year.

The SDBA Management Committee reviewed the situation again on 25th November 2009 it was decided to implement the revised rates with effect from 1st January 2010.

The new rental rates will be as follows:

TYPE OF DRAGON BOAT	RENTAL RATES FOR AFFLIATES, SCHOOLS AND JUNIOR COLLEGES	RENTAL RATES FOR NON-AFFLIATES
A 10-Crew Dragon Boat *	$30.00 for a 2-hour session	$60.00 for a 2-hour session
A 20-Crew Dragon Boat *	$50.00 for a 2-hour session	$100.00 for a 2-hour session

* Inclusive of a rudder, 10 paddles, 12 buoyancy-vests and 2 bailers.
^ Inclusive of a rudder, 20 paddles, 22 buoyancy-vests and 2 bailers.

The hiring of dragon boats will be on a 2-hour per session basis and the daily sessions are available as follows:
1st Session : 8:00 am to 10:00 am
2nd Session : 10:00 am to 12:00 pm
3rd Session : 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm
4th Session : 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm
5th Session : 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm

Please note:

1) That the 2-hour session includes the time taken for drawing out of equipment, inspection, launching and returning of the dragon boat and all accessories issued.

2) We do cater for those who wish to hire dragon boats earlier than 8:00 am. In such an event please add a sum of $10 to the rental to compensate the Supervisor for his transport expenses.

3) Booking of dragon boats can either be made in person; by email at admin@sdba.org.sg or by fax at 6440 9693. Payment can be made either by cash, “NETS” or cheque. For cheque payment the cheque must be made payable to “SINGAPORE DRAGON BOAT ASSOCIATION”.

4) That the Kallang Waters Sports Centre is closed every Monday and Public Holidays.

We regret that no refund of booking fees will be allowed after payment has been made including bad weather.

Finally we would like to thank you for your past support and seek your understanding as to why we need to revise the rental rates. We hope you will continue to support the Association and wish you happy dragon boating.

At the recent IDBF 9th World Dragon Boat Racing Championships in Prague, Czech Republic, from 25th to 30th August 2009, our Singapore teams' performances were excellent.

Both the Senior and Junior Teams surpassed all expectations, brought great honour to Singapore and projected our image internationally.

In the very competitive and tough senior events, our Senior Men’s Team did exceptionally well. We came in 8th position in the 200m and 500m races and 10th position in the 1,000m and 2,000m races. This feat was achieved against 17 other countries that took part. We are now in the top-10 ranking country in the world and are on track in our target to do well in the Asian Games next year.

It was our junior teams' debut performances that had the loudest cheers. The Junior Teams won 4 Gold, 3 Silver and 1 Bronze medals in their various respective categories. It was an exceptional achievement to be crowned the World's Junior Champions Title. Please refer to http://redsports.sg/2009/09/03/world-junior-dragon-boat/ for the detailed report.

This augers well for the sport of dragon boating in Singapore, now and beyond.

The Singapore Dragon Boat Association extend our sincere thanks and heartiest congratulations to the officials and members of both the Senior and Junior Teams.

Their magnificent achievements have made 'Our Little Red Dot' now shining prominently on the world's dragon boat stage.

This is a message from the Singapore Sports Council.

"We would like to bring you attention to illegal parking of vehicles along Stadium Walk, public road leading to the Kallang Water Sports Centre. The situation worsened especially during the weekends and public holidays period. On many occasions, it had caused obstruction at our gate entrance for any vehicular access into the Kallang Centre too. It would definitely unacceptable especially during any emergency case which might need the direct access for ambulance or fire engine etc.

We seek you and staff who are working at the centre to advice all rowers, club members etc to stop such illegal parking along the public road. For the benefit of all users of the centre, we also seek your assistance to contact the Traffic Police at Tel 1800 - 5471818 for any illegal parking which is happening along this road.

We will continue to send our security officer and staff to monitor the illegal parking situation too. Hopefully, we could all work towards the same objective to stop such illegal parking matter. We will also install some "No Parking" signage along the fence.

We look forward to your understanding and assistance."

Of late there has been a significant increase in the number of complaints received from the residents of Pebble Bay Condominium regarding the high noise level in the early mornings of Saturdays and Sundays from the dragon boat crews training there.

The Singapore Dragon Boat Association has been approached by the residents of Pebble Bay Condominium for the co-operation and understanding of all dragon boat crews by not training in the vicinity of the Pebble Bay Condominium during Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 am to 10:00 am to allow them to enjoy their weekends.

We therefore seek your co-operation and request that you avoid training in the vicinity of the Pebble Bay Condominium from 8:00 am to 10:00 am DAILY. All dragon boaters are encouraged to train in the open waters of the Marina Reservoir instead. We looked forward to your understanding and cooperation.

For obvious safety reasons all dragon boaters are advised to STOP training in the event of adverse weather conditions, especially when there is lightning. In addition heavy rainfalls which result in excessive inundation of rainwater will affect the dragon boat's stability. Dragon boaters caught in such adverse conditions are required to return to shore immediately. Team Managers/Captains/ Steersperson/Coach are also encouraged to use the NEA Meteorological Service (weather hotline no. 6542 7788) to better plan and manage their training programmes, especially during the wet season or when rain is expected.

In line with the IDBF's safe practice, dragon boat teams training in the water of Marina Reservoir are required to stay contactable with the Singapore Dragon Boat Association. In the event of an emergency, dragon boat teams should contact the Singapore Dragon Boat Association at Telephone Numbers 64409763/64409693. This would facilitate a more rapid deployment of emergency services if the need arises. With immediate effect, Team Managers/Captains/Steersperson/Coaches are strongly advised to have their mobile phones with them during their respective dragon boat training sessions.

Since 1987, the Singapore Dragon Boat Association’s (SDBA) annual affiliation fee has been constantly pegged at $100. However, in the 22 years since the fee has been in effect, administrative and operating costs have dramatically increased.

As such, the SDBA Management Committee passed a resolution on 5th January 2009 to revise the annual affiliation fee to $150 with effect from 1st April 2009. It is hoped that this revision will help to offset some of the increases in administrative and operating costs.

SDBA therefore would like to inform all our affiliates on this revision of the annual affiliation fee and we look forward to your continued support.

Thank you.

Please send all email correspondences to admin@sdba.org.sg.

The current email account sdba@starhub.net.sg will be deactivated with effect from 1st January 2008.

Click here for more information on the SDBA Emergency Response Plan.

Please be informed that with effect from 11th January 2007, you may make payment for the rental of dragon boats with 'Nets".

Dragon Boating is a fun and team building sports for schools. Click here for more details.

The SDBA Management Committee at its bi-monthly meeting on 8th February 2006, has decided to launch an SDBA's Newsflash in its website with effect from February 2006. It has agreed on a newsflash so as to speed up dissemination of information and current news to our dragon boating fraternity instead of a newsletter which is a periodical.