A message from Singapore Canoe Federation:

To all Stakeholders at Marina Reservoir.

Happy New Year from the Office of Singapore Canoe Federation!

Upcoming Event : The IBM Club Expedition Paddling
Date : 11 Feb 2012 (Sat)
Time : 0900 hrs - 1500 hrs.
Route : Kallang Basin, Marina Channel and Marina Bay. (See map)

Appreciate that all vessels under your care (if any) to stay clear of the group of about 30 - 40 kayaks and 1 accompanying rescue boat, as they move as a group during the expedition. All vessels are advised to comply with safety instructions from the safety boat / safety kayak if any is given.

To All International Dragon Boat Fraternity:

With deepest regret, we wish to announce that the planned Singapore International Dragon Boat Festival 2012 originally scheduled from 3rd - 5th February 2012 is now postponed to 4th - 6th May 2012. Unfortunately this change in dates is due to unforeseen circumstances and is beyond our control.

We wish to extend our most sincere apologies to the teams who have accepted our invitation and have made plans to participate in this event on the original dates. Our invitation to you for the new dates of 4th - 6th May 2012 still stands and we look forward to welcoming you and your team to Singapore for this prestigious event.

As far as we are aware, the new dates will not coincide with any festivities and great efforts are being made to ensure that this will be of a scale such as that of any well organized world regattas.

Formal invitations and bulletins for the new dates will be released soon and we look forward to your participation.

For further information, please log on to the event website at sdba.org.sg

Once again please accept our most sincere apologies for any inconvenience caused.

Thank you.

To All SDBA Affiliates & The Dragon Boat Community:

Please be informed that the Singapore Dragon Boat Association will be conducting another SDBA Recreational Dragon Boat Indtructor Course on 18th & 19th February 2012.

This Course is only open to a maximum of 20 participants and it will be on a first come first serve basis. Payment of $100.00 is either by cash or cheque.

Interested applicants are requested to submit the duly completed form with payment to the Singapore Dragon Boat Association latest by Tuesday, 31st January 2012.

To All SDBA Affiliates & The Dragon Boat Community:

Please be informed that the Singapore Dragon Boat Association will be conducting another SDBA Basic Helm Award (Personal Skills Level 1) Course on 14th & 15th January 2012.

This Course is only open to a maximum of 20 participants and it will be on a first come first serve basis. Payment of $60.00 is either by cash or cheque.

Interested applicants are requested to submit the duly completed form with payment to the Singapore Dragon Boat Association latest by Tuesday, 3rd January 2012.

A message from PUB:

1

This is to pre-inform that there will be Extreme Series Sailing in Marina Channel from 7 to 11 Dec from 11am to 7pm (12 nos. of Extreme 40 catamaran) and some peripheral activities like Optimist Sailing (16 boats) and Windsurfing (20 boards). A pontoon will be installed beside the Singapore Flyer jetty on 2 Dec and removed by 12 Dec. Demarcation buoys (white, green, black and yellow inflatables) will mark the race area and all vessels are not to enter the area, but to keep close to the shorelines. All vessels are to comply with the instructions given by the safety/support boats. The event organiser has earlier informed all stakeholders on the Extreme Series Sailing event.

2

Another event is Trimaran Fun Sail (6 x Trimaran Sails) to be confirmed. Date & Time of Event : 2 Dec 2011, 2pm to 7pm (Marina Channel) 3 Dec 2011, 2 – 7pm (Marina Bay) – outside the spheres zone 4 & 7 Dec 2011, 2-7pm (Marina Channel & Kallang Basin) All power-driven vessels are to keep a wide berth from the sailing boats and if necessary to give way. Due regard to the safety of the sailing boats shall be had at all times.

A message from PUB:

Please be informed of the events below happening this week.

1. Public Service Sports Carnival 2011 at the Marina Channel on 26 Nov 2011 from 0800 hrs to 1300 hrs (kayaking and dragon boating activities).

2. Mettle Games (Wakeboarding) at Marina Channel (off Singapore Flyer) on 26-27 Nov from 0800hrs to 1900hrs. Practice on 25 Nov from 0900hrs to 1900hrs.

3. Singapore River Regatta on 26-27 Nov from 0800 hrs to 1900 hrs.

All vessels are advised to keep a safe distance from the activities and comply with the instructions and signals given by the safety boats crew when in the vicinities.

For more details, pls check our reservoir notices website and updates on our recent developments, safety issues.

http://www.pub.gov.sg/marina/AllAnnouncements/Pages/default.aspx

A message from the IDBF Executive President:

Dear Colleagues,

Please find attached Information Bulletin No.1 for the 8th Club Crew World Championships (8th CCWC) due to be held in Hong Kong from 4-8 July 2012.

Please note that in certain Competition Classes the number of crew members in a Standard Boat is likely to be restricted to 20 (18 paddlers - 8 in the Small Boat) depending on the water and weather conditions prevailing in Victoria Harbour during the Championships. Any such restrictions will be made on crew safety grounds by the Chief Official.

ALL CREWS are to be reminded that they must be sanctioned by their IDBF Member (in Countries or Territories where there is an IDBF Member) and that all entries received will be referred back to the IDBF Member concerned for ratification before a final entry will be excepted.

Also note that there may be a small Admin charge for this Championships and that any such charge will be confirmed in Info Bul 2.

A note is shown in the Info Bulletin but you are advised of the full competition regulation change for the 18-23s, which is as follows:-

CR 2.1.6 (2.2.1). 18-23s.. Races can be held for Mixed or Single gender crews or in Open Competition, as shown above, for competitors aged 18 to 23 inclusive, as at the 1st June in a given year. (Aug 11).

Up to four (4) Racers in a Standard Boat competition and 2 in a Small Boat competition, may be aged 16 but under 18 years old and two (2) and one (1) over 23 but under 26 as at the 1st June. (Aug 11). Note: By definition Drummers and Steerers are ‘Racers’  

The International Dragon Boat Federation (IDBF) will be hosting the 8th Club Crew World Dragon Boat Championship (8thCCWDBC) in Hong Kong next year 2012 from 4th to 8th July 2012. Under IDBF’s regulations, each nation can send a maximum of 5 club teams to participate via the country’s IDBF affiliated dragon boat association. Hence the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) is seeking to sanction interested applicants that wish to participate in the championship.

To qualify for application, the club team must be an affiliate member of the SDBA. Interested Club Team shall appoint a Team Manager who will liaise with SDBA as well as the IDBF, and the Team Manager must submit the Application Form A to SDBA via email no later than Monday, 30th January 2012.

Dear Affiliates and Dragon Boat Enthusiasts:

We have received feedback from members of the public & the Public Utilities Board (PUB) that dragon boaters have been seen continuing their water activities and going out in the water in Marina Reservoir when lightning is present. Please note that your members/affiliates are exposed to the lightning risk which is life threatening. Safety is the utmost importance when conducting activities in the Reservoirs. We would like to remind all Affiliates to ensure that your crew members follow and comply with the safety requirement when there is lightning alert so as to enhance their safety.

Hence, in consultation with PUB, the Singapore Dragon Boat Association (SDBA) will implement the following guidelines to enhance safety during water activities at all Reservoirs with effect from 1st February 2011.

To ensure that the Coaches/Steersmen are able to guide the dragon boaters to safety when there is lightning risk, we would like to request them to do the following:

1. Carry a whistle when practicing or competing in the Reservoirs.
2. Subscribe to the weather forecast service under the National Environmental Agency (NEA) Meteorological (MET) Services at www.nea.gov.sg
3. Carry mobile phones with them during their water activities so that they can get advance notice on approaching lighting and thunder storms.
   

The SDBA & the PUB will enforce these rules by conducting random periodic checks on all dragon boats within the Reservoir areas.

The SDBA would therefore like to inform all our affiliates and dragon boat enthusiasts to strictly abide by these new guidelines. These are in the best interests of your safety and it is urgent that all of us abide by them.

A feasible checking system will be introduced later to ensure that all steersmen/coaches adhere to the rules. Representatives from the SDBA will visit the dragon boat teams during their activities to facilitate this implementation.

For enquiry, please feel free to contact us by email at admin@sdba.org.sg

We thank you for your support.

To All Team Managers of Dragon Boat Teams:

Please advise your dragon boat teams not to train within the vicinity of the Pebble Bay Condominium, especially along the retention wall as the noise generated by your crew is affecting the Condominium's residents.

Please use the Marina Barrage Waterway instead (stretch of water between Benjamin Sheares Bridge & Marina Barrage) or in the middle of Kallang Basin (Stretch of water between the fountain structure & Merdeka Bridge).

We seek your cooperation and understanding not to train too close to any residential areas.

We would appreciate your immediate compliance. 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.