Dragon Boat Display opens the Iluka Mermaid Festival

​The sport of Dragon Boating was on full display in Iluka Bay as Clarence Coast Dragon Boat Club opened the Iluka Mermaid Festival.
The boat was dressed in full regalia with the magnificent Dragon’s head, tail and drum attached.
As we pushed away from the pontoon, locals and holiday makers emerged from their dwellings to the sound of Mermaid Lyn beating the drum.
As we paddled into Iluka Bay, the many spectators were able to watch, a typical training session, including two 200m races.
Wind predictions proved accurate, as the wind picked up testing the skill of all paddlers and in particular the Sweeps. After an hour and a half on the water, and at times surfing the waves whipped up by the winds, we returned safe and rather wet to the pontoon. But as paddlers said ‘It is a water sport”.