28th Dragon Boat Festival: 28 teams in two racing classes over two distances in ten hours

July 6, 2026
Summer festival

The 28th Dragon Boat Festival was characterized by enthusiasm, sporting ambition, and team spirit on the water. Despite initially stormy conditions, 28 teams in two racing classes delivered thrilling races over distances of 100 and 280 meters, battling for every second and demonstrating impressive cohesion.

On Saturday, at the 28th Dragon Boat Festival on the southern section of the Alter Strom, victory and defeat often came down to mere seconds. Photo: Pepe Hartmann

A total of six cups saw the crowning of winning teams. In the standard boat with 20 paddlers, the preliminary heats resulted in groups divided into two separately scored performance classes. Five teams competed in the small boat with ten paddlers, with the finals following directly after the heats. After approximately ten hours of exciting races on the southern Alter Strom, accompanied by loud drum rhythms and a fantastic atmosphere both on and off the water, the dragon boat teams had all been determined. Spectators enjoyed thrilling races from the shore and the railway bridge, with suspense right up to the very end. As always, the focus was not only on the sporting competition but also on having fun.

“We as organizers are just as pleased with the event as the teams. The atmosphere was fantastic once again. Every finish was celebrated, every success honored with cheers and great joy,” said Mario Herrmann of Rostocker SV Breitling. The fact that this year's dragon boat festival only lasted one day due to the upcoming European Championships in Munich did not detract from the event at all. Several teams were even happy that they could paddle more races in a row. “The day once again impressively demonstrated how team spirit, passion, and fairness connect people – on the water as well as on land,” Herrmann added.

Results:

Placings 280 meters: