Race Information

Lamma 500 Dragon Boat Festival - Dragon Boat

Highlife Trading Company, Thirsty Horse Ltd. and the Lamma Dragons Dragonboat Club will host the Sixteenth Annual Lamma International Dragon Boat Festival (Lamma 500) at Tai Wan To Beach, Lamma Island 26th April 2026.

Programme of competitions

500m Races

• Men’s
• Women’s
• Premier Mixed
• U18 Youth Mixed (ages 12–17)

1,000m Races

• Men’s
• Women’s
• Premier Mixed

Special Event Category

• The “Mox 500m Mixed Corporate Cup” – returning for its second year and open to corporate, business, and association teams at no additional cost.

Event Sponsor Highlight
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Registration:

Early Bird Rates – available until 28 February 2026

• Adult Teams: $4,800
• U18 Youth Mixed Teams: $2,600

Note:Early Bird rates must be paid by 28 February 2026 or regular rate fees will apply

Regular Rates – take effect on 1 March 2026

• Adult Teams: $5,200
• U18 Youth Mixed Teams: $3,000

Final registration closes at 6pm on 16 April 2026. Crew entries are limited, so please register early to avoid disappointment.

REGISTRATION & INFO

For reference only: Race Categories and Distances

Categories:

  • Men’s, Women’s and Mixed premier 300, 500m races;
  • Men’s, Women’s and Mixed premier 1,000m races; and
  • 500m Mixed Corporate Cup final: and
  • Youth Mixed Crews (aged 12-17) 500m races. Please note, U18 crews do not race in the 1,000m event.

500-metre Tournament

The 500-metre race has two heats in all categories. Top teams will progress to finals (Cup for U18 Teams, Cup and Plate for Open Men’s, Women’s Teams; Cup, Plate and Bowl for Mixed Premier Teams). Teams that do not progress to the finals will not have another 500-m race on the day. We recommend all Adult Teams enter the 1,000-Metre race if they wish to have at least three races throughout the day.

  • Cups and medals in the 500m for Open Men’s, Women’s, and Mixed Premier divisions (for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place).
  • Cups and medals in the 500m Mixed Youth Race (for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place).
  • Plates in the 500m for  MixedPremier divisions (for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place).
  • A Bowl in the Mixed Premier division (for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place).

 1,000-metre Tournament

The 1,000m race is an optional event but it is one of the most popular features of our event. For teams who may not make it to the final race, it also offers a third race of the day so that every club has as many opportunities to compete on the water as possible.

  • Cups and medals for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the Men’s, Women’s and Mixed Premier divisions.

Mox Mixed Corporate Cup

Eligibility: The 500m Mox Mixed Corporate Cup is open to corporate, business, and association teams at no additional fee beyond the standard Mixed-category entry.

Race Day Structure

  • All Mixed teams (corporate and non-corporate) race together in the standard Mox Lamma 500 heats.
  • The top-performing Mixed crews qualify for the regular Mixed finals (e.g., Mixed Premier Cup Final).
  • The top-scoring Corporate teams also qualify for the Mox Mixed Corporate Cup Final.

Optional Participation: Corporate teams that qualify for both the Mixed Premier Cup Final and the Mox Mixed Corporate Cup Final may choose to race in:

  • the Mixed Premier Cup Final only,
  • the Mox Mixed Corporate Cup Final only,
  • or both finals.

There is no extra fee for entering the Mox Mixed Corporate Cup. To enter, simply select “Yes” when asked if you wish to compete in the Mox Mixed Corporate Cup in the registration form.

Other competition and category notes:

  • The 1,000m race is a free optional race open to any team adult already enrolled in the Mox Lamma 500 event,
  • There is no U18 Youth Mixed 1,000m race, and
  • A minimum of 5 teams’ enrollment is required for each race competition.
  • Each Team Crew requires an individual entry and payment on webscorer.

Programme (approximate times)

9am – Heats running at 10 minute intervals
12:45pm–Lunch break /catch up
1:45pm – The Lamma 500 signature 1,000 metre tournament
3pm – Finals
4.30/5pm – Prize Giving followed by Beach Party

 

For reference

FAQ

Do you have a recommended supplier for team kit?

If you’d need any team shirts or caps, please contact our sponsor “Highlife” by reaching out to Brad Tarr at [email protected]

Are paddles provided, and can I bring my own?

All race equipment, including paddles, will be provided. However, paddlers are welcome to use their own paddles so long as they comply with IDBF specifications.

Can we hire a steersman?

There is a charge of $800 to hire a steers for the full day per boat crew. This is non-refundable. A steer shall thereafter be made available to the crew all day. Crews cannot pick their steer; the Race Marshals will assign one. This cost is applied per crew, not to an entire team.

Can we hire a tent?

A marquee type tent can be hire at $600 for the full day.

Does the Lamma 500 have a sustainability agenda?

The Lamma 500 is a Green Event. We urge all teams to bring their own refillable water bottles. Our water-station is free of charge. We will also have recycling bins and a paperless (online) programme. We urge all our vendors, competitors, and guests to work to keep our environment clean.

Is the event associated with any charities?

The Lamma 500 supports the environmental charity Plastic Free Seas as well as the wonderful not-for-profit Women in Sports Empowered Hong Kong (睿動香港), which seeks to educate, empower and connect women and girls to realize their aspirations through sport.

Race Procedure

500-metre Tournament – Outline

  • A white flag is raised to signal that the race will begin within 2 minutes time. Boats are expected to line up and be ready to go.
  • A red flag will be raised when boats are in alignment. The red flag shows that the start of the race is imminent.
  • The race starter will call “Ready”, and then, to start the race, the starter will drop the red flag and sound an air horn.
  • Teams “go” when the red flag drops. (Note: starter will not call “attention” in addition to “ready” call).
  • The starter will blow the air-horn two times if a race start is deemed unfair, and signal for a restart.

 

1000m Race Course Route1,000-Metre Tournament – Outline

  • The Racing Course: The Racing Course is circulatory, with two straight sections and two turns in one circuit of the Course (see Map).
  • Boats shall be started at intervals, that is, a ‘staggered’ start. The starter shall call each boat forward, and count them down to their start. The first crew should be positioned on the ‘right of the line’ looking up the course and 2-3-metres to the right of the lane marker.
  • As a staggered start is used, the Start Times (based on intervals, not when the boats pass the start line marker) will be compared against the Finish Times recorded for crews.  The resulting Time Differential will be used to calculate a crew’s actual Race Time.  Any race Time Penalties incurred by a crew will then be added to give a crew its Gross Race Time.
Click for Full Rules

Race Results

Download the Lamma500 app for race results, team progressions and ferry schedule!

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