Dragon Boat Race Shopping List
A dragon boat race needs more than boats and paddles. You will need safety equipment for every participant, clear course markers, waterproof communication tools and a reliable registration setup on shore. Plan the quantities around the number of teams, boats and volunteers, then add spares for damaged paddles, changing weather and last-minute replacements. This list helps you check what must be bought, hired or brought before race day.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Party tentqty 4
- Folding tablesqty 12
- Folding chairsqty 80
- Bar stoolsqty 12
- Registration deskqty 2
- Waste binsqty 12
- Stage sectionsqty 4
Sports equipment
- Dragon boatsqty 4
- Competition paddlesqty 80
- Spare paddlesqty 12
- Life jacketsqty 100
- Dragon drumsqty 4
- Start buoysqty 2
- Competition buoysqty 12
- Finish buoysqty 2
- Mooring linesqty 16
- Mooring linesqty 12
- Paddle racksqty 4
- Team bibsqty 100
- Stopwatchesqty 6
- Whistlesqty 8
- Megaphonesqty 3
- Waterproof scoreboardsqty 4
- Cable reelsqty 4
- Waterproof storage boxesqty 10
- Life ringsqty 8
- Throw linesqty 6
- Waterproof walkie-talkiesqty 8
- Emergency blanketsqty 20
- First aid kitsqty 2
- Cold packsqty 12
- Nitrile glovesqty 4
Equipment
- Speakersqty 4
- Mixer
- Wireless microphonesqty 2
- Speaker standsqty 4
- Extension cordsqty 8
- Power stripsqty 8
- Power banksqty 8
- Waterproof tabletsqty 2
- Printer
- Laptopsqty 2
Lighting
- LED light stringsqty 8
- LED work lightsqty 6
- Outdoor extension cordsqty 6
Decorations
- Buntingqty 8
- Team flagsqty 16
- Start and finish bannersqty 4
- Directional signsqty 12
- Prize tablecloth
- Tableclothsqty 12
- Team number signsqty 16
Tableware
- Reusable drinking cupsqty 250
- Reusable platesqty 180
- Reusable cutleryqty 200
- Coffee cupsqty 100
- Tea glassesqty 100
- Serving spoonsqty 12
- Small bowlsqty 20
- Thermos flasksqty 6
Kitchen
- Coolersqty 8
- Ice packsqty 40
- Kettlesqty 3
- Coffee machinesqty 2
- Cutting boardsqty 6
- Chef's knivesqty 6
- Serving tongsqty 10
- Food containersqty 20
- Aluminum foilqty 4
- Cling filmqty 4
- Cooling matsqty 6
Cleaning
- Hand broomsqty 4
- Dustpan and brushqty 4
- Floor squeegeesqty 2
- Cleaning bucketsqty 4
- Microfiber clothsqty 20
- Washing-up bowlsqty 4
- Mop setsqty 2
- Hand soap dispensersqty 6
- Toilet paper holdersqty 4
Catering
- Groceries
- Coffee - 8 packs
- Assorted tea - 6 boxes
- Sugar - 3 packs
- Milk - 12 liters
- Oat milk - 6 liters
- Lemon tea - 2 boxes
- Cola - 24 bottles
- Coke Zero - 24 bottles
- Sinas - 18 bottles
- Ice tea - 18 bottles
- Ginger ale - 12 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 120 bottles
- Spa Rood - 36 bottles
- Sports drink - 72 bottles
- Apple juice - 12 cartons
- Orange juice - 12 cartons
- Chocolate milk - 24 cartons
- Ice cubes - 30 bags
- Sandwiches - 240 pieces
- Multigrain rolls - 60 pieces
- Gluten-free sandwiches - 12 pieces
- Butter - 4 packs
- Margarine - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 5 kilogram
- Aged cheese - 3 kilograms
- Ham - 3 kilograms
- Chicken breast slices - 3 kilograms
- Hummus - 2 kilograms
- Peanut butter - 4 jars
- Jam - 4 jars
- Cucumbers - 12 pieces
- Tomatoes - 5 kilograms
- Lettuce - 12 heads
- Bell peppers - 3 kilograms
- Red onion - 2 kilograms
- Chicken satay - 8 kilograms
- Vegetarian burgers - 40 pieces
- Hamburger buns - 60 pieces
- Mini sausages - 4 kilogram
- Fries sauce - 4 bottles
- Mayonnaise - 4 bottles
- Ketchup - 4 bottles
- Mustard - 3 bottles
- Satay Sauce - 4 kilograms
- Fried onions - 6 bags
- Herb butter - 12 tubs
- Pasta salad - 8 kilograms
- Potato salad - 8 kilograms
- Green salad - 8 kilograms
- Grapes - 6 kilograms
- Apples - 100 pieces
- Bananas - 80 pieces
- Oranges - 60 pieces
- Muesli bars - 120 pieces
- Currant buns - 80 pieces
- Paprika chips - 12 bags
- Plain chips - 12 bags
- Tortilla chips - 10 bags
- Salsa sauce - 6 jars
- Salted peanuts - 6 bags
- Mixed nuts - 6 bags
- Popcorn - 6 bags
- Cookies - 12 packs
- Brownies - 120 pieces
- Vegan cookies - 6 packs
- Gluten-free cookies - 6 packs
- Lemons - 20 pieces
- Salt - 2 packs
- Pepper - 2 cans
- Paprika powder - 2 jars
- Garlic powder - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 2 liters
- Balsamic vinegar - 2 bottles
- Napkins - 800 pieces
- Paper towels - 12 rolls
- Toilet paper - 48 rolls
- Liquid hand soap - 6 bottles
- Dish soap - 4 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 60 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 4 bottles
- Disinfectant wipes - 12 packs
- Sponges - 12 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 6 pairs
- Trash bags - 150 pieces
- Compostable snack trays - 300 pieces
- Wooden stirrers - 300 pieces
- Wooden satay skewers - 500 pieces
- Aluminum trays - 100 pieces
- Baking paper - 4 rolls
Tips
- Plan one properly fitted life jacket for every person on the water, including paddlers, drummers and steerspeople, and keep several spare jackets available for replacements.
- Prepare at least one spare paddle for each boat, then store them in a dry, waterproof box rather than leaving them beside the water where they can be lost or damaged.
- Use separate start, competition and finish buoys so the course is visible from beginning to end. Check the full route before teams arrive and bring extra mooring lines for securing equipment.
- Give registration staff a desk, tables, chairs, waterproof storage boxes and clearly marked team bibs. Pack spare pens, printed schedules and participant information because wet paperwork is difficult to replace during check-in.
- Set up communication coverage before the first race: test waterproof walkie-talkies, megaphones and whistles at the start and finish areas, and keep emergency blankets, life rings and throw lines immediately accessible.
Frequently asked questions
- How many life jackets do I need for a dragon boat race?
- Prepare one life jacket for every person who may enter a boat, including participants, crew and safety staff. Add at least 10% spare capacity, rounded up to the next whole jacket, for replacements and unexpected users.
- How many spare paddles should I bring to a dragon boat race?
- Bring at least one spare paddle per boat, so a six-boat event needs six spare paddles. Keep additional spares if teams use different paddle sizes or if the race venue has a long route between storage and the water.
- What safety equipment is needed for a dragon boat race?
- Have life jackets, life rings, throw lines and emergency blankets ready, plus a rescue service arranged before race day. Place rescue equipment at the water access point and confirm that every volunteer knows where it is at least 1 hour before the first race.
- When should I buy or hire dragon boat race equipment?
- Book boats, safety equipment and the water venue as soon as the date is confirmed, ideally at least 8 weeks ahead. Complete the final equipment check 1 day before the event and keep a weather backup plan ready before participants are informed.
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