KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Jamaica Coast Guard sits atop the tables after Saturday’s first day of competition at the inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival in Port Royal.

The blue and white-clad team dominated the mixed event with a combined time of 2:07.405 after winning both their heats, and will go into Sunday’s second day of competition just ahead of The Chinese Benevolent Association (2:11.339) and Chinese Embassy (2:15.064) teams who round out the top three.

Nine teams of the initial 11 made it into the final day of competition including: Hydra Jamaica 2 (2:18.213), McKay security (2:19.536), Generals (2:20.530) CHE Construction (2:21.064) Hydra Jamaica (2:31.594) and the Confucius Institute (UWI) with a time of 2:35.337.

Hydra Jamaica 2 prepares to compete in their first heat at the inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival in Port Royal, Kingston on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Photo: Dana Malcolm)

The event was launched by The Chinese Benevolent Association of Jamaica (CBA) and the Jamaica Dragon Boat Foundation.

READ: Dragon boating sails off in Jamaica this weekend

All teams participated in two heats over 200 metres of open water, paddling in time to the drumbeats from a drummer mounted in the front of the boat with support from a ‘sweep’ who steered the boat.

The Chinese Embassy, CBA, and CHE Construction had the pleasure of christening Jamaica’s waters as participants of the first heat in the first-ever competition locally, as dignitaries including Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Kamina Johnson Smith; Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Chen Daojiang; and Custos of Kingston, Steadman Fuller looked on.

Chinese Ambassador to Jamaica Chen Daojiang (centre) speaks to Pan American Dragon Boat Foundation President Franco Sui Chong while Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Kamina Johnson Smith looks on at the inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival in Port Royal, Kingston on Saturday, May 31, 2025. (Photo: Dana Malcolm)

Women’s teams Be! Payment, Be! Intelligence and Be! Vending competed in an all-female series with Be! Vending topping the group.

Teams from McKay Security, Smart Choice, Purity Bakery, and Caribbean Dreams Dragons also participated in an open race, with Smart Choice topping the field.

The competition concludes on Sunday with the mixed event semi-finals and finals.

— Dana Malcolm