McKay Security, mixed-division winners at June’s inaugural Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival, have ramped up preparations to represent Jamaica at the Bahamas International Dragon Boat Festival at Goodman’s Bay, Nassau from August 30 to 31.

Drawing on athletes from various sporting disciplines, McKay Security’s team will feature mainly martial artists, who Jason McKay, chief executive officer at McKay Security, described as “natural athletes in training all year round”.

“All members of the travelling squad, bar one, were members of the McKay Security team that took mixed-division gold at the Jamaican event in its first hosting this year at the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Port Royal,” McKay says.

This year’s festival is expected to draw international attention with confirmed participation from teams across the Caribbean and North America, including a high-school team from Trinidad and Tobago, and competitors from Oregon in the United States.

Jamaica first participated in an international Dragon Boat competition in Jakarta, Thailand, 2022, making the semi-finals.

Dragon boat racing has its roots in ancient Chinese folk rituals. It involves teams of paddlers propelling a long, canoe-like boat decorated with a dragon’s head and tail.

The sport is characterised by teamwork, synchronicity and the presence of a drummer and a steersperson. Races typically involve multiple teams competing over a set distance.

Dragon boat racing has been featured as a demonstration sport at the Olympics, Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024.

Select squad members:

Akino Lindsay

Lindsay holds the distinction of being the most successful International Sport Kick-Boxing Association’s Amateur Members Association (ISKA AMA) fighter in history, a multiple double gold medallist, last completing the feat at the 2024 ISKA World championships in Vienna, Austria.

Lindsay was introduced to the sport through McKay Security, sponsor of Jamaica’s combined martial arts team. He is positioned at the right front of the boat, drawing on his physical conditioning and strength.

Richard Stone

Bettered only by Akino Lindsay as an ISKA AMA fighter, Stone improved his international martial arts resume in July as the only Jamaican fighter to win double gold at the International Sport Karate Association’s United States Open in Orlando Florida.

A medical doctor, Stone won back-to-back ESPN Night of Champions International Taekwondo Federation titles at the US Open, 2023 and 2024, and holds eight individual ISKA AMA gold medals.

Stone’s position in the boat is front, left. He was positioned for his strength and stamina.

Ackeem Lawrence

Ackeem Lawrence has been competing for Jamaica since he was 14 years old. A successful junior competitor before transitioning to the combined martial arts team senior squad, Lawrence has won multiple gold medals at ISKA AMA world tournaments. He is one of three Jamaicans to have medalled at the International Taekwondo Federation World Championships.

He was introduced to dragon boat racing through McKay Security which is the sponsor of the combined martial team that he represents.

His position in the boat is left, rear. He was selected for this position based on his stamina and core strength.

Delano Francis

Delano Francis is the only Jamaican athlete to have won an International Taekwondo Federation World Junior title. However, his career was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a major knee injury that required surgery.

His position in the boat is fourth, left side. Francis’ fitness, determination and ability to coordinate with others makes him a perfect fit in a sport that requires extreme synchronisation.

Richard Stone

Ackeem Lawrence

Delano Francis