DENISE Romero-Williams, captain of Jamaica’s mixed 200m team which set a national record 1:01.82 minutes in Nassau, The Bahamas, has eyes set on Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) for the International Dragon Boat Federation’s Club Crew World Championships, from August 29 to September 6.

Romero-Williams has twice tasted history as part of Jamaica’s mixed 200m team, first winning bronze at the 2025 Bahamas International Dragon Boat Festival before lowering the national record this year in a thrilling fourth-place finish.

Competing as McKay Security at the Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival on June 13 and 14, Romero-Williams leads a mixed 200m squad comprising teammates which represented Jamaica in The Bahamas.

She expects home advantage will fire Danielle Russell, Neil Yap Sam, Cassandra Russell, Rushaine Tyrell, Richard Stone, Chue-Ping Wong Russell, Ashane Gordon-Morrison, Kashane McFarlene, Zain Chong, Nicholai Reid, and Clayton Russell Jr to go under a minute.

“If we break the one-minute barrier at the Jamaica Dragon Boat Festival it will certainly give us the strength to propose to the sponsor to send us to Taiwan to represent Jamaica,” Romero-Williams said, anticipating the event set for Grand Hotel Excelsior Port Royal, formerly Morgan’s Harbour Hotel.

At The Bahamas festival, Royal Bahamas Defence Force Water Defenders’ 59.36 seconds edged Chinook Mojos (1:00.08), last year’s runners-up; Sandragon (1:00.72); and Jamaica (1:01.82), in a thrilling finish separated by dragon heads at the bows of each boat.

Jamaica had advanced to the final after clocking first- and second-round times of 1:02.43 and 1:04.72, respectively, winning both opening-day heats, and further adding a third heat victory, 1:04.42, during the final day’s morning session.

The Bahamas, the region’s powerhouse in dragon boat racing, have two teams committed to the second Jamaica festival whereas Trinidad and Tobago, perennial Jamaican rivals in all things sport, are also gunning for the locals’ heads.

The Bahamas started training for their Jamaican voyage almost immediately after their festival held at Goodman’s Bay on May 2 and 3.

However, Romero-Williams says home advantage will be crucial for Jamaica.

“The water will be more favourable for us,” she said. “We train here. The water in Kingston is rougher, the resistance is greater, compared to The Bahamas. Once we perfect our synchronisation we will be a hard team to beat.”

Romero-Williams is also rooting for McKay Security’s open 200m team to clock a sub-minute time, which would “give them a seat at the table to discuss the possibility of sponsorship for Taiwan”.

“If that happens we will just have to be scientific in how we juggle the open-team members paddling on the mixed team to ensure one doesn’t compromise the other,” she said.