The “Yellow Dragon” was launched in Duisburg harbour.

Boats are normally launched with a bottle of champagne, and that’s what the assembled TV and radio journalists were no doubt expecting when they came to watch the launch of the Sinalco dragon-boat in Duisburg harbour on May 4th, 2011. But instead of christening our Chinese dragon-boat with champagne, we fed it vegetables!

Before appeasing the dragon’s appetite, it needs to be woken up, which is done by painting in the eyes. This task was bravely carried out by the chairman of MSV Duisburg football club, Dieter Steffen, and Sinalco Managing Partner, Hermann Hövelmann.

“I’m really excited about the new boat, the commitment of the team is fantastic, and I’m sure that Sinalco will make it on to the podium at the dragon-boat regatta this year,” said Sinalco Managing Director Edmund Skopyrla. Also there to help send the boat off with words of encouragement were Sinalco Team captain, Mario Mais, Duisburg City Centre Development Managing Director, Ralf Oehmke, and Frank Orschel from the Wannheim Canoe Guild. The boat then paddled off on its virgin voyage.

“Huang Long”, the yellow dragon, will race in its first regatta on June 25th, 2011. We hope it will help the Sinalco Team to achieve a top-placed finish. And when Huang Long is not racing for Sinalco, it will be used for training and races by the Wannheim Canoe Guild, in particular for youth work.