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The Boston Brave are a team of BCGers competing in a dragon boat race against 23 other BCG teams. The race is being held in memory of our colleague, Acer Nethercott, who sadly passed away in January 2013. Acer was a Olympic silver medal winning cox and more can be read about his great achievements in the link below.
Dragon Boat Racing has ancient Chinese origins and it's history has been traced back more than 2000 years. The first participants were superstitious Chinese villagers who celebrated the 5th day of the 5th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. Racing was held to avert misfortune and encourage the rains needed for prosperity - and the object of their worship was the dragon. The dragon of Asia has traditionally been a symbol of water. It is said to rule the rivers and seas and dominate the clouds and rains.
Today Dragon Boat racing involves teams of up to twenty paddlers in a 40 foot boat with a drummer and helm, paddling frantically to beat the other teams down the course. The drums, shouting and colourful boats make it an impressive and exciting sport both to watch and to compete in.