SYDNEY ‘07 WORLD CHAMPS
Preparation is going well. The main news is we have been successful in obtaining two significant sponsors over the last two weeks - the NSW State Govt and Eco Point Resorts. These funds will go a long way in underwriting the non-core expenses of the event. Some of the funds will be used to appoint a full-time "Event Manager" who will be doing further sponsorship development over the next 6 months and who will be the primary contact for Teams Accommodation options are close to be finalised and will be available on the website for teams to review. The first draft of the website should be available immediately following the CCWC in Toronto. The site will be fully functional by the end of the year. All other aspect of the organisation are underway and are in the hands of one or another of the 13 Org Com Members.

USA NATIONALS NEWS
The water is warm and clean. A sea breeze rolls gently up the course. Your team paddles silently up the course, the only sound is the rhythmic beat of the drum . A manatee breaks the surface in the distance. To your right, the last bits of day- light slip away into purple dusk Tampa, where dreams come true. Are YOU ready? Register at www.tampadbnationals.com US National Championships, 26-27 August 06, Tampa. The Nationals for club and corporate teams of any level. Dragon Boat Trade Show products, services, seminars and clinics for clubs, race organisers and paddlers. USDBF Annual Meeting - Open to all It is a dream. A dream event. The only thing we are missing is, of course YOU !

1st IPDBC Breast Cancer Dragon Boat World Champs
Singapore 29 Sep t -1 Oct 2006 Tentative Program Dates 27-28 Sep: Training Days 29 Sep - 1 Oct: Race Days 2 October Workshops Costs: Race fee of $100 Sng per person, approx. $62.00 USD. Fee includes training sessions, races, opening and closing ceremonies, group transportation on arrival and departure days, box lunch race days, and shuttle between hotels and race venue. Additional cost -race shirt, food, hotel, and travel For more info on Singapore see http://www.bcf.org.sg/ipdbc06/ and for further regular updates Make a date for Singapore!

DATELINE CAPE TOWN SOUTH AFRICA
The Western Cape Dragon Boat Association (WCDBA) has had a high quality IDBF standard racing dragonboat plug and mould made. For the first time good quality boats, at a price affordable to African countries, can now be made available to dragonboat clubs and associations in Africa. The cordial relationships between the two major dragonboat associations in South Africa – Western Cape (WCDBA) in the south and Gauteng (GDBA) in the north were further cemented by an enjoyable and successful trip by a combined team to Internationals in Taipei. A third SA province has recently started 4 or 5 clubs and is in the process of forming the Free State DBA. We hope that KwaZulu-Natal will soon follow. The first Breast Cancer Survivor team in Africa, the Amabele Belles, was formed in April 2006. The team will be participating in the 1st BCS World Champs in Singapore. We would like to invite teams to the Cape Town International Races from 10th – 12th November 2006 - see http://www.dragonboat.org.za

The SAVA SPRINTS 2006
will be held on 23-24 September 2006, a week before the IPDBC

LINK YOUR WEBSITE TO THE IDBF
E-mail Andy Anderson patrick@anderso.me.uk

MORE RACE INFO FOR 2006
For a comprehensive calendar of Dragon Boat events world wide, the IDBF recommended site is the, www.dragonboatcalendar.com web site owed and run by Yee Chow. Contact him by email at dragonboating@gmail.com