Dragon boat racing at North Star Beach

NORTH STAR BEACH -- Practices for the oncoming Dragon boat racing

series will begin Nov. 9 at the Newport Aquatic Center by the Orange

County Dragon Boat organization, at One Whitecliffs Drive in Newport

Beach.

Long range plans include a tournament in Newport Beach in May of

2003 in preparation for the anticipated World Cup Dragon Boat

Tournament at Marine Stadium in Long Beach July 26-27.

A dragon boat is 36 feet long and holds 16 paddlers, who sit

side-by-side with a steerperson and a drummer, who keeps cadence.

For more information, including practice schedule, contact Dr.

Richard Thill at (714) 535-2708. The Web site is

ocdragonboat@juno.com.