Previously known as the "Akaroa 10s" this year's Le Mans races will be at Shelley Beach in Picton Harbour. This event is being hosted jointly by Simply the Breast (STB) Dragon Boat team and Aoraki Dragon Boat Association.

The event is open to all affiliated Aoraki teams (in the South Island) as part of their Season Fees. We also invite other New Zealand teams to enter (subject to an out-of-region Entry Fee).

Christchurch Teams are encouraged to drive up to Picton on the Friday evening, or on Saturday, and stay in Picton area on Saturday night.

Racing will start fairly promptly on Sunday morning, and we aim to have racing completed by about 3 pm, to allow a leisurely drive back to Christchurch by about 8pm. 

Racing will be in Small Boats (Swift Festival boats) and will be 250m or 200m Sprints, from north (about the start of the 5 knot zone) in southwards towards Shelley Beach, alongside the Queen Charlotte Yacht Club buildings. Sweep plus 8 to 10 paddlers per boat plus an optional Caller. This will involve two heats plus a (Divisional) Final for all teams.

After the Straight Line Races we will have "Le Mans" start (and finish) races from the beach by the northern end of the QCYC Building. That is, two boats sit on the beach. The paddler from Seat 5 Right is about 10m back, on the beach. On the hooter, they run up to jump into Seat 5 and the boat continues to paddle (or they wait till their paddler is seated). Both boats race about 80 to 100 metres out from a Beach start, left hand turn around their own buoy and return to the beach. The Caller on the bow jumps off and runs about 10 metres up the beach to the Finish Line.

Race times for the Le Mans will be timed, so that teams will then be seeded for a series of Finals, again organised by Divisions.

Note, dependent on the number of teams entered, there may be an earlier start time, to allow teams to have the full set of races.

See tidetime.org and tides.niwa.co.nz