New this year to the Brockport Summer Art Festival (August 11 and 12) will be Dragon Boat Racing - an Asian sport that is a fast growing water sport.

Dragon Boat Racing is just what it sounds like - racing on the water in colorful boats shaped like dragons. Twenty crew members power a boat toward the finish line by paddling fiercely while another member beats out stroke cadence on a drum.

Teams can be made up of corporate groups, community/service organizations, and youth groups (age 14-17). Registration fees range from $20-$31 per person depending on your racing category. Each team must have a minimum of eight female paddlers.

Each race is 500 meters, and all teams race three times - rain or shine. All the equipment is provided (as is a professional steersperson who will steer the boat) and no experience is necessary. All races will happen Saturday, August 11. Prizes will be awarded.

To accommodate local teams, there will be six World Championship Dragon Racing Boats. Each boat is 41' long and weighs 550 pounds. The fiberglass boats were built in Ontario, Canada, from moulds of original dragon boats; the colorful heads and tails came from Hong Kong.

Space is limited. To register a team, log on to www.rochesterevents.com, or call Dragon Boat Master Joe at 473-4482.