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1. Traditional Category: 96-foot, 5,000-pound long-boats (some carved from a single trunk of Thakien tree) manned by 50 paddlers, one or two paddling steermen, and a lead paddler who periodically turns around and shouts encouragement while pounding signals against the boat with the shaft of his paddle.
2. International Category: 48-foot, 2,000-pound all teak boats powered by 20 women or men paddlers using handle-less teakwood paddles (54" long, 6" X 9" blade), plus a whistler for cadence, and a paddling steersperson who uses a handle-less 71" paddle. Swan Boats race four abreast over a 650-meter course. Long-boat racing has been a tradition in Southeast Asia since A.D. 1350. "The United States Men's Team (boat #4) [picture above] sprints neck-and-neck to a 3rd place finish behind the wining Thai Team (boat #2) and the 2nd place singapore team (boat #3) in the finals of the World Championships October 11,
2535 (1992) on the Chao Phraya River under the, Rama IX Bridge, Bangkok, Thailand." This U.S. team was the first non-oriental entry ever to make the finals in the 700-year history of this event. |
Thailand International Swan Boat Races November 27-28, 2004:
The Tourism Authority of Thailand is graciously picking up for most meals for 5 nights/6 days, and is providing a team bus for transportation to and from the airport, hotel, race venue and sight-seeing trips for the American Men's and Women's Swan Boat Team. Wives/husbands of team members will be offered discount hotel rooms, transportation on team bus, free admission to the race venue and ability to purchase tickets to the reception and celebration banquets. Between 1978-96 the exchange rate in Thailand was 24 Baht/dollar. Currently the exchange rate is around 40 Baht/ dollar (e.g. a hotel room costing $100 in the United States, goes for around $20 in Thailand). Round trip airfare to Thailand including earning frequent flyer mileage will cost approximately $1000 per person. A checklist of helpful trip tips is provided towards the end of this homepage. ................ |
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