Dragon Boats and Tall Ships, Rowing Different Strokes

At the opposite end of the boating spectrum from the powerful 40s and 70s, so to speak, are the sail-less dragon boats, powered entirely by oarsmen, who represent what is likely the oldest festival observance in the history of China. So named for the heads and tails of these lengthy canoes, they are vividly decorated and ritually "brought to life" before competing by having their eyes painted in. Dragon boats range from 40 to 100 feet in length and may require as many as 80 rowers, in addition to a drummer who pounds out a "Stroke!" rhythm and a flag catcher who perches in the prow waiting to grab the winner's pennant at the finish line.

The actual Dragon Festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month of the Chinese calendar (usually late May to early June) and dates back about 2,300 years to the era of the Qin (Chin) amalgamation of the Chinese mini-empires. Poet and diplomat Qu (Chu) Yuan, minister to the last Zhou ruler, was highly regarded by the common people but envied by corrupt court officials who persuaded the Zhou emperor to dismiss him. He wandered in exile for several years, writing and teaching, but when he heard that the Qin had conquered the Zhou, he threw himself into the Miluo River. Fishermen in long boats, like the dragon boats, rushed out into the river, beating drums and throwing rice to keep the fish away from Qu Yuan's body.

Two 41-foot dragon boats, each powered by 40 rowers, will salute the Volvo sailors by racing on April 29 in Baltimore and May 6 in Annapolis.

For those who long to go down to the sea in historic ships, a gallery of them will be docked around Baltimore's Inner Harbor and open to tours. The Pride of Baltimore is a reproduction of a circa-1812 Clipper privateer; the Virginia is a re-creation of a Class B tall ship that served as a pilot schooner on the Chesapeake Bay in the early 20th century. The 178-foot Philadelphia tall ship Gazella, built in Portugal in 1901 reusing timbers from an 1883 Gazella, was used to transport fishermen from Lisbon to the Grand Banks of Newfoundland as late as 1969. Chestertown's 97-foot topsail Schooner Sultana was built a few years ago using traditional boatmaking techniques. The most impressive may be the 250-foot Dutch tall ship Stad Amsterdam.

In addition, the Thomas Jefferson, a Norfolk-based NOAA hydrographical survey vessel, will be available for tours.