Five strong, ten fast and then around 100 long strokes: With this strategy, the FH team paddled their way to an excellent 8th place in this year's dragon boat race on Lake Phoenix.
The perfect bow wave - visible from afar and well-formed like Super Mario's moustache brush - is regarded by dragon boat experts as a clear indication of jointly generated speed. After all, dragon boat paddling is a team sport in which it is not the strength of individuals that counts, but the simultaneous pulling of all paddles that provides the strongest thrust.
All physics
After previous water-dividing techniques circumvented physics and therefore proved difficult to communicate - looking at you, Moses - the FH team relied on one of their scientifically proven strengths for the race on Sunday, August 31, 2025: cooperation. Heartbeat-like, the 18 paddles pulsed to the rhythm of the drumbeat and drew a dead straight, 250-metre-long apex of the Phoenix Lake with the keel within 1:14.07 (best time).
Competition in the top third
The day began with drizzle and a noticeable headwind, which persisted throughout the race and robbed all teams of a few seconds. Nonetheless, the FH team swung into an excellent 9th place in the qualification at 9.40 am with 1:16.77 and thus into the top third of the competition, the Materna Cup.
In both timed heats at 11.20 and 13.40, the team (battle cry "FH-Ahoi!") crossed the finish line in 1:14.07 and 1:14.74 as the second of three teams. In the final at 15:40, 1:15.42 was also enough for second place. Overall, the FH team finished in 8th place. (The exact tournament rules can be found here(Opens in a new tab) .)
Orange and good
Between races, the FH team's orange oscillating camp offered paddlers a rest and visitors the tried-and-tested FH full-body treatment: water ice for the palate, sunglasses for the nose, deckchairs for the buttocks and a warm "Hi!" for the heart.
FH Ahoy!
