Enter the dragon boats with paddle power for fundraiser

AS fundraising events go, this one will really push the boat out - 50 dragon boats to be exact.

Edinburgh is to get a taste of the Far East with plans for a massive dragon boat festival in Leith's Western Harbour.

It will be the largest of its kind ever held in Scotland, featuring up to 50 boats, each 40ft long and with a crew of 17, competing throughout the day over a 250-metre course.

The organisers, the Rotary Club of Leith, hope that it will raise more than 100,000 for local and Rotary charities, and become an annual event with up to 10,000 spectators.

It will take place on June 5, a day before the annual Dragon Boat Festival - a holiday in China celebrayed by Chinese communities across the world.

President of the Rotary Club of Leith, Cron Mackay, said: "This promises to be a truly spectacular event with stalls, a tented village and local bands to complement the racing. I am confident competitors and spectators will have a great time and help us to raise a huge amount for charity."

The Rotary Club of Leith is now urging companies, organisations and individuals to put forward crews for the challenge.

Entry costs 500 per team and applications will be taken until the end of April. Each team needs to nominate a crew of 20, comprising 16 paddlers, a drummer and reserves.

Racing will take place from 10am to around 4.30pm over a course that runs parallel to Ocean Terminal, passing by the former Royal Yacht Britannia.

Spectators will be able to view the action from both the quayside, behind safety barriers, and from within the Ocean Terminal shopping centre.

Mr Mackay added: "We have already had great interest from organisations and businesses keen on entering and I would encourage many more to come forward as soon as possible. This event will provide a high-profile opportunity to support local charities which make such a valuable contribution to the community, as well as generating support for each team's chosen charity. And, of course, it will be great fun."

Each boat will have a helmsman, provided by Dragon Boat Events Ltd, the company which is also supplying the vessels - the largest flatwater racing canoes in the world. Six boats will be in use, with three boats racing at a time. There will be three heats and the racing will conclude with a grand final for the six fastest teams from the heats.

The Sir Tom Farmer Quaich will go to the winner of the grand final, with the winning team having 200 donated to its nominated charity.

There will also be 200 prizes, again donated to the team's nominated charity, for the team raising the most sponsorship and the individual in any team who raises the most money. The best-dressed team will also receive a prize.

Each team member is expected to raise at least 75 in sponsorship.

Two-thirds of the funds raised by each team will go to the charity of the team's choice, with the remainder going to Rotary and local charities.

A post-event dinner will be held in Edinburgh in the autumn, at which the total amount of money raised will be announced and plans for next year's event launched. The minimum age for participants is 16 and all team members must be able to swim.