Bob King on his helm training journey

Why I became a helm

I have been a crew member of Bourne Water Dragons for about 3 years and enjoy paddling up and down the river twice a week in summer and every Sunday in the winter months.

On a couple of occasions, Verdun, one of our helms, has asked if anyone would like to have a go at helming! I thought about it and decided to 'Give it a go.' I actually enjoyed it very much, so when the club put a call out for potential helms, I put my name forward.

It is a big responsibility when you are in charge of a boat with a crew numbering up to 22 people! You are trained and tested to become a basic helm in the first instance, then the training is ongoing to become a Level 1, then Level 2 coach and helm.

Currently, I am a basic helm and Level 1 coach with ongoing training to be a Level 2 coach. It is very rewarding to helm the dragon boat and paddle down the river and back safely.

After a good session, I feel a great sense of achievement just to know the crew enjoyed their paddle on the river.

I look forward to becoming a Level 2 coach in the future and many more river journeys, experiences, and adventures as part of Bourne Water Dragons.

Bob King

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