Dragon boat race co-founder ready to row off into the sunset

This Sunday's Deep Water Bay dragon boat races will be Des Mabbott's last. The race's co-founder, who also helped start up the Island Paddle Club, has decided to retire to Australia's Sunshine Coast.

After 19 years teaching at University of Hong Kong and eight years stewarding one of the early races of the dragon boat season, Mabbott (left) has decided to change course.

'The Island Paddle Club was started in 1993,' Mabbott reminisced.

'By 1999, we felt it was time to contribute another race to the dragon boat community and give people a chance to race earlier in the season, six weeks before the Stanley races.' In the first few years, he even stepped out of the crew in order to handle the race organising. 'Boy, did I miss being in that boat.'

Now that he's decided to move, Mabbott might even give up dragon boats too. 'When I leave, I don't want to dragon boat anywhere else because it just won't be the same. The most exciting thing is to share the joy with your teammates. That heightens the fun and feeling of accomplishment. I do other sports and get a buzz from them, but it's nowhere near the buzz of crossing the finish line with your buddies.'