Crowds in the hundreds cheered in Sai Kung as 115 teams from more than 25 organisations competed in the district’s 32 dragon boat races, which went ahead despite poor weather.

Rainfall forced some spectators at times to move under cover, but others continued to watch and cheer from the waterside harbourfront as the competitors raced on.

Theodore Smith, from Britain, joined the crowds along the Sai Kung promenade to watch in his first time at the races.

“I admire the way the competitors interact,” he said. “It felt great to see the bond and sheer competitiveness that each team has.

“I suppose this is one thing off my list of things to experience in Hong Kong”.

Kims Au, who coaches the dragon boat team for the Hong Kong Southern district Women’s Association, led her team to first place in the women’s small dragon boat silver cup and insisted the weather was not a problem.

“It doesn’t matter if it is raining – we will still compete to win,” the veteran racer said.

Kelvin Lau Kai-hong, who organised the Sai Kung event, said the area’s competition was “one of the most vibrant and most anticipated”.

“[The racing] is not only good for the many establishments in the area, but also for fostering growth and development of Sai Kung’s culture and image,” he added.

The Chinese festival commemorates Qu Yuan, a poet and exiled statesman from the ancient Chu kingdom during the Warring States Period from 476BC – 221BC.

He drowned himself in the Miluo River in what is now Hunan province in 278BC after his state’s defeat in battle.

The dragon boat tradition started after Qu’s followers threw rice dumplings in the river to prevent fish from eating his body and paddled boats to ward off evil spirits.

Races are held every year to mark the festival, with overseas competitors jetting in to join the race in Stanley, at the southern tip of Hong Kong Island.

Organisers said the Stanley event attracted almost 200 teams with about 3,800 participants competing over a relatively short 270 metre (886ft) course.

Races held elsewhere in Hong Kong were mainly attended by residents, and many competitions were held alongside carnivals, which added festive fun to the public holiday.

Tai Po Sports Organisation chief executive officer Luke Lam Luk-wing said this year also marked the first time a carnival was held alongside the race in the district.

He added he expected 10,000 people to visit over the course of the event.

The carnival boasted dragon boat-themed stalls that offered a variety of games and snacks.

Workshops on site included activities such as building a dragon boat from Lego, photo spots and handicrafts.

Chan Lai-wai, a homemaker who lives in Tai Po, came with her husband to soak up the festive atmosphere and support the event and said the public had enjoyed relatively pleasant weather.

But she said some of the prices at the stalls along the waterfront were too high.

“We had a look at the stalls but didn’t make any purchases,” she added.

“One stall was selling a chicken leg for HK$40 (US$5.10). We thought that was quite expensive, especially when the economy is quite weak now. People won’t be able to afford it.”

About 1,600 rowers across a range of ages made up 69 teams, up from last year’s 56, to compete in 18 races along the 500-metre course.

Queena Wong, who was among the spectators perched on railings along the promenade, kept an eagle eye out for her teenage son, a member of the local Scouts’ dragon boat team.

“He worked very hard for this,” Wong said. There was weekly practice for eight weeks and they started from scratch.”

“It was challenging and it’s a proper workout,” the rehabilitation professional, who is in her forties, said.

Amanda Platt, a Canadian national, visited the Tai Po races for the first time.

She said it was interesting to learn about Chinese culture and that the races had lived up to her expectations.

“We’d heard of [the dragon boat race] before and we knew it was very popular,” the missionary worker, 29, who arrived in the city last September, said.

“We came to the Tai Po one because it’s the closest to where we are. We’re based in Fan Ling.

“People seemed very friendly and a team shared some snacks with us. The carnival also looks fun.”