The opening of the ninth annual Brave Hearts Dragon Boat Regatta outlined the sport’s ancient origins while the afternoon remembrance ceremony offered the chance to honour people lost to cancer, celebrate the lives of survivors and support those undergoing treatment.

Spectators heard, according to legend, more than 2000 years ago in southern China local fishermen launched their boats upon news of a drowning.

“The furious splashing of paddles and banging of drums, used these days to get the crews in time, were used to scare fish when they went to recover the body." MC Andrew Harbick said.

Community team representatives blessed the boats with symbols of water, spring onions and rice and also painted eyes on each boat’s figurehead.

Later in the day, different coloured hearts to represent the many types of cancer floated on the water before competitors formed a guard of honour with their paddles for the cancer survivors.

As well as 20 corporate and community teams, Beechworth Secondary College, James Fallon High School and St Paul’s College, Walla, contested the new junior section, with Beechworth the victor.

St Paul’s teacher Michelle Wilson said her school’s involvement began as part of an elective subject last year.

“Our team’s made up of Year 7 to Year 11 students, so it was a good way to have students from all different years working together and getting to know each other,” Mrs Wilson said.

The Wills Family and Friends won the Premier Community Challenge trophy for teams with previous racing experience.

Team Ranga took out the Community Challenge Cup for newer teams while the Lina Mildren Memorial Trophy for cancer survivors and their supporters went to Peninsula Dragonflys

Sunday’s sporting teams regatta saw 12 clubs from Albury-Wodonga, Mount Beauty, Ballarat, Geelong and Melbourne compete on the newly formed race course.

Many paddlers are preparing for the Victorian titles in Melbourne later this month as well as the Australian championships being held at Gateway Lakes in April.