There are many types of boating activities that take place on Tempe Town Lake. Check learn more about the clubs and organizations offering Dragon Boating, Outrigger Paddling and Sailing.
A dragon boat is a very long and narrow human powered boat used in the team paddling sport of dragon boat racing which originated in China. It may also be known as Dragon boating. While competition has taken place annually for more than 20 centuries as part of folk ritual, it emerged in modern times as an international "sport" in Hong Kong in 1976. Like running, horse racing and marksmanship, the racing of dragon boats is among mankind's oldest organized competitions.
Tempe is home to the 2025 Club Crew National Champions in the Women's Premier (small boat division), the Arizona Sunsoon Dragon Boat team.
Originally developed by Malayo-Polynesian speaking peoples of Southeast Asia, the history of Outrigger Paddling spans many years. Outrigger paddling uses a type of canoe featuring one or more lateral support floats known as outriggers, which are fastened to one or both sides of the main hull. Smaller canoes often employ a single outrigger on the port side, while larger canoes may employ a single outrigger, double outrigger, or double hull configuration
Tempe Town Lake is a mecca of small boat sailing--convenient and easy to use but seasoned with some very challenging wind patterns. If your sailboat meets the requirements (a mast height no more than 30 feet from the surface of the water), you can pick up a boat permit and go sailing. Launch your boat from the marina on the north shore.
While there's no sailboat rental available on the lake, there are plenty of ways to get involved in the sport, even if you don't own a boat.
The Arizona Yacht Club (AYC) and its subsidiary educational arm, the Arizona Sailing Foundation (ASF), offer lots of activities on the lake, from beginning sailing instruction to advanced racing and race committee training, all available to members and non-members alike.
Kids' Sailing: ASF offers sailing classes for kids 8 and older, using ASF-owned Optimist sailboats. The classes are offered in both fall and spring.
Junior Performance Sailing: With new ASF-owned O'Pen Bic sailboats, kids with Opti experience can step up to the higher performance of these sport boats.
High School Sailing: On Tuesday afternoons in fall and spring, high school kids can learn to sail and compete using the ASF-owned Capri 14.2 boats.
Adult Learn to Sail: Always wanted to learn to sail but didn't know where to start? In four intense days of classroom and on-the-water training, you'll learn the basics of sailing and boating safety in the this US Sailing certified course.
Introduction to Sailing Racing: This introductory course prepares students to race in any of AYC's races, either at Tempe Town Lake or Lake Pleasant.
Race series and race committee training: Throughout the year, AYC trains race committee and runs races on many Sunday afternoons. Members of AYC may use club-owned boats during this time.