Drag-racin’ dragon boats

Dragon boats by the dozen plied the Hudson River off the 79th St. Boat Basin last weekend. Some dragon boat fans had hoped the races would be held Downtown, but the river conditions are too choppy in Lower Manhattan. The waters near the Boat Basin are more appropriate for the competitions. The Parks Department and Manhattan Borough President C. Virginia Fields were both sponsors of the annual event, which in the past has occurred in Queens.