If the annual University Boat Race has inspired you to take to the water and try something different this summer, then there's still time to enter a team in the 12th East Anglian Dragon Boat Festival.

The festival has become one of the most popular corporate team events in the region and there's plenty of time to guarantee a place on the start line in Oulton Broad on Saturday, August 11.

And you don't need the physique of Sir Steve Redgrave or Dame Katherine Grainger to be successful as dragon boat racing caters for people of all shapes, sizes and levels of fitness. No previous experience is required to take part, just plenty of team spirit and enthusiasm.

Under the expert guidance of a qualified helm provided by festival organisers Gable Events, your crew of up to 11 people will soon be paddling in time and bonding together as you race towards the finish line over the 200m race course. Each team gets three attempts to improve their race times with everyone having an equal chance of reaching the semi-finals.

Website designers Netmatters, based in Wymondham, are regular entrants and previous champions, and director Chris Gulliver said taking part in the festival has also helped his business.

'We enter for team bonding, to promote a healthy living culture within the workplace and to motivate and inspire not only those working here at Netmatters but also those we work with,' he said. 'Paddlers and non-paddlers, their friends and family are all encouraged to get involved which strengthens relationships inside and outside the workplace.'

This year the festival, sponsored by Warner Leisure Hotels and supported by the Lowestoft Journal, will be an open charity event with entrants invited to raise money for the charity of their choosing. Teams opting for the gold and silver entry packages, which include a charity donation as well as marketing benefits, can also nominate their favourite charity to benefit from their donation.

Warner Leisure Hotels will have two teams entered into the event from Lowestoft representing their Gunton Hall and Corton Coastal Villages, and both will be fundraising for their partner charity Macmillan Cancer Support.

For further information and an entry form, visit www.dragonboatfestivals.co.uk/eastanglia or call Gable Events on 01780 470718.