Carrying tradition forward: Dragon Boat Community Day at Lake Merced
On May 9, the water at Lake Merced will carry more than boats. It will carry a tradition that has moved across generations, shaped by the people who continue to practice it, adapt it, and share it with others.
Dragon Boat Community Day brings youth, families, and community members together on the water to mark this moment. This year, the gathering will include something new: the arrival of the first phoenix boat in the United States. Its introduction reflects how tradition continues to grow, shaped by those who stay connected to it.
At the center of the day will be a ceremonial dotting, a practice that signals both continuity and a new beginning.
A tradition shaped over time
Dragon boat racing traces back more than 2,500 years, rooted in the story of Qu Yuan. Over time, the sport has traveled far beyond its origins, carried by communities who have made it their own while remaining connected to its history.
Participation in the sport has not always been open to everyone. For many years, women and girls faced barriers to entry. That began to shift through the efforts of organizers, coaches, and paddlers who believed the tradition could expand while still holding its meaning.
Today, teams reflect a broader range of experiences. The water has become a shared space, where people come together not as individuals, but as part of something collective. Each stroke depends on the next. The boat only moves when everyone moves together.
The meaning of the dotting ceremony
The dotting ceremony marks an important moment in dragon boat tradition. When the eyes of the boat are painted, it is said to awaken, ready to carry its crew forward.
This year, that ceremony will welcome a phoenix boat.
In Chinese culture, the phoenix represents renewal and balance. Often paired with the dragon, it reflects harmony between forces that move together. Bringing a phoenix boat into this space signals both continuity and change. It honors what has been carried forward while making room for what comes next.
Honoring those who carry it forward
This moment is shaped by four women whose leadership and commitment reflect how tradition continues to move across generations.
Mabel Jung has been part of the dragon boat community since the late 1990s, joining shortly after the formation of the California Dragon Boat Association. What began as an introduction to a new sport grew into decades of involvement as both a paddler and a leader.
Born and raised in Stockton, Mabel moved to San Francisco in the 1970s and has long been connected to the Chinatown community. In 1998, she joined one of the first women’s dragon boat teams, Women Warriors, and was drawn to the camaraderie and the collective nature of the sport. As an active paddler for more than two decades, she competed nationally and internationally, including with the USA Dragon Boat National Team. Her work has also extended beyond the water through leadership roles, ongoing volunteerism, and efforts to support youth participation and community access.
For Mabel, dragon boat has always been about more than competition. It reflects a shared responsibility, where each person contributes to the movement of the whole.
Dorothy Yeung has also played an important role in sustaining the community surrounding the sport. Her connection to dragon boat began in the 1990s through a community effort rooted in both culture and service. Inspired by her sister’s work with Self-Help for the Elderly, she became involved in using the sport to bring people together while supporting broader community needs.
With early guidance from partners in Vancouver, Dorothy and her late husband Francis helped lay the groundwork for what would grow into a lasting presence in California. Their efforts contributed to the early development of the dragon boat community in the region and helped expand access to the sport over time.
For more than three decades, Dorothy has remained closely connected to the community. Much of her work has taken place behind the scenes, supporting outreach and helping sustain the day-to-day efforts that allow the sport to grow. She also played a role in opening the door for women in dragon boat, helping establish one of the first women’s teams in San Francisco.
Even now, her connection to the sport remains strong. “Age is just a number,” she shared, a perspective that continues to guide her involvement. This year, she will take part in the ceremonial dotting of the first phoenix boat in the United States, marking a moment that reflects both her long-standing commitment and the continued growth of the tradition.
Joining them are CYC Executive Director Sarah Wan and APA Heritage Foundation President Claudine Cheng, whose work connects cultural tradition with the next generation. Their presence reflects an ongoing commitment to ensuring that young people have opportunities to engage with practices that build identity, connection, and a sense of belonging.
Together, their participation reflects a broader truth. Traditions continue not only because they are preserved, but because people choose to carry them forward and make space for others to be part of them.
Youth on the water
At Lake Merced, that connection continues through young people.
The dragon boat program at CYC brings middle and high school students together for regular practices. For many, it is their first time on the water and their first experience with the sport.
“At first, I thought dragon boat was going to be easy, but I was wrong,” one student shared. “It pushed me more than I expected, and over time I started to build confidence and really grow into the sport, especially with the support of my team.”
Through practice, youth learn more than technique. They learn how to move together, how to stay in rhythm, and how to rely on one another. They also begin to understand the cultural context behind the sport and their place within it.
Like the generations before them, they become part of what keeps the tradition moving.
Mark the date
Dragon Boat Community Day offers an opportunity to experience this tradition as it continues to grow and take shape.
On May 9 at 12:00 PM, community members are invited to Lake Merced to witness the phoenix boat dotting ceremony and spend time on the water alongside youth and community. We encourage you to register in advance to be part of the day.
The season continues in June with the San Francisco Dragon Boat Festival, taking place on June 13, 20, and 21. Learn more here