Dragon Boat Festival draws hundreds to Hempstead Harbor

With the sound of a horn, teams of paddlers plunged their oars into the water Saturday and propelled their 40-boat boats across Hempstead Harbor during the second annual Dragon Boat Festival.

The event, which drew hundreds of competitors and spectators to North Hempstead Beach Park, is a celebration of Chinese culture, bringing the ancient sport to Long Island waters. Nearly 40 teams from the Northeast competed, from complete amateurs to elite paddlers, culminating in an athlete’s parade, cultural performances and a medal ceremony.

“It’s a unique sport,” said Anne Mao, president of the Ohana Paddling Association, a Queens-based nonprofit that organized the event alongside the Town of North Hempstead. “We’re hoping to develop awareness for water activities here.”

Teams were separated by divisions named after animals that make up the Chinese zodiac. Up to 20 paddlers on each boat thrust forward in unison, directed by a drummer at the front of the boat and a helmsperson in the rear. The rhythmic banging of the drum helped set a pace for the rowing crew as they cut through the water towards the finish line.

“Keeping in sync is critically important,” said Rich Helz, of Williston Park, who said he previously competed for Team USA in dragon boat racing. “The back of the boat can’t rush the front of the boat.”

The nature of the activity fosters teamwork, bringing friends and even coworkers to the water.

Spencer Nolan was watching from the beach as his wife, Sydney, a Northwell Health employee, paddled alongside members of a team formed by the hospital system.

After a few practices, “she got a little more into it and is very excited to do this,” said Nolan, 30, of Smithtown. “We’ve been talking about it for months.”

Juleigh Chin, the manager of the Northwell Health team, said she thought it would be a positive team-building exercise.

The paddlers learned about “really being in sync,” said Chin, 53, of Herricks. “And I think that helps us on the boat and off the boat.”

Spectators set up lawn chairs in the shade as a host narrated the 200-meter and 500-meter races. A drone transmitted video to a large screen, giving beachside viewers an overhead look at the race as paddlers piloted their boats through the water.

The festival drew 22 food vendors and 17 retail vendors, said Mao, an event organizer, almost double last year's number. 

Food brings a "sense of community, a sense of togetherness," said Nat Piriyatamwong, co-owner of Ikedo, a Japanese eatery with locations in Mineola and Port Washington that was among the vendors at the festival. 

The event also included cultural performances on its main stage. 

North Hempstead Supervisor Jennifer DeSena took part in the competition alongside Long Island volunteer firefighters. She said the event “was about fun” and learning about Chinese culture and a sport some may never have experienced before.

“North Hempstead is very diverse, and we have a huge Asian population here,” DeSena said. “It’s always important that people preserve their tradition, that they’re proud of their heritage and that they pass it down.”