Artemis Phyllis and Lucy at Low Wood have their eyes ‘dotted’.

Awakening the dragons.

Paddlers for Life ‘Dotted the Eyes’ of the dragons on their two dragon boats Artemis Phyllis and Lucy at Low Wood.

Eye dotting is a traditional part of the dragon boat festival to ‘awaken the dragons’ that protect dragon boat paddlers on the water.

Helen retold the story of the poet Qu Yuan who is at the centre of this tradition. Peter and Nick dotted the eyes of the dragon and food was thrown on the water to appease the fish and water spirits. ‘Hell money’ was burnt and then paddlers took to the dragon boats to drive them forward and beat their paddles on the water to frighten away evil spirits.