A New Year, with wonderful Dragon sailing opportunities……

Yes Campers, 2012 offers probably the fullest calendar of Dragon Racing ever….With the South of France events about to kick off with the Ski Vol in a few weeks time which precedes the Primo Cup in Monaco,  followed by the 4th Cascais Winter Series in Feb! We are already spoilt for choice, the great thing this year is there are minimal overlapping events, Jean-Pierre in Cannes and Bruno Sanches in Cascais have worked the dates well for 2012. Once these first events get up and running sailors can pick and chose how they start their year, will it be Cannes, Cascais, Monaco or San Remo…  why not do them all !!!

With excellent boats available to charter both in France and Portugal, even if your own boat is not yet ready, there is no reason to miss all the early season fun in the sun. I shall also be running Training/Coaching clinics in Portugal, with the last clinic based in Vilamoura in April. So if individuals or teams want to blow away those winter cobwebs, give me a call. Likewise for boat charters…

Looking further ahead to our great year of sailing. Douarnenez should be the first event put into the racing diary. Louis/Annie and their terrific team are putting together an even bigger social package of entertainment this time and with the current World Champion Lawrie Smith, promising to attend it will be a fantastic regatta…. Lets make it 100 boats!!

The Europeans will be fun in Attersee as will the German Grand Prix in Boltenhagen. Then with the “IRISH GRAND SLAM” incorperating the Edinburgh Cup in Belfast. The Irish Nationals in Dublin and then the GOLD CUP in Kinsale..  It’s going to be a fantastic year…

In closing can I take this opportunity to wish all you Campers/Sailors out their who take the time to read my regatta blog’s throughout the year a Very Happy and Successful 2012.

Higher, Faster, Longer…….          Stavros.     (Martin Payne)  Mobile +447788587017