In 1948 the members of the Island Sailing Club in Cowes, gave the Dragon “Bluebottle” to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh as a wedding present. A year later the Duke presented the Edinburgh Cup to the British Dragon association, this perpetual trophy became the British National Championship. This week on the picturesque waters off the Llyn Peninsula the South Caernarvonshire Yacht Club will play hosts to over 40 Dragons based on moorings beside the beautiful village of Abersoch. The local Dragon fleet of over a dozen boats, will be testing their skills and boat-speed against some of the best Dragon Sailors in the World, the different nations include Japan, Russia, Ireland and Australia. (We will even see one “special” boat sail under the Antigua Flag)…… Check out the entry’s!
Abersoch takes it’s name from the river, Afon Soch, which reaches the sea in the village but has very little space for the launching of so many beautiful one design keel boats. So 7 miles back around the coast the Marina in Pwllheli have been busy craning in the visiting boats as competitors prepare for what maybe the most competitive Edinburgh Cup of all time.. It will be a fantastic event and the main organiser Rob Riddell, explained that the S.C.Y.C has a history of Dragon racing in this wonderful Tremadog Bay and are most grateful to the main sponsor “Aberdeen global asset Management” for all their support to make this a truly wonderful event.
So my friends and “armchair” sailors, keep your eye on the IDA web site as Fiona Brown and I will keep you up to date with all the latest going’s on and day by day racing….
Can last year’s winner Klaus Diederichs retain the title or will someone from the strong Irish Fleet stake their claim? Or will one of the Russian Teams straight back from the Europeans take the trophy ? All will soon be revealed ….. One thing is for sure… It’s going to be a “Cracking Week”…. 🙂
Higher, Faster, Longer……………. Stavros (GBR 761)