Ed Cup winners GBR 192 “Bluebottle” and Cannes winners POR 90 “Easy”.
Graham Bailey, Julia Bailey, Will Bedford & Killian Boag have won the European Grade 1 Series recording 4th (San Remo), 4th (Lake Balaton) & 1st (Cowes). With a total of just 9pts (counting the best 3 Grade 1 results out of 4 for the 2026 season), they win the coveted Standfast Trophy. Meanwhile last week’s winners of the Regates Royal in Cannes Michael Zankel, Diogo Pereira & Joao Matos Rosa finish runner’s up to Bluebottle, counting 10th (San Remo), 1st (Balaton) & 1st (Medemblik) giving a total of 12pts. In 3rd place overall was Andy Beadsworth TUR 12, counting 7th (San Remo), 3rd (Cowes) & 3rd (Medemblik) finishing on 13pts.
This has been a most exciting season for the Grade 1 series co-ordinated by our IDA Vice Chairman Martin Lutz. San Remo 50 entries, Balaton 27, Cowes 50 and Medemblik 42, so a great turn-out thoughout the season. Now for the first time the “Finals” for the famous “Flow” trophy will take place next March in San Remo 16th & 17th March right before the opening Grade 1 of 2027.
Bluebottle has Won the “Standfast” Trophy to be presented in San Remo at Finals.
With the top 20 teams qualifying for the Finals in San Remo (March 16th & 17th 2027) it is essential all helms notify Stavros (IDA Sailing Co-ordinator) to confirm their participation. Helm’s have until the end of October to book their place otherwise teams laying 21st, 2nd, 23rd… and so on, will be offered a place.
Top 20 Helms are: Graham Bailey, Michael Zankel, Andy Beadsworth, Christoph Toepfer, Ivan Bradbury, Xavier Vannest, Dirk Neukirchen, Karl-Gustav Lohr, David Tabb, Guy Cellis, Andreas Breechbuhl, Grant Gordon, Jan Eckert, Dirk Oldenburg, Jan Secher, Gavia Wilkinson-Cox, Bo Jahansen, Richard Blickman, Rene Treifeldt and Ben Cauweenbergh.
Reserve list Kaarel Kruusmagi, Martin Palsson, Peter De Gryse, Martin Lutz and Dave Atkinson.
The “Flow” Trophy will be presented to the winner of the 20 boat Finals in San Remo 2027.
As all eyes now look ahead to the World Championships in Hong Kong (November) I want to congratulate once again team Bluebottle for an extremely successful season. In addition POR 90 Easy Michael Zankel, Diogo Pereira and Joao Matos Rosa who have set the Dragon Fleet on “fire” winning the European Championships (Helsinki 62 boats), Grade 1 (Balaton 27 boats), Grade 1 (Medemblik 42 boats) and then just last week Regates Royal (Cannes 35 boats)! What an amazing season Michael is having…
POR 90 “Easy” Michael, Diogo & Joao… Amazing Season. Winners in Balaton.
So can Michael win the Worlds… Or will team Bluebottle find the conditions in HKG to their liking? With over 90 teams registered it looks like being the most competitive World Championship in the history of the Dragon Class….
Higher, Faster, Longer…. Stavros.
