The 2014 Edinburgh Cup, to be hosted by the Royal Lymington Yacht Club, will see both a return to a more traditional Edinburgh Cup format and the introduction of an exciting new additional race series. This is an event for all Dragon owners and the British Dragon Association looks forward to welcoming teams from across the UK and overseas to race for this most historic and prestigious of trophies.
Racing will take place on full championship courses in open water with minimal tidal influence. Courses will be laid in Christchurch Bay with the option to race in the more sheltered Western Solent in the event of poor weather. Boats will be moored on marina pontoon berths and entry includes launching and recovery (there will be a discounted rate for boats sailing to the event and not requiring launching/recovery).
Alongside the formal Edinburgh Cup racing, which will incorporate the Corinthian competition for all amateur crews and the traditional Crews Race, there will also be an optional second handicap racing series entitled the Chairman’s Decanter, featuring three races in which everyone has a chance to win. The handicap system will favour older boats, and penalise boats with professionals and helms that
have done well in previous Edinburgh Cup and International races. The helm in the Chairman’s Decanter series can be different from that in the Edinburgh Cup giving a chance for other crew members to “have a go”.
The fun social programme will be centered on the Royal Lymington Yacht Club’s delightful riverside clubhouse which has stunning views over the Lymington River and out across the New Forest and to the Isle of Wight.
Thanks to generous sponsorship from Williams Shipping a heavily discounted entry fee is being offered to the oldest boats entering.
Lymington and the surrounding New Forest are stunningly beautiful and popular holiday destinations ensuring that accommodation at all levels and in all formats is plentiful, although competitors are advised to book early to secure their preferred choices (click here for accommodation list).
The town itself is a bustling market town offering a host of shopping opportunities, good restaurants and bars and plenty of fun 
activities for accompanying friends and families to enjoy in the area including all that the New Forest National Park has to offer and excellent beaches which look out across the race area. There’s even a traditional saltwater outdoor swimming pool just a few yards from the club for those who love lido life. As one of the UK’s longest established yachting venues it is also home to a wide range of marine service providers able to meet the needs of the most discerning Dragon sailor.
Lymington is easily accessible from the main UK motorway network, being just 20 minutes from the M27. The nearest airports are Southampton International Airport (35 mins) and Bournemouth Airport (20 mins) with Heathrow and Gatwick airports around an hour away. Portsmouth and Pool ferry terminals are both less than an hour from Lymington and the town in served by the national railway network too.
The 2014 Edinburgh Cup is part of the British qualifying series for the 2015 Dragon World Championship in La Rochelle.
The Notices of Race for both the Edinburgh Cup and the Chairman’s Decanter are now both available online and the entry system will open shortly at the Edinburgh Cup website.
For further information about the event please contact Kirsty Timmis, Events Manager, Royal Lymington Yacht Club, Email kirsty@rlymyc.org.uk, Tel +44 (0)1590 672677 or Ron James, Chairman British Dragon Association, Email r.james@company-doc.co.uk