The Dragon World Championship
The World Championship is held in alternate years in all areas where Dragons are sailed, and must be one of the most difficult regattas to win in the sailing world.Many of the world’s finest sailors have spent years trying to lift this trophy presented by Prince Constantine of Greece.
This event attracts world-wide media attention and a lifetime’s respect for the winner. Regional Championships (European, North American,(Pan-pacific) are held in the other years, where competition is no less intense.
Entry to both events is by qualification at National level.
The Dragon European Championship
The Virginie Heriot Cup In memory of Madame Virginie Heriot and in accordance with her often expressed wish to encourage yachting, the Committee of the Yacht Club de France decided at a meeting on the 21st May 1946 to initiate an International Cup and name it the “Coupe Virginie Hériot”.The Cup is assigned to the International Dragon Class, but remains the property of the Yacht Club de France.
The Dragon Gold Cup
The Dragon Gold Cup is one of the most famous trophies in the history of yachting.Raced for annually in Europe, it is an open competition which regularly attracts eighty entries or more.
Quoting from the original 1937 Gold Cup Rules the intention of this competition was to “bring together as many competitors of different nationalities as possible in a friendly spirit”.
Nothing has changed, this encapsulates the essence of all Dragon competitions.
Championships & Regattas
National Championships and open International regattas are held annually by most fleets and reflect the character of the host country.Venues range from Oostende to Austria, and from Alexandria to Hong Kong. The German Championships are as popular as they are competitive, while the French entertain their visitors off the water as keenly as they challenge them on it.
The British, Canadians and Australians race for prestigious cups presented by the Duke of Edinburgh, and in Scandinavia competitors might find themselves hailing Denmark’s Prince Frederik for water.
Club competition is quite exciting enough for many Dragon sailors, and as much satisfaction can be derived from winning a season-long trophy series through consistency and determination as from a week’s regatta.
Most international helmsmen return to their local fleets to keep their hand in, where local knowledge and experience often levels the playing field for the regular club racers.