Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club is both delighted and honoured to be offered the opportunity to host the Northern Area Championship and Edinburgh Cup in July 2012.
 
The Club has a long history with the Dragon Class and last hosted the Edinburgh Cup in 2000.  Prior to that, Royal North hosted the Edinburgh Cup in 1980, 1971, 1964, 1958 and 1953.  A Royal North boat ‘Ceres’ sailed by Billy Barnett also represented Great Britain in the 1948 Olympic Games.
 
More recently, Royal North hosted the Irish Dragon Championships in 2010, which was a great success, both on and off the water.  Visiting boats came from Dublin, Kinsale, England, and we had European competitors including Klaus Diederichs, Gwen Chapalain and Pedro Andrade.  Those who attended in 2010 enjoyed the warm welcome for which Royal North has become renowned, and I know they have spread the word and have already encouraged many more to visit us in 2012.
 
Our own boat ‘Kin’ sailed by my brother Mark, Davy Gomes and I have always loved the Dragon circuit and have made many, many friends throughout Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales and Europe, through the Dragon Class.  Whilst the racing in the Dragon Class provides the best One Design racing in the world, and the ‘Kin’ crew try our best and get the occasional result, the shoreside camaraderie and ‘craic’ is also a priority and we try our hardest there too…….
 
So, the plan for 2012 is to provide a memorable week of Dragon racing in the picturesque setting of the southern shores of Belfast Lough in County Down.
 
For those who have not sailed at Belfast Lough before, it is an open sea Lough on the eastern coastline of Northern Ireland.
 
The race area is an open area approximately 3 miles East of Holywood, and with minimal tidal influence.
 
As well as memorable racing, we will also be ‘pushing the boat out’ to have a week of great parties and dinners, and a full programme is already organised for all competitors, friends and family.
 
‘Belfast Harbour’ who operate the Port of Belfast were magnificent sponsors for the 2010 Irish Championships and they too enjoy the relationship with Royal North and the Dragon Class.
 
‘Belfast Harbour’ have most generously agreed to sponsor both the 2012 British Northern Area Championships and the Edinburgh Cup.

The event ‘kicks off’ with launching at Belfast Harbour opposite the new £100 million Titanic Signature Building (which opens 2 months before the Edinburgh Cup).
 
After launching on Saturday 30th June, boats will congregate at the new Belfast Harbour Marina at Abercorn Basin, Titanic Quarter and the ‘Belfast Harbour fun race’ will start at 7pm from Titanic Quarter to the moorings at Cultra (approximately 5 miles).
 
The Northern Areas take place from Sunday 1st July to Tuesday 3rd July with 8 races.
 
The Edinburgh Cup takes place from Wednesday 4th July to Saturday 7th July with 6 races, plus crews race.
 
An experienced race management team is also in place and under the supervision of P.R.O. Nigel Kearney. They are fully aware of the expectations of the Dragon fleets in terms of race duration, course sizes, and course management.
 
On the social side, a full programme is arranged including:
 
Gala Dinner in the magnificent historic Belfast Harbour Commissioners headquarters in Belfast.
Barbeque with live band and dancing.
Championship Dinner with live band and dancing.
 
The Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club is located in a mature wooded residential setting on the southern shores of Belfast Lough, at Cultra, one mile outside Holywood.
 
It is a beautiful setting for a Championship and also a relaxing setting to enjoy a week of Dragon racing with friends and family.  There are a host of activities nearby for shore based visitors; and for those who manage to fit in a round of golf, Holywood Golf Club (home of Rory McIlroy), Royal Belfast Golf Club, and Helens Bay Golf Club are all within a 10 minute drive.  The famous Royal Portrush and Royal County Down are within an hours drive.
 
Hopefully we have tempted you and we aim to have 40 – 45 boats gracing our waters for the Edinburgh Cup next year.
 
Already we have commitments from:
 
Poul Ricard, Hoj Jensen
Tim Tavinor
Stavros
Reining Champion, Martin Byrne
Klaus Diederichs
Gavia Wilkinson Cox
Gordon Ingate from Australia (his boat is already here!)
Plus
A great fleet from Abersoch, Burnham, Cowes and of course, Dublin and Kinsale.
 
Whilst the ‘Belfast Harbour’ Edinburgh Cup and British Northern Area Championship are undoubtedly  the highlight at the Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club calendar in 2012, it must not be forgotten that IRELAND is the place to race your Dragon in 2012.

In 2012, there are 5 major Dragon Championships in Ireland:
 
British Northern Area Championships
Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
1st July – 3rd July
 
Edinburgh Cup
Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
4th July – 7th July
 
Irish Championships
Royal St. George Yacht Club, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin
26th July – 29th July
 
Irish Southern Coast Championship
Kinsale Yacht Club
1st September – 2nd September
 
Gold Cup
Kinsale Yacht Club
6th September – 14th September
 
With 5 major Championships from early July to early September, a GRAND SLAM series has been planned, sponsored by Brewin Dolphin.
 
This will be a superb Championship series with 3 events to count out of 5 with the Edinburgh Cup and Gold Cup being ‘weighted’, and compulsory to compete in the Grand Slam.
 
The GRAND SLAM is focused on Corinthian sailors with major prizes thanks to the support of Brewin Dolphin.  There will also be prizes for the professional teams, pre 2000 boats and wooden boats.
 
And finally, now that you have no excuse not to come to Cultra for the Edinburgh Cup, and Ireland for all your Dragon sailing in 2012, we are striving to make it as easy as possible for you to come and join us…
 
We have negotiated discounted ferry crossing rates with Stenaline (more details to follow), and will be keeping our Edinburgh Cup and Northern Areas entry fees as keen as possible, including several social events.
 
The travelling between events is easy with Cultra to Dun Laoghaire only 2.5 hours drive, and Dun Laoghaire to Kinsale only 3.5 hours.
 
We look forward to welcoming you all to Royal North of Ireland for what promises to be a memorable week of Dragon racing… and socialising…
 
Full details of the Edinburgh Cup and British Northern Area Championships including, Entry Forms, Notice of Race, Accommodation Rates and Social Programme will be available shortly via www.edinburghcup.org

Simon Brien (KIN)
Email: SBrien@btwcairns.com
Website: N/A

BDANews